Google's Chrome would be a good example. Google's business is not selling browsers.... they don't lose any revenue by giving their browser away
There was a time when browsers were sold on store shelves where I worked; namely Netscape. Today we live in a world where people are accustomed to getting them for free. This is not necessarily better as one can see trying to use Chrome without sending private information to Google.
Once the novelty of free and open source has worn off the only advantages I can see would be user goodwill and perhaps some modest community contributions. Disadvantages include enabling competitors, devaluing software production, and risk of community backlash should one change models or they disapprove of the license choice.
My guess is such companies hope to overcome any competitors by executing well and retaining a first-mover position in the market. They are probably unaware of the macro effects of FOSS on labor, and oblivious to potential community issues.
ColorToggle has made the web so much easier on the eyes, stopping all the bleach white backgrounds. Hostname in Titlebar also makes auto-typing with KeePass less spoof-able and more reliable. My own FocyOverride has also helped make KeePass a bit easier to use.
Having used some blocking add-on's like RequestPolicy I don't feel comfortable with the shady practice of consuming content without paying the price of seeing the ads.
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Google's Chrome would be a good example. Google's business is not selling browsers. ... they don't lose any revenue by giving their browser away
There was a time when browsers were sold on store shelves where I worked; namely Netscape. Today we live in a world where people are accustomed to getting them for free. This is not necessarily better as one can see trying to use Chrome without sending private information to Google.
Software has zero intrinsic value. It doesn't generate a single cent (unless you've written a BitCoin miner, I guess).
Video games generate 20+ billion a year and downloadable ones are comprised entirely of software.
Once the novelty of free and open source has worn off the only advantages I can see would be user goodwill and perhaps some modest community contributions. Disadvantages include enabling competitors, devaluing software production, and risk of community backlash should one change models or they disapprove of the license choice. My guess is such companies hope to overcome any competitors by executing well and retaining a first-mover position in the market. They are probably unaware of the macro effects of FOSS on labor, and oblivious to potential community issues.
ColorToggle has made the web so much easier on the eyes, stopping all the bleach white backgrounds. Hostname in Titlebar also makes auto-typing with KeePass less spoof-able and more reliable. My own FocyOverride has also helped make KeePass a bit easier to use. Having used some blocking add-on's like RequestPolicy I don't feel comfortable with the shady practice of consuming content without paying the price of seeing the ads.