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Ubuntu Software Center Criticized For Mixing Free and Non-Free Software

Posted by Soulskill on from the don't-cross-the-streams dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Tony Mobily has been watching the evolution of the Ubuntu Software Center for quite a while now. He had doubts about its interface and its speed, but liked the fact that it offered an easy, down-to-earth interface that allowed users to install software conveniently. However, the evolution of USC is worrying him a lot. Mobily is against confusing proprietary software with non-proprietary software, which USC seems to be doing. USC plays an important role — especially for newbie users, who can use it to discover new software more readily than via the package management system. But is there room for improvement?

2 of 216 comments (clear)

  1. Tony by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Tony? Who the fuck is Tony?

  2. Re:Cry me a river. by tonymercmobily · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You are assuming that I have a problem with people using proprietary software.

    What I *DO* have a problem with, is a program that mixes the free software I write with proprietary software, in the same screens, with the same "free" tag attached to it. As an _author_ who spent close to three years developing free software, I DO care. I think there are good reasons why I should care.

    Of course it's their choice to do that. But I can at least point out that, as a free software author, I feel that what they are doing is not ideal.