Upcoming Pricelessware & Linux

  • Thread starter Thread starter Uncle Fred
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U

Uncle Fred

I'm in the process of switching to Linux and getting all the M$
out of my system. It's a bit of a chore, but it'll be worth it and I'm
amazed at how easily Mandrake 9.1 installs and finds most of my Hardware.
My Printer, my Audigy sound card, and so on all configured during the
install. There's still a couple of features missing, like the cartridge
alignment on my printer, but I'm not picky about that.
I was just starting to wonder about Freeware, (there is a lot for
Linux, by it's very nature), but there are also Payware programs, and
which software is the best? With more and more people switching, I was
wondering if there's a need or use for a Linux section of the
Pricelessware listings. Now yeah, I know it's already a large job with
no pay and if the suggestion is unwelcome, I'll withdraw it, but it seems
to me like the logical "next step."
 
I'm in the process of switching to Linux and getting all the
M$
out of my system. It's a bit of a chore, but it'll be worth it
and I'm amazed at how easily Mandrake 9.1 installs and finds most
of my Hardware. My Printer, my Audigy sound card, and so on all
configured during the install. There's still a couple of features
missing, like the cartridge alignment on my printer, but I'm not
picky about that.
I was just starting to wonder about Freeware, (there is a lot
for
Linux, by it's very nature), but there are also Payware programs,
and which software is the best? With more and more people
switching, I was wondering if there's a need or use for a Linux
section of the Pricelessware listings. Now yeah, I know it's
already a large job with no pay and if the suggestion is
unwelcome, I'll withdraw it, but it seems to me like the logical
"next step."
Click to expand...

The vast majority of software for Linux is open source...and new
alternatives are constantly appearing. In addition, there are
alternatives available for some distros that are not available for
others. By it's nature, it makes attempting to generate a
pricelessware list impractical, imo.

--
Tiger

"If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe; but
precisely because I cannot do this, I must believe."
- Soren Kierkegaard
 
but there doesn't seem to be
one place where one can go
to find the "best" or even for someone to find a piece of free
software for their needs.
Click to expand...

sourceforge.net

--
Tiger

"If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe; but
precisely because I cannot do this, I must believe."
- Soren Kierkegaard
 
Just put a sourceforge search engine in. Job done.
Click to expand...

Im not convinced that that's a good idea. Pricelessware is voted "best
in class" by the group. That's a far cry from just a search engine link
to a huge raw (as in "not selected by the group") repository of
software. I realize there's a page of links at p.org, but they're not
simply pipes to other freeware compendia.
 
Just put a sourceforge search engine in. Job done.
Im not convinced that that's a good idea. Pricelessware is voted "best
in class" by the group. That's a far cry from just a search engine link
to a huge raw (as in "not selected by the group") repository of
software. I realize there's a page of links at p.org, but they're not
simply pipes to other freeware compendia.
Click to expand...
My suggestion was semi-tongue-in-cheek. As DK pointed out earlier in the
thread though; anyone indexing linux appz in a pricelessware-style would
have to point out which builds the software was known to work on; whether
binaries are available or it's code-only; open-source or not etc...it would
be a nightmare to index in any meaningful fashion.
 
And even without all of those considerations (I've had good luck running
RH stuff on Mdk, f'rinstance), the sheer number of
free-as-we-define-them-here would make it impossible to touch more than
a teensy-weensy portion of what's available. That's not to say every
bit of Win freeware's been ACF-tested <g>, but the portion would be
higher.
Click to expand...

Thanks everybody. I guess Linux is a different animal and has
it's own types of soultions. I'm happy for the Sourceforge link and I'll
be investigating that.
 
Uncle said:
I was
wondering if there's a need or use for a Linux section of the
Pricelessware listings. Now yeah, I know it's already a large job with
no pay and if the suggestion is unwelcome, I'll withdraw it, but it seems
to me like the logical "next step."
Click to expand...


I'd like to suggest a different approach. A lot of good information is
posted to the list.

Information about Linux, reviews and comparisions of programs (text
editors etc. etc.), lists of available freeware for a specific task,
links for sites with good information on spyware, trojans - and much
more.

This may be famous last words . . . :)

but it seems to me it would be relatively easy to add these posts to the
Pricelessware site (as UsefulPost1, UsefulPost2 etc.).

Perhaps posts could be nominated and if seconded they could be added.

If there is any interest in having something like this on the
Pricelessware site please add your ideas and comments to the thread.

Susan
 
Perhaps a brief mention that there is a lot of freeware for Linux and
it is easy to try with live CD versions that don't require
installation to a hard drive. See http://www.distrowatch.com and
especially the link at the top of the page to CD distributions. Some
distros like Knoppix allow you to save settings to a floppy or USB
hard drive.

