[plug] Kontact Windows port?

[Alex Nordstrom]

On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 17:50, Chris Caston wrote:
> I was just reading the Trolltech website and I found an article
> saying that Kolab was porting Kontact to Windows thanks to the new QT
> 4 licensing.
>
> http://partners.trolltech.com/news/00000008.html
>
> Anyone want to comment on this?

I welcome anything that
(a) reduces the amount of viruses being spread by MS Lookout users and 
the resulting annoying attempts to infect the rest of us, supposed 
bounces from misconfigured virus checkers, and Spam Assassin processing 
thereof;
(b) reduces the influence of illegal monopolies;
(c) enables users to send and receive secure and standards-compliant 
e-mail even if they are unfortunate enough to use an inferior operating 
system; and
(d) eases operating system migration by allowing users to gradually 
familiarise themselves with the software they will be using.

Yes, we already have Thunderbird, and it did allow me to migrate more 
easily, but in my opinion, it simply doesn't cut it compared to KMail. 
I'm not sure if my hangups have been addressed, but 

The arguments opposing such efforts that I have seen so far include
- "it's a waste of resources that should be spent on improving the 
software on free platforms" and
- "attractive software will persuade users to make the jump to Linux if 
it isn't available on their current operating system".

The flaw of the first argument is the assumption that the resources used 
to port the software would otherwise be allotted to the desired tasks. 
In a largely volunteer-based effort, that may or may not be the case, 
as contributors choose to participate in one task, another, or none at 
all depending on their own needs and motivations.

I don't believe the second argument for a moment. Users are more likely 
to choose different software than switch operating systems in order to 
begin using a certain piece of software, especially if that switch 
means giving up some other software. A better way to convince users to 
switch, then, is to show them good free software that makes their lives 
easier and tell them "there's more where that came from".

-- 
Alex Nordstrom
http://lx.n3.net/
Please do not CC me in followups; I am subscribed to plug.