Maybe software services could harm free software after all

“In fact, mobile devices are turning into general-purpose
systems–but only because SaaS provides the features we’re used
to.

“But desktop and laptop systems enable one use not available on
cell phones and netbooks. Larger-scale systems provide the memory,
compute power, screen real estate, and input devices that let us
write, compile, and run software. Free software developers want
larger and more powerful systems than the ones that the world is
moving to.

“If fewer people use desktop and laptop systems, they become
premium items with correspondingly higher costs. This may
discourage some potential code contributors, particularly young
people, from becoming programmers.”

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