"Freeware"...

[dcraven]

If I see one more reference to GPL'd software as being "freeware", I'm gonna flip out.

You've been warned,
~djc

[KingBahamut]

craven....go tell RMS that...youll make him happy, hes militant about that.

to quothe

GNU is not in the public domain. Everyone will be permitted to modify and redistribute GNU, but no distributor will be allowed to restrict its further redistribution. That is to say, proprietary modifications will not be allowed. I want to make sure that all versions of GNU remain free.

and again

If in my lifetime the problem of non-free software is solved, I could perhaps relax and write software again. But I might instead try to help deal with the world's larger problems. Standing up to an evil system is exhilarating, and now I have a taste for it.

[az]

Yeah, my sister in law send me emails with things like "since you are so good at finding freeware stuff, I need a program to...."


Aaaargh!

[KingBahamut]

That, Azz, would more than likely force me to yell inexplicably into the phone and then hang up.

[Brunellus]

Fellas, fellas...

chill.

It's only a word, and a word of no importance to the sorts of people who use it, anyway.

It may bug me, but I'm not going to throw any bombs at anyone over it.

[KingBahamut]

Hmmmm....Bombs......

One Microsoft Way, Redmond WA.......

Must

get

Bombs............

[johnistpropaganda]

If I see one more reference to GPL'd software as being "freeware", I'm gonna flip out.

You've been warned,
~djc

HAH, HAH. To quote myself:
qimp is amazing for freeware

Symantics, symantics. Sorry for the faux pas, but it is free, and it is software, so in my mind: FREEWARE \\:D/

-jp-

[drizek]

HAH, HAH. To quote myself:


Symantics, symantics. Sorry for the faux pas, but it is free, and it is software, so in my mind: FREEWARE \\:D/

-jp-
its not free, its opensource.

its opensource software.

[johnistpropaganda]

its not free, its opensource.

its opensource software.

I know, i know. really, i'm just pickin on ya'll.

Soooo, can i call it openware? jk!
-jp-

[MikeyXX]

HAH, HAH. To quote myself:


Symantics, symantics. Sorry for the faux pas, but it is free, and it is software, so in my mind: FREEWARE \\:D/

-jp-
Yah this is common for most people. To say Freeware instantly says FREE. To say Opensource to the igorant does not immediately bring that to mind. So people getting upset with the misuse is self defeating.

[az]

Yah this is common for most people. To say Freeware instantly says FREE. To say Opensource to the igorant does not immediately bring that to mind. So people getting upset with the misuse is self defeating.

Actually , it is the assumption that freeware is not proprietary thst is the problem.

There are only two kinds of software:

1-Free (as in libre) and open source

2-Proprietairy

[KingBahamut]

Well , Azz, not to OT this but................

There are an entire generation of people growing up that think that x86 is how computers work.....which is a severely retarded view.

[TheDude]

The problem is that "Free" (libre) software is confused with "free" (gratis) software. And the term Open Source Software can't work because many programs are open sourced but not free.

I just wish from the beginning RMS would have used Libre Software instead of Free Software. Its too confusing.

[Brunellus]

The problem is that "Free" (libre) software is confused with "free" (gratis) software. And the term Open Source Software can't work because many programs are open sourced but not free.

I just wish from the beginning RMS would have used Libre Software instead of Free Software. Its too confusing.

Maybe Stallman (the Caudillo by the Grace of God of the Free Software Movement) didn't speak Spanish at the time?

[az]

Maybe Stallman (the Caudillo by the Grace of God of the Free Software Movement) didn't speak Spanish at the time?

Or french. He just speaks poor english. (He has poor grammar when he speaks, actually)

[drizek]

Maybe Stallman (the Caudillo by the Grace of God of the Free Software Movement) didn't speak Spanish at the time?
We have freedom fries and freedom toast. what about freedom software?

[Kvark]

Actually , it is the assumption that freeware is not proprietary thst is the problem.

