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TheOpenCD 1.4 Released
Lykos writes "From OpenCD's website: 'TheOpenCD is a collection of high quality Free and Open Source Software. The programs run in Windows and cover the most common tasks such as word processing, presentations, e-mail, web browsing, web design, and image manipulation.' This is a great little package to leave lying around your friends' workplace to convince them to go opensource. =) Lots of quality programs in one convenient package."
Seriosuly, isn't this the first item on *everyone's* install list?
There's a surprising amount of people selling Free software to uninformed people.
Of course, some folks wouldn't mind paying ~$5 for a CD full of free software if they have slow Internet connections. But yeah, it would be nice if the money went to the OpenCD people, rather than the eBay middlemen.
There's a surprising amount of people selling Free software to uninformed people.
And this is bad why? It spreads the free software to people who wouldn't have otherwise gotten it.
"I believe in parting a fool and his money as soon as possible" -- someone
Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
People like SuSE and RedHat, for instance?
Check www.gnu.org if you're still unclear on whether you can sell free software.
Hint: you can.
Leaving that CD around won't convince anybody to go to OpenSource software. I don't have the time to look at some CD that was left around by someone attempting to tempt me to 'go over' to their side.
As the Purchasing Agent and the entire IT Staff I get all sorts of DemoCD Crap sent to me all the time. All sorts of "Look at how awesome our crap is!", "Try it once and wonder how you ever did without it!"
Most of it is all the same, they come from silly 'Microsoft Partners' all selling the same thing... Some kind of 'Revolutionary Business Management Software' that we would have to build our business around to get anything out of it. The rest of it is a mess of various CAD/CAM systems, most of which are the worst crap you ever did see...
Do you know what I do with it all? I dump it into the trash first thing. I don't read the marketing hype, I don't waste a moment attempting to load something that then demands I 'Register' the Demo to get a Demo unlock code that does nothing but mark me as a 'target' to their sales drones...
If we need software, my job is to head out and find it. I look at OSS first, because most of the little side software packages we need won't require massive retraining, like zip software or other utilities like that...
So, would a CD Found laying around our office end up in any PC? Heck no, especially if it is unmarked... There could be all sorts of nasties on it we don't want/need on our network...
Keep your CD to yourself unless someone mentions looking for a mess of free software, then give them the CD.
If you ignore the other uses of a tool, does that make the tool less useful, or you less useful?
If you take a look at the screenshots of all the included apps you'll notice the many different sets of widgets. One uses native W32 widgets, the other one GNOME-style, the third one has own.. - this will only confuse the user and in my opinion shows a large problem free GUI software is facing today.
That would require an internet connection. At least with the cd, you can take it anywhere and use it on computers, internet connection or not.
Well, they did it with multiple redundant trackers, but it looks like they're all dead. That's what I hate about BT. It's great when it works, but finding a reliable tracker is about as easy as finding Osama Bin Laden. The tracker software apparently needs a massive re-write.
I have a general security question about open source software. I am not a programmer so bear with me if this is redundant. The idea I have is that open source would by nature be more vulnerable to viri, spywarez, etc because anyone can see the source code. wouldnt this be much easier for "evildoers" to take advantage of? obviously the argument that keeping source code secret makes it safer is a shaky one, kinda like to one about outlawing guns (then only outlaws will have em...) people are already finding tons of flaws in windsows, and M$ writing quality on the box doesnt seem to do much about this. and this is with little or no info on sourrce code. wouldnt this type of activity be much higher (if it is easier to do, more people will do it) with open source software? I think there are 2 reasons why linux virii are not a factor. 1 there are too few computers out there for anything to replicate itself. 2 more importantly, the linux crowd is a tech savvy one, keeping a regular eye on their machines, and if a problem is found they deal with it themselves. I see a big problem here with open source goin mainstream. even if open source became simple to install. ie fool proof gui, that said install, yes, no, back and next. sure more people would have it, but there will always be people that are not tech savvy. some of them may be very intelligent etc, but just do not have the time to worry about it. I know this is kinda off topic, but would be really interested to read what the /. crowd thinks about open source being more secure, and why.
