If you think about it, it's really only another "front-end" that they are charging for. Re-write Synaptic into a bunch of snazzy web pages that install or uninstall software packages (C-N-R) and you've got the free version of the same thing!
On 7/7/07, Oren Beck orenbeck@gmail.com wrote:
On 7/7/07, Earle Beason Earle-Beason@kc.rr.com wrote:
Linspire/Freespire
In response to watching videos on NBC
Wow, I evaluated this and I am not impressed, don't like the fact I have to "PAY" for Linux programs that are normally free with other distros, and I can't update anything with out becoming a "MEMBER" of the "CNR," I would agree with those who are saying to go to another program. Fedora 7 quite large but google "Perfect Fedora 7 desktop" and voila, everything needed for a good start. Then add caldega for your games, you should be good to go. If your close to grandview you can come over and evaluate my setup on a weekend.
Bet Linspire will emulate Microsoft s other ventures................. _______________________________________________
It at first does seem as if your evaluation of Linspire's "pay" CNR is valid. And rather Damning. Then I took a moment to evaluate the elements for and against such a concept. The initial judgement was a split decision. Part of my thinking holds that direct demand of payment for "software itself" is not the best idea. DO note that the exceptions to that rule are "works for hire" and "non-public" sector. Quibbling over those definitions will like as not start a flame way we'd better consider avoiding ok? The other split in the decision is that fees for" Pay CNR" and variants are a potential payment to the coders themselves for a change. IF schemes like a "pay" CNR were paying a % to the coders or systems integration persons I would feel it a "Good Karma" tax and feel much better about it.
Now a "free" marketplace using CNR functional equal tools?
The final verdict will be in the marketplace. As it should be. Moving on from the Deep Thoughts on Karma Payments dept we look at the nuts&bolts zone. CNR does offer a "baby step" for gaining ground in liberating users from MS.
I offer a third path. IF we can make it so- The MS world currently has done one model element to be emulated. Plug-ins that have become closer to seamless no skill needed. AS opposed to CNR et all that still mandate a user initiated search for a tool or application, we could have Linux distros generate a method of determining which plug-ins are needful for OhSay - Flash? And then seamlessly fetching, installing and using them.
While the devil lurks in details, somwhere along the build path of that vision where Flash etc becomes a background process , lies the seeds of my aforementioned homegrown function alike for CNR.
That all in layman's english means the present cruppage of TGZ ,DEB, RPM can be replaced by a GUI operation of "Visit *trusted* website" Drag&drop - and it just plain runs.
All it takes is for the coders among us to make it so.
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