There are only two kinds of software:

1-Free (as in libre) and open source

2-Proprietairy
Yeah, the problem is that the term "freeware" contains the word "free". As a result of the fact that "free" can generally mean "costs $0", which is a much bigger problem. Is living in a prison free since you don't have to pay the rent?

"freeware" should be called "gratisware". And "costs $0" should be called "gratis", it should never be called "free".

I doubt this problem is solveable, to cure a language from a very flawed definition would require widespread effort.

[johnistpropaganda]

Just curious, by definition what is freeware, and what would be considered freeware? Or is freeware just a misnomer?

[KingBahamut]

As defined by Wikipedia --

Freeware (also called gratis software or "free as in beer" software) is computer software which

1. is made available free of charge and
2. is not free to be used, copied, studied, modified and redistributed.

This contrasts with "free software" (also called libre software or "free as in speech" software) which

1. can be used, copied, studied, modified and redistributed but
2. might not be free of charge.

[johnistpropaganda]

Ok, got it. If i got uber-naked-tetris 5000 from download.com for XP, which like most of DL.com's stuff is liscenced in a proprietary manner, that would be freeware. actually, now that i think of it, that may be where i picked up the term, and adware to boot.
thanks
-jp-

[auburn]

the worst part about this whole opensource-vs-propietary thing is the end-user knows it's easier to steal propietary software [than learn linux] anyway.

John/Jane Doe realizes there are fewer barriers to *stealing* software than being honest.

And honestly, most people who dont' like bill gates, protest by using illegitimate installations of windows.....

It's like microsoft has done way worse than monopolize the market; they've managed to convince users to not see the ethical issues in stealing software.

How can we possible reverse this? Who, besides us, really cares about these issues?

[drizek]

MS cares about these issues. they lose more money to piracy than to linux/OSX. so when they start going after teh pirates, they will make linux look good.

[RastaMahata]

MS cares about these issues. they lose more money to piracy than to linux/OSX. so when they start going after teh pirates, they will make linux look good.
hah. I think that if they do get all windows pirates and close their update system to original-legal-buyers only, they would lose market.

Imagine it! your w4R3z-zkr1p7-K1dD13 (Damn, that was tough), not being able to use he's enterprise pro platinum recorder software on his ultra oh so pirated cool OS. Hell, he's the one delivering cds (selling?) to the friends/family. In a weird way, piracy sometimes helps.

Dont bite the hand that feeds :P

[BWF89]

There are an entire generation of people growing up that think that x86 is how computers work.....which is a severely retarded view.
I'm pretty sure that everyone is aware of Apple Macintosh.

Just say the word "Apple Computer" to someone that lived through the 80's and they'll be like "OMG! I remembered that really cool Apple Superbowl commercial with the girl and the hammer and the big TV screen".

[panickedthumb]

no, not everyone. Trust me.

And even if they do know, how many know that it's a totally different system? How many people know what a computer architecture is?

No, I'd say that Bahamut is right here.

[BWF89]

no, not everyone. Trust me.

And even if they do know, how many know that it's a totally different system? How many people know what a computer architecture is?

No, I'd say that Bahamut is right here.
Where I live every school in the area uses Apple Macintosh exclusively in grades Kintergarten through 8. And when you get to high school they use Apple Macintosh for everything except the programming classes where they have Windows XP Professsional installed

Number Munchers was a great game back in the day.

[GreyFox503]

This brings up a good point. If you're telling someone about GNU or Linux or whatever, don't call it "freeware". "Freeware" makes me think of some crappy little program you get from download.com that comes with Gator and weatherbug.

People automatically equate "freeware" to mean "a small free download that doesn't work well compared to <whatever>". Because lots of the functional software in Windows costs money (e.g. Nero) people associate freeware with small programs of a lower quality, something we do NOT want to associate with free software.

If people attach these ideas with Linux, it is going to be much harder to convince them of the value of real free software.