Joe
 
On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 20:03:42 -0400, Dick Kistler wrote:

(snip)
It's true that there are many distributions out
there, and
that Linux people seem to be types that like to twiddle with their software,
but
I have had lots of problems configure, make, make installing programs. I
have even
gotten to the point of favoring binary programs because that is one(maybe
not so good)
indication that the program has compiled on at least one platform.
Click to expand...

There is a lot of stuff that someone wrote in a burst of enthusiasm or as
an experiment, posted somewhere and then essentially abandoned. Watch for
something like version 0.02.01 -- and proceed with caution.
Also a "rating" of software would give some indication of who had done their
homework.
That is, ease of use, help files, documentation, etc. I have been told by
some Linux developers
that they were interested in writing code, and not any of that other stuff
Click to expand...

If you bring up a problem you're having with a Linux program, in my
experience, you will sometimes get one or more very helpful responses.
Other times, maybe depending on the mood of the responder, you'll be told:

*-- Quit whining! Get in there and program a fix yourself.

*-- Obviously, the answer is to download and compile the source code files.

*-- If you weren't hopelessly without a clue, you'd realize you need to
download the latest kernel sources, custom tailor a bazillion options,
debug your results ... and see if maybe it will work then.

*-- You might try downloading the latest update beta of your distro
(hundreds of megabyes worth), make a separate partition on which to
install it, install it, then install the troublesome app, and see if maybe
that helps a little. (Never mind that at the download rate of my dialup
connection, my Linux of choice would have advanced two or three
whole-number releases by the time I got through downloading that monster).

Okay, I'm having a little fun with this, but there is an element of truth to it.

Maybe you need to start an alt.comp.freeware.linux newsgroup first.

Dick
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good idea to me.
 
Snipped lots of good information . . .

Hi Tiger,

With the exception of your post there seems to be a complete lack of
interest in my suggestion . . .

Sorry to be so slow in responding but I wanted to give everybody a
chance to comment (or not). I bow to the will of the *very* silent
majority.
Click to expand...
I hope you bookmarked this site:
http://linuxshop.ru/linuxbegin/win-lin-soft-en/

Now *that* is a helpful site.
 
Uncle said:
With more and more people switching, I
was wondering if there's a need or use for a Linux section of the
Pricelessware listings.
Click to expand...

A while back, I has asked Tiger whether he saw a need for it and his
response was basically the same as he outlined on this thread.

The Pricelessware site can certainly contain an informational page on Linux,
explaining why we do not provide a list for that OS, but including a few
informational links that can jump start anyone. The benefit of using outside
links is that they lead to pages compiled by Linux users and, more
importantly, are maintained by them.

In a separate thread a couple of weeks ago, Blinky suggested this site:
http://linuxshop.ru/linuxbegin/win-lin-soft-en/
Good starting point, I think.
 
On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 20:03:42 -0400, Dick Kistler wrote:

(snip)
It's true that there are many distributions out
there, and
that Linux people seem to be types that like to twiddle with their software,
but
I have had lots of problems configure, make, make installing programs. I
have even
gotten to the point of favoring binary programs because that is one(maybe
not so good)
indication that the program has compiled on at least one platform.
Click to expand...

There is a lot of stuff that someone wrote in a burst of enthusiasm or as
an experiment, posted somewhere and then essentially abandoned. Watch for
something like version 0.02.01 -- and proceed with caution.
Also a "rating" of software would give some indication of who had done their
homework.
That is, ease of use, help files, documentation, etc. I have been told by
some Linux developers
that they were interested in writing code, and not any of that other stuff
Click to expand...

If you bring up a problem you're having with a Linux program, in my
experience, you will sometimes get one or more very helpful responses.
Other times, maybe depending on the mood of the responder, you'll be told:

*-- Quit whining! Get in there and program a fix yourself.

*-- Obviously, the answer is to download and compile the source code files.

*-- If you weren't hopelessly without a clue, you'd realize you need to
download the latest kernel sources, custom tailor a bazillion options,
debug your results ... and see if maybe it will work then.

*-- You might try downloading the latest update beta of your distro
(hundreds of megabyes worth), make a separate partition on which to
install it, install it, then install the troublesome app, and see if maybe
that helps a little. (Never mind that at the download rate of my dialup
connection, my Linux of choice would have advanced two or three
whole-number releases by the time I got through downloading that monster).

Okay, I'm having a little fun with this, but there is an element of truth
to it.

Maybe you need to start an alt.comp.freeware.linux newsgroup first.

Dick
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good idea to me.
 
Susan said:
Delighted to see your ideas - which sound good to me. It's great to
see you posting again. You have been missed. :)
Click to expand...

;) Not half as much as if you had not so superbly handled the PL for us all.
 
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