What is freeware?

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dszady

Due to disruptions beyond the control of the readership as a whole we were
going to discuss "What is the definition of Freeware?" this year.
Now is a good time since John Corliss brought this up.
We had a vote last year on what is relevent to discuss. Should I research
this and then we debate it? It wasn't a debate last year, it was a vote.
 
Due to disruptions beyond the control of the readership as a whole we were
going to discuss "What is the definition of Freeware?" this year.
Now is a good time since John Corliss brought this up.
We had a vote last year on what is relevent to discuss. Should I research
this and then we debate it? It wasn't a debate last year, it was a vote.
Click to expand...

I propose a simpler way (tongue-in-cheek).

If someone suggests/recommends/mentions in passing a certain software product & it does not
receive any rebukes about it not actually being freeware within the next 48 hours, then it
obviously is not a concern & should therefore be classified as freeware (or just a lonely
program that is not wanted by anyone, thus it was not worth mentioning anyway).
 
Due to disruptions beyond the control of the readership as a whole we were
going to discuss "What is the definition of Freeware?" this year.
Now is a good time since John Corliss brought this up.
We had a vote last year on what is relevent to discuss. Should I research
this and then we debate it? It wasn't a debate last year, it was a vote.
Click to expand...

Life is too short.


Gordon
 
Due to disruptions beyond the control of the readership as a whole we were
going to discuss "What is the definition of Freeware?" this year.
Now is a good time since John Corliss brought this up.
We had a vote last year on what is relevent to discuss. Should I research
this and then we debate it? It wasn't a debate last year, it was a vote.
Click to expand...

I think we overanalyze Freeware. I don't know the definition of Freeware,
but I know it when I see it. :)

Bob
 
dszady said:
we were
going to discuss "What is the definition of Freeware?" this year.
Click to expand...

We did - see this thread "[PL] Ware Glossary - Annual Review" (4/27/2004)
We had a vote last year on what is relevent to discuss. Should I research
this and then we debate it? It wasn't a debate last year, it was a vote.
Click to expand...

that was done in the middle of a flame war or two. . . :)

A summary is on this page:

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/Posting.php

This month or next would be a good time to have a discussion and do
another poll.

a related topic. . .

The proposed "PL Procedures" includes a list of acceptable and
unacceptable *Pricelessware List* ware types.

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/PL-Procedures.htm

Susan
 
Bob Adkins said:
I think we overanalyze Freeware. I don't know the definition of Freeware,
but I know it when I see it. :)

Bob
Click to expand...

I agree. For me freeware = do I have to pay for it? If the answers no, I
consider it freeware.

(course then you've got good freeware = spy and adware free & bad freeware =
bundled with the aforementioned crap)

kline
 
On 07 Aug 2004, Susan Bugher wrote

-snip-
a related topic. . .

The proposed "PL Procedures" includes a list of acceptable and
unacceptable *Pricelessware List* ware types.

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/PL-Procedures.htm

Susan
Click to expand...

I realise that this was flogged to death earlier this year, but FWIW I
still feel that one point in the manifesto on that page -- "The goals
of the Pricelessware List do NOT include selecting programs to fit
every subcategory" -- cripples (or at least seriously compromises) the
usefulness of the list.

Categories should be left empty only if there's no suitable freeware
product, not simply because too few voters use the specialist product
categories.

(It's probably best for my blood pressure if I just blissfully ignore
the nominations, discussions and list.)
 
I agree. For me freeware = do I have to pay for it? If the answers no, I
consider it freeware.

(course then you've got good freeware = spy and adware free & bad freeware =
bundled with the aforementioned crap)
Click to expand...

But! You can swat the adware with a Freeware adware swatter. It's a hassle,
but still free. Hmmm...Hassleware. ;)

There are a few of programs that I like despite the Spyware. For example,
Burn4Free is a nice burning software that has Spyware. It's easy to clean,
and you end up with a pretty good program.

Bob
 
Bob said:
I think we overanalyze Freeware. I don't know the definition of Freeware,
but I know it when I see it. :)

Bob
Click to expand...
Didn't want to bring the Supreme Court in on this decision also. :)
Ya know, that certain "Sunshine" State.
You have a good point there.
'Bout sums it up for me too.
 
