Why is freeware so much fun?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mike Henley
  • Start date Start date
M

Mike Henley

Sometimes, not always, but still sometimes, I get more fun from
browsing freeware directories, downloading apps, trying them than I
get from almost any other activity I could do then. It's strange, but
true. It's like I'm curious if there's an archiver or organizer, or
whatever, that's better than the one i'm using, and if there are a
couple somewhere on a site I really wanna check them out.

It's often useful for sure, but sometimes it seems I am more into it
then the usefulness aspect, such as when I exhaust the freeware list
that interest me in a certain platform, then make a switch to another
platform, at a risk of initial upset to usefulness, just to find a
hoard of new freeware for me to go through, such as when I switched
from PalmOS to PocketPC this year.

Download.com, snapfiles, nonags, sf.net, freewarepalm, freewarppc, ...
etc. It's insane, but strangely fun.
 
Download.com, snapfiles, nonags, sf.net, freewarepalm, freewarppc, ...
etc. It's insane, but strangely fun.
Click to expand...

I quite agree. The freeware part is like finding a piece of jewelry in the
street. More than that, trying a new program lets you look into the thinking of
the programmer.
Connie
 
Sometimes, not always, but still sometimes, I get more fun from
browsing freeware directories, downloading apps, trying them than I
get from almost any other activity I could do then. It's strange, but
true. It's like I'm curious if there's an archiver or organizer, or
whatever, that's better than the one i'm using, and if there are a
couple somewhere on a site I really wanna check them out.

It's often useful for sure, but sometimes it seems I am more into it
then the usefulness aspect, such as when I exhaust the freeware list
that interest me in a certain platform, then make a switch to another
platform, at a risk of initial upset to usefulness, just to find a
hoard of new freeware for me to go through, such as when I switched
from PalmOS to PocketPC this year.

Download.com, snapfiles, nonags, sf.net, freewarepalm, freewarppc, ...
etc. It's insane, but strangely fun.
Click to expand...

It's a recognised medical condition and this is the support group for
it.

My name is Semolina and I'm a freewareoholic. It all began in 1983
when I tried one little Public Domain program. I had a wife and
family then...
 
Sometimes, not always, but still sometimes, I get more fun from
browsing freeware directories, downloading apps, trying them than I
get from almost any other activity I could do then. It's strange, but
Click to expand...

I have several reasons for my interest in freeware:

1: I cannot afford commercial software.

2: Even if I was rich I feel a solidarity with other poor people in the world.
They may be able to buy a computer, or build one from scrap parts as I did in the beginning. And they may afford to get an internet
connection. But they cannot afford to buy commercial software. It is in the interest of the people of the world that software is free,
both from equality considerations and from the freedom of information point of view.

3: Freeware, and especially open source software, has better chances to evolve to suit all users than proprietary software which is
totally controlled by one individual or one company, and can be stopped dead in its development at any moment.

4: Software are tools, and tools should be free to use for all people equally.
When all people can use the tools they evolve to serve all people. If only rich people (in the western world) have access to tools
they tend to form those tools to serve only their own interests.
 
Mike said:
Sometimes, not always, but still sometimes, I get more fun from
browsing freeware directories, downloading apps, trying them than I
get from almost any other activity I could do then. It's strange, but
true. It's like I'm curious if there's an archiver or organizer, or
whatever, that's better than the one i'm using, and if there are a
couple somewhere on a site I really wanna check them out.

It's often useful for sure, but sometimes it seems I am more into it
then the usefulness aspect, such as when I exhaust the freeware list
that interest me in a certain platform, then make a switch to another
platform, at a risk of initial upset to usefulness, just to find a
hoard of new freeware for me to go through, such as when I switched
from PalmOS to PocketPC this year.

Download.com, snapfiles, nonags, sf.net, freewarepalm, freewarppc, ...
etc. It's insane, but strangely fun.
Click to expand...

From my perspective, it's a revolt against the ridiculously high
prices charged for *some* (NOTE, TROLLS: I SAID *SOME*, NOT *ALL*)
commercial software.

Always has been.
 
Semolina said:
My name is Semolina and I'm a freewareoholic. It all began in 1983
when I tried one little Public Domain program. I had a wife and
family then...
Click to expand...

I say good riddance. *Freeware* doesn't make unreasonable demands.
("Could you spare a few minues of your precious time?") Freeware makes
no demands. It doesn't ask for your time or your money. Freeware is just
there when you need it.

