Paid Linux software - open or closed source. Recommendations?

[akulbe]

Hi folks. Question for you... what paid applications do you use with Linux, that you'd recommend?

The reason I'm asking this question here, is because the Ubuntu Software Center mostly has only games that are available for pay.

(Also, please... no comments about the request for closed-source recommendations. I have nothing against this, in principal. Software devs need to make a living too. If you want to argue about that, please, let's do it somewhere else.)

I'd like to support Linux devs, and ongoing Linux devleopment. I figure this is one of the best ways to do that.

As a list, I've got the following so far:
App-Make-inator
Game-Make-inator
Better Compare
Blender <donation-ware>
calibre <donation-ware>
IntelliJ IDEA (Ultimate) 12.1.3
Scrivener (it's free now, but I'll definitely be paying when he moves to a paid model)
Sublime Text
Maple
Wolfram Mathematica 9
VMware Workstation 9

Any others you'd recommend? I'm not interested in games as much... there are plenty of those available in the Ubuntu Software Center.

Thanks!

[coldraven]

Calibre, it's free but has a nice big donate button.

[monkeybrain2012]

Why do you have blender in the list? You can donate if you want, but it is not a paid application and it is entirely open source.

[ajgreeny]

Some people with "difficult" scanners swear by Vuescan, which can find some machines that sane seems to ignore. I've never needed it myself, though I did look at it recently, just to find out more about it, and it certainly worked fine with my HP multifunction machine.

You can get it from http://www.hamrick.com/ and there is no need to install it into the system; just run the executable from the extracted archive in your /home. If sane works for you this may be totally unnecessary, of course.

[akulbe]

"Why do you have blender in the list? You can donate if you want, but it is not a paid application and it is entirely open source."

Yeah, I thought that one was a paid app. My mistake. Still definitely worth donating to, though. :)

[cariboo]

@akulbe, this is just to let you know that we have removed edit limits on all posts less than a year old, so you can edit your first post if you want.

[Bucky Ball]

Hi folks. Question for you... what paid applications do you use with Linux ...


Answer for you: None.

[akulbe]

Bucky Ball: Why not? do you have something against paying a developer for the hard work they put into creating the applications that you use? :)

[Irihapeti]

I currently use no paid-for applications. Not for ideological reasons, but because I don't need to.

I did use a paid-for dialup modem driver from Linuxant. That got me online for over 18 months before I was able to get a high-speed connection.

[Bucky Ball]

Bucky Ball: Do you have something against paying a developer for the hard work they put into creating the applications that you use? :)

None at all. There is a difference in paying for the software (meaning you buy the software) or you download the software, use it and are under no obligation to pay but can donate if you want/can afford to (you may actually help in other ways than money, incidentally). So are you asking whether I support buying software from a developer or using their software and donating if I want? I took the meaning of this thread as in the first context; what software, open or closed source, have I bought for Linux (not donated to) and would I recommend?

If you're asking whether I'd buy software to use on Ubuntu, the short answer is as was; no. If you mean would I donate to an open-source project to support a hard-working developer (perhaps even one working on software I see benefit in but I wouldn't use), the answer would be yes.

What I was trying to say in the context I was saying it is: No, I have no recommendations because I don't 'buy' software to use on Ubuntu.

Anyway, this is getting off topic and getting I'm off out of here. Have fun ... ;)

[evilsoup]

Only games (Osmos, Spacechem, a few other HiB things; and Artemis running on wine).

Most of my paid software is on my Windows box, beause it's not available for Linux.

[Tamlynmac]

akulbe
Bucky Ball: Why not? do you have something against paying a developer for the hard work they put into creating the applications that you use?

Donation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donation), note that it's meaning doesn't imply or impart any obligation:

A donation is a gift given by physical or legal persons, typically for charitable purposes and/or to benefit a cause.

As for commercial Linux software for PC users (non-business):

Why are so many Linux distros including Xubuntu (the distro your using) free and why do the members here freely share information and assist other users? Wouldn't their time be better spent profiting from said knowledge?