Why don't you provide a link to some of your auctions? Do you talk and hawk OpenOffice and GIMP but fail to mention that they are free programs that could be downloaded if the poor modem user wanted to spend the time?
I've seen some really bad examples on eBay. One guy was rebranding everything, QCad was LuxuriosityCAD, and then there was Luxuriosity Office. Basically, trying to profit from the work of others, or trick people into buying something they could have gotten for free.
If your eBay blurbs do state that you are distributing open-source software for free, and only charging for media and shipping costs, then I'd consider you to be an exception to the rule.
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Oh, I completely agree. Not that there would be room on the disks. :) But back then the Fish Disks were invaluable for legally spreading around good free/shareware software at a time when the internet wasn't so commonly available.
I think TheOpenCD is a good idea for increasing OSS availability/awareness, though I question it's validity in this day when everyone is used to just "downloading and installing". Also, everyone seems to want "the latest version" and OSS apps go through versions rapidly, quickly outdating the CD.
biopowered.co.uk - catalytically cracking triglycerides for home automotive use since 2008. Just say no to big oil!
Not knowing how to use the program properly is not the programs fault. The problem is between the keyboard and the chair.
This P.I.G. will walk on the water, This P.I.G. will walk on the sea, This P.I.G. will walk whereever he wants.
With 3200+ comments under your belt, you should be able to write your own rebuttal with half your brain tied behind your back, even if you don't believe it.
Nevertheless, because I'm avoiding studying for finals, I'll dish out the standard reply:
There are two reasons to choose a piece of open source software. The first is the pragmatic, is-this-the-best-fit reason. You choose an OSS app because it does what you want better than any of the alternatives.
The often low-to-zero price is sometimes a big advantage from this perspective, but it is just one part of the overall fit. The availability of source code is another. Availability from multiple vendors and adherence to standards can also be attractive from this viewpoint.
The second reason, of course, is all about freedom. This is the one that causes many people to embrace open source applications even when the proprietary world is kicking its butt as far as features and ease of use go. The freedom to explore, to experiment, to use in virtually any way you see fit. The freedom to modify and redistribute. Also, because anyone can take the product and fork it if they're unhappy, OSS packages generally have to avoid doing nasty things to annoy the user base. Spyware, malware, ad-ware, all becomes virtually impossible. Why? Because people don't want it, and because it's *free* nobody can force it on them.
Look at the web browser situation. When IE doesn't have stiff competition, everyone writes HTML with an eye towards IE, not towards accepted standards. This gives Microsoft a great deal of control over how most of us experience the Internet.
This is just one of many examples of how ordinary software users are affected by their choice of tools, and why software can be considered a worthwhile cause for non-developers.
You want the truthiness? You can't handle the truthiness!
If you would have read the whole advertisement on Ebay you would have seen that he clearly states that all the software on the CD is may be freely downloaded off the internet and that this CD is being provided simply as a convenience to those who don't have the time or bandwidth to download them all. And at $6.98 delivered to your door I don't think he's exactly ripping people off.
"She's a West Texas girl, just like me" - G.W Bush Iraqis
That's like somebody advocating the use of torx screws as opposed to phillips head.
Oh yeah, TOTALLY the same thing as Free software versus proprietary software.
Because, you know, phillips head screws come with 8-page LICENSES that tell you what brand of screw you can use, and how many toolboxes you can move it between, and, oh yeah, here's a 16-digit SCREWDRIVER ACTIVATION CODE! If you need to move to another room in your house, you have to re-enter to code. It only takes 30 minutes, tops!
For me the best tool is the one that doesn't have strings attached. If I can't find one, I'll take the strings-attached version, but it better be *GOOD* (Photoshop, Mac OS X, VMWare .. that's about it).
I guess you don't want Windows users e-mailing you (unless they have Cygwin installed, that is).
Sounds like a good plan if you ask me...
Shame on Google.