5 ms·

I think there are some interesting similarities between Steve Jobs and Richard Stallman: Both are luminaries in computing with significant impact. Both attract

by naner 15y ago

I think there are some interesting similarities between Steve Jobs and Richard Stallman: Both are luminaries in computing with significant impact. Both attracted a cult-like following. Both often will speak their mind irrespective the feelings of others. Both "give a damn" about users, though with completely different ideas about what is important.

iradik 15y ago
Stallman is way more philosophical than Jobs. Jobs focus was on building insanely great products. Stallman is focused on promoting a philosophy of sharing. I think they are much more different than they are similar. Both have affected my life in positive ways. Stallman has affected me as a programmer and a thinker. Jobs has affected me through his company's products I would say stallman has had the deeper effect though I type this on an iPhone. Both are zealots who would prefer everyone adopt their world view. I don't think a single view is possible nor is it preferable.
- brlewis 15y ago
  Emacs is an insanely great product.
Hitchhiker 15y ago
I find it exquisitely ironic that RMS is railing on about SJ.. both profess an anti-dogmatic , against 1984 approach. Both ended up creating uniquely dogmatic ecosystems. One exploited it at an unbelievable commercial scale surpassing the beast they rebelled against ( IBM, the 1984 ad ) .. the other has become a very strange priest who keeps railing on against other churches that spawned from the original. I personally admire and respect Steve more.. at least, he had and inspired poetry.. at least, he made Jonathan Ive craft a speech of a life-time[1] at the recent memorial. [1] - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPUsuY8JZJI&t=2905 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPUsuY8JZJI&t=2905
- barrkel 15y ago
  I admire Steve more; I wish I had some of his talents. I respect Richard more; the degree to which he doesn't compromise takes more bravery than it looks, IMO. He could have taken the easy way out, and been handsomely rewarded for it, long ago.
  - Hitchhiker 15y ago
    I can see where you are coming from. Reading the recent biography indicates that Steve had similar bravery chops against compromise, his arena is different to RMS.. but functionally.. about the same ( if not more ).
  - deleted 15y ago
    [deleted]
- amackera 15y ago
  Is this speech available to watch online? I'm curious!
- outworlder 15y ago
  > .. the other has become a very strange priest who keeps railing on against other churches that spawned from the original. I couldn't agree more. I do think we need to stop the friendly fire, at least for a while. Then again, it would be a compromise...
- gcb 15y ago
  if you understand what RMS wrote (cmon it was 5 lines) you can't say they both "profess an anti-dogmatic , against 1984 approach". jobs used that approach in marketing, for sheeples to buy apple instead of IBM. If you think (not even hard) about it, you will realise iOS is nothing more then a portable IBM mainframe. you pay a hefty price, that no one in reality pays, or you pay a subscription for service, and only run approved software.
  - joesb 15y ago
    > You pay a hefty price, that no one in reality pays What is this "hefty price"? Is it price without contract? Because we don't sell mobile phone with contract in my country and people still get iPhone.

by naner 15y ago

iradik 15y ago

Stallman is way more philosophical than Jobs. Jobs focus was on building insanely great products. Stallman is focused on promoting a philosophy of sharing. I think they are much more different than they are similar. Both have affected my life in positive ways. Stallman has affected me as a programmer and a thinker. Jobs has affected me through his company's products I would say stallman has had the deeper effect though I type this on an iPhone. Both are zealots who would prefer everyone adopt their world view. I don't think a single view is possible nor is it preferable.

brlewis 15y ago
Emacs is an insanely great product.

Hitchhiker 15y ago

I find it exquisitely ironic that RMS is railing on about SJ.. both profess an anti-dogmatic , against 1984 approach. Both ended up creating uniquely dogmatic ecosystems. One exploited it at an unbelievable commercial scale surpassing the beast they rebelled against ( IBM, the 1984 ad ) .. the other has become a very strange priest who keeps railing on against other churches that spawned from the original. I personally admire and respect Steve more.. at least, he had and inspired poetry.. at least, he made Jonathan Ive craft a speech of a life-time[1] at the recent memorial. [1] - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPUsuY8JZJI&t=2905 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPUsuY8JZJI&t=2905

barrkel 15y ago
I admire Steve more; I wish I had some of his talents. I respect Richard more; the degree to which he doesn't compromise takes more bravery than it looks, IMO. He could have taken the easy way out, and been handsomely rewarded for it, long ago.
- Hitchhiker 15y ago
  I can see where you are coming from. Reading the recent biography indicates that Steve had similar bravery chops against compromise, his arena is different to RMS.. but functionally.. about the same ( if not more ).
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
amackera 15y ago
Is this speech available to watch online? I'm curious!
outworlder 15y ago
> .. the other has become a very strange priest who keeps railing on against other churches that spawned from the original. I couldn't agree more. I do think we need to stop the friendly fire, at least for a while. Then again, it would be a compromise...
gcb 15y ago
if you understand what RMS wrote (cmon it was 5 lines) you can't say they both "profess an anti-dogmatic , against 1984 approach". jobs used that approach in marketing, for sheeples to buy apple instead of IBM. If you think (not even hard) about it, you will realise iOS is nothing more then a portable IBM mainframe. you pay a hefty price, that no one in reality pays, or you pay a subscription for service, and only run approved software.
- joesb 15y ago
  > You pay a hefty price, that no one in reality pays What is this "hefty price"? Is it price without contract? Because we don't sell mobile phone with contract in my country and people still get iPhone.