UPSB v3
Serious Discussion / Software freedom
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Date: Sat, Aug 2 2008 03:24:45
I wanted to see what you think about the topic of free software. One thing I would like you to remember is that by free software I am talking about freedom not free drinks.
I personally think that software creators have no right to tell users how to use their software. Expensive software licenses are a large problem because they promote creation of a product simply to make money.
Microsoft for example no longer has to create top of the line software. They know whatever they do people will still use their software.
Please avoid posts like Windows suxs *nix pwns, or Macs FTW -
Date: Sat, Aug 2 2008 03:27:42
wow i dont... know what you're talking about...
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Date: Sat, Aug 2 2008 03:33:40
I a talking about the issue of software licenses, and price.
Free Software -
Date: Sat, Aug 2 2008 07:02:17
Richard Stallman and the Free Software Movement.
I'll comment later, I've gotta go. -
Date: Sat, Aug 2 2008 07:23:54
Free and open source software is a great thing in my opinion. Not only does the end user benefit from not having to deal with propietary software, the code is available so that more eyes may see it. The more eyes that see it, the better a chance that bugs will be found, security can be improved, and the over all quality of the code can be increased. There is no standard on computer systems when it comes to hardware, all hardware varies. If a person can customize a code to work better for them, then it should be so.
People have a choice. FOSS gives people even more choice and control. Usually, FOSS leads to generally superior software.
Long live Arch Linux. (Had to include it) -
Date: Sat, Aug 2 2008 15:07:17
Well... everybody loves profit and its their business.......
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Date: Sat, Aug 2 2008 19:00:30
I admit there are great free software programs such as, GIMP, and Blender, and xfire for recreational stuff but things like billing software I think are things that should cost money. Well really my mom has been in the buisness of billing software for 30+ years so I'm already biased on the subject so software like that I think should cost money. But I'm all for free recreational programs excluding big budget games people don't realize how much money is being put into these games, and the man hours you couldn't even imagine, I'm also biased against games because well my brother used to make a living off it so yea I guess thats my 2c.
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Date: Sun, Aug 3 2008 03:41:35
I use a mixture of both kinds of software including a multitude of operating systems, while Linux and BSD are my favorites right now I happen to be using Vista. I support free software, but if someone wants to make closed source priced software then they should certainly be able to do that.
One beef I have with Vista is the restriction software used in it. I do not like the feeling that a company is telling me how I can use my machine.
I may mostly use free software, I will use every piece of software at my disposal. -
Date: Thu, Aug 7 2008 05:41:41
A recent experience I had that I think contributes to the discussion.
I was recently talking to a friend about software, he enjoys working with computers but does not know much about them. I was trying to explain the concept of open source software. He first thought that open source meant that someone could easily break into your computer. that is when I realized that he did not know what a source code was. So after a few minutes he finally understood, but still said that closed source software was better because if software is made by regular people then it would be easy for them to spread viruses and such. I tried to explain that open source software is usually more secure, because if there is a bug or security problem it will be easily spotted.
I think that proves a point that open source is better for the public because the public can't fix what they don't know about. -
Date: Thu, Aug 7 2008 12:11:16
It is very true that all proprietary programs that do not let people look at the source are 'just trust me' programs. It's very easy for anyone to slip some malicious code into a program to do something that you do not know about, and when only the developers have access to the source code, this poses a problem.
There are hardly any arguments against open-source software, it's great to be able to look at the source of your favourite programs (I don't do this, but a lot of people do).
I also like the idea of free software, but some of the four principals are probably too strict, which is why there isn't as much free software as open-source.