But! You can swat the adware with a Freeware adware swatter. It's a
hassle, but still free. Hmmm...Hassleware. ;)
Click to expand...

Well and there is adware that is impossible to "swat"
 
Bob said:
But! You can swat the adware with a Freeware adware swatter. It's a hassle,
but still free. Hmmm...Hassleware. ;)
Click to expand...

Nice definition. There is also nagware that can be swatted with a
freeware nagware swatter :-)
 
Due to disruptions beyond the control of the readership as a whole we were
going to discuss "What is the definition of Freeware?" this year.
Now is a good time since John Corliss brought this up.
We had a vote last year on what is relevent to discuss. Should I research
this and then we debate it? It wasn't a debate last year, it was a vote.
Click to expand...

"What is freeware ?" is a frequently asked question. Therefore a
definition is offered in the F.A.Q. for this newsgroup. What part of
the F.A.Q. did you feel was incorrect ?

Regards, John.


--
****************************************************
,-._|\ (A.C.F FAQ) http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/faq.html
/ Oz \ John Fitzsimons - Melbourne, Australia.
\_,--.x/ http://www.vicnet.net.au/~johnf/welcome.htm
v http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/
 
That sounds like a challenge...

Most adware is swattable.
Click to expand...

Make it 'all' and you're landing nearer to truth. But nonetheless most
adware-'improved' programs aren't worth the efforts needed. And above
all: Removing the ads gets one near to warez and serialz. As the author
chose the ads to get some financial (or even self promoting - in some
cases) reward - removing the ads or posting ways to kill them couldn't
be called proper use anymore...

I tolerate mild forms of adware if the program is a bit outstanding
and the ads *will not be loaded off the internet*. InfoRapid 'Search &
Replace' falls in this category. In fact it isn't true adware, but sets
a self promoting banner on top of their results listing. Other people
will have different confines. But as adware is some kind of grey area,
ISTM it *is* more related to shareware than freeware, generally.

BeAr
 
Due to disruptions beyond the control of the readership as a whole we
were going to discuss "What is the definition of Freeware?" this year.
Now is a good time since John Corliss brought this up.
We had a vote last year on what is relevent to discuss. Should I
research this and then we debate it? It wasn't a debate last year, it
was a vote.
Click to expand...

What an utter and collosal waste of time.

Freeware, pure and simple, is computer software for which there is no
cost or no charge, and with no implied or explicit obligation on the part
of the user other than, perhaps, to give credit to the originator, and to
not alter it.

What is there to debate? If there's such an issue over what software can
be spoken of or promoted here, then the group should consider having it
moderated.

Neither voting, discussing, nor debating will ever resolve or control
what takes place here.
 
Due to disruptions beyond the control of the readership as a whole we were
going to discuss "What is the definition of Freeware?" this year.
Now is a good time since John Corliss brought this up.
We had a vote last year on what is relevent to discuss. Should I research
this and then we debate it? It wasn't a debate last year, it was a vote.
Click to expand...

We just have to watch out in case we impose such a strict definition of freeware that this group
& Pricelessware finish up becoming irrelevant & lucky to have more than one or two programs in
each category.

If we impose & extrapolate such inflexible conditions as John proposes, we'll eventually finish
up going down the wrong paths such avoiding programs which have irritating, ad-full, home-pages
you have to visit to download them from. And it could happen.

Even on my own humble site I have a list of links to freeware sites, and I have left out sites
which also contain a lot of shareware.

-=-
 
Bob Adkins said:
But! You can swat the adware with a Freeware adware swatter. It's a hassle,
but still free. Hmmm...Hassleware. ;)

There are a few of programs that I like despite the Spyware. For example,
Burn4Free is a nice burning software that has Spyware. It's easy to clean,
and you end up with a pretty good program.

Bob
Click to expand...

I see your point but, from a personal point of view, I wouldn't want to
encourage the practice of bundling ad and spyware with supposedly what is
supposedly "free" software.

kline
 
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