You asked a support question here (forums) regarding moving an HDD. I think it may be hypocritical to use a free distro and ask for free support, then suggest users should feel obligated to pay someone to create an app. Do you have a problem paying Canonical for Xubuntu support and for the knowledge base require to provide said support? Have you donate to all the apps that were included in the release or deleted them? :-k

The difference is, this community and it's members doesn't seek to profit from helping others. Perhaps, this (http://freeopensourcesoftware.org/index.php?title=FOSS_Philosophy) might explain one of the concepts better than I ever could. I hope someday (in the near future) every human has direct access to a PC, the net, information and quality software - regardless of their economic status. Writing the last line, while looking over my shoulder for MS hit men. :grin:

Just my $0.02

[SeijiSensei]

As someone who has run Linux servers for over a decade now, my reason for using free and open-source applications has less to do with money than with security. If I'm going to expose my server to the wild-and-wooly Internet, I don't want to rely on a piece of closed-source software whose potential vulnerabilities are not exposed for all to see and repair.

I will admit I do enjoy not having to pay for any software for years now. I "pay" for my use of open applications by contributing to forums like this.

[oldrocker99]

Well, all the Humble Bundle games I have paid for, all the Steam and Desura games I have paid for. None of the games I have paid for (with a couple Bundle exceptions) have been open source.

That being said, I have contributed to various open source projects, monetarily and otherwise.

[Version Dependency]

A few excellent (depending on your profession) paid programs that run on Linux include:

Guitar Pro (http://www.guitar-pro.com/en/index.php) (editor for guitar/bass tablature)
Illumination Software Creator (http://lunduke.com/?page_id=3454) (tool for visually designing and developing software) In the software center.
SEO PowerSuite (http://www.link-assistant.com/) (professional SEO software suite)

[rewyllys]

My paid Linux software programs are Crossover Linux, Mathematica 9, and PDF Studio Pro.

I also frequently donate to the vendors of "gratis" Linux programs, and I donate monthly to Linux Mint.

[LordDelta]

LGPLv4 ...

Adds a clause: 'the source must be made available for this program, but this program must not be sold in binary form for free'.

Just a suggestion. I suspect someone will flame me for it.

Free programs are great, but I'm getting a bit tired that there aren't better developed programs for such a great community. I feel like money would be a huge motivating factor at this stage in Linux development.

And by better programs, I mean **** that kicks all sorts of previous @ss of all the programs before it. Seriously, Linux apps are kick@ss today, imagine how much more kick@ss they'd be if you had legions of talented developers working on it day and night.

We've already seen what that can do for a market like the iPhone/Android. It should be applicable for Linux too.

I want to see a billion different apps for Linux within 5 years. I think it could happen too, with the right backing.

[jacrider2]

I've used VueScan for a long time because it provided the best support for my scanner when I started using it, but it has become clear that Hamrick doesn't intend to continue Linux support. He hasn't removed it from his website yet, but he is still using Ubuntu 10.10 to build Linux versions and he has shown no willingness to provide any assistance with problems I've encountered on Ubuntu 13.10. I'm hoping sane will provide the capability I need.

[buzzingrobot]

...the Ubuntu Software Center mostly has only games that are available for pay.


I assume you mean the only software packages available for pay on the Software Center are games, not that only games are available on the Center. (I'm not sure that's accurate, either.)

But, no, I'm not using any "pay for" software. Not for ideological reasons. There's nothing I want to buy. I'd happily pay an App Store price for apps that improve on the ones I use now.

[rrnbtter]

Greetings,
1. I use Moneydance, since not having Quicken made Linux a dealbreaker for my wife. Moneydance is an acceptable replacement (if not better).
2. I have a registered Nero 4 Linux but have quit using it since K3B has evolved so well. K3B requires some K libraries but the extra space is well worth the effort.

In addition I don't mind paying for what I find useful. However I still like free since it's possible to pay a lot of money for trash software in any OS. Linux in general has some great software both free and premium. K has some polished software if you don't mind installing an extra 80meg of dependencies.

[lykwydchykyn]

I pay in code; does that count?

[seanmoir99]

Only Games e.g Half-Life 2

MY LIST

Counter-Strike:Source
Half-Life 2
Half-Life
Garry's Mod
Portal

[oldrocker99]

The ONLY closed-source programs on my system are games. Period. I looked at Nero for Linux, a paid-for closed source program, and it offered absolutely nothing that k3b doesn't do.