IMO you made the right choice. ;)

Susan
 
_Semolina Pilchard_, mercoledì 25/ago/2004:
It's a recognised medical condition and this is the support group for
it.

My name is Semolina and I'm a freewareoholic. It all began in 1983
when I tried one little Public Domain program.
Click to expand...

I'm with you :)
I had a wife and family then...
Click to expand...

A wife? I've always thought you were a female.
Where does Semolina come from?
 
It's a recognised medical condition and this is the support group for it.

My name is Semolina and I'm a freewareoholic. It all began in 1983
when I tried one little Public Domain program. I had a wife and
family then...
Click to expand...

Interesting. I would have thought "Semolina" would have/had a
husband. Maybe you really *are* a seafood pasta? ;-0

But I do agree that freeware is fun. Frustrating and often too buggy
for serious work, but fun anyway.

Cheers, Phred.
 
MLC said:
_Semolina Pilchard_, mercoledì 25/ago/2004:


I'm with you :)


A wife? I've always thought you were a female.
Where does Semolina come from?
Click to expand...
I'm guessing Semolina Pilchard comes from the song "I am the Walrus" by The
Beatles

"Semolina pilchards climbing up the Eiffel tower"
 
A wife? I've always thought you were a female.
Where does Semolina come from?
Click to expand...

It's from "I Am The Walrus".

Expert, texpert choking smokers
don't you think the joker laughs at you
See how they smile like pigs in a sty
See how they snide
I'm crying
Semolina pilchard
climbing up the Eiffel tower
Elementary penguin singing Hare Krishna
Man, you should have seen them kicking
Edgar Allan Poe

And it's a looooong story...
 
I have several reasons for my interest in freeware:

1: I cannot afford commercial software.

2: Even if I was rich I feel a solidarity with other poor people in the world.
They may be able to buy a computer, or build one from scrap parts as I did in the beginning. And they may afford to get an internet
connection. But they cannot afford to buy commercial software. It is in the interest of the people of the world that software is free,
both from equality considerations and from the freedom of information point of view.

3: Freeware, and especially open source software, has better chances to evolve to suit all users than proprietary software which is
totally controlled by one individual or one company, and can be stopped dead in its development at any moment.

4: Software are tools, and tools should be free to use for all people equally.
When all people can use the tools they evolve to serve all people. If only rich people (in the western world) have access to tools
they tend to form those tools to serve only their own interests.
Click to expand...

I was with you through one two and three. "If only rich people (in the
western world) . . ." I assume by western world you mean the USA? Do
rich people in the rest of the world behave differently? I wouldn't
know, not being rich myself, or observing many "rich" people.

I live in the US and have seen my "standard of living" steadily
decrease over the last 50+ years. The rest of the world is envious?
Be careful what you wish for . . .

Watch the EU - they are just now setting up copyright and patent laws
that virtually guarantee multinational corporations will own the tools
exclusively and in perpetuity. And you poor souls in Europe seem to
think it is only happening in the US.

The only goal worth chasing is one's happiness. Material things,
beyond the necessities, are not important, compared to real wealth.

"Forming tools to serve their own interests?" DUH? How else should a
tool be formed? If it doesn't serve its purpose its usefulness as a
tool is limited or nonexistent. That statement just seemed illogical
to me.

This isn't some great conspiracy (oh it could be on some level) just
greedy people doing what they can to secure their own material wealth.
The same people, with the same foibles populate the rest of the
planet. We don't have the market cornered on idiots or greedy
bastards - although there are times when I can see how we must give
that impression to the rest of the world.

Information should be free. Information is the tool. There should be
limits to how long one person or corporation should be able to profit
from the development of a tool.

There are no shortages . . . just a surplus of people.
 
Susan said:
I say good riddance. *Freeware* doesn't make unreasonable demands.
("Could you spare a few minues of your precious time?") Freeware makes
no demands. It doesn't ask for your time or your money. Freeware is just
there when you need it.

IMO you made the right choice. ;)
Click to expand...


I agree. Freeware doesn't nag you with "take out the garbage", "not
tonight, I have a headache", "why don't you make more money", "take me to
the playground, Daddy", etc., etc.

And, with Freeware, you can 'fool around' with it any time you want.

Loren
 
On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 20:10:12 GMT, in Newsgroup--> alt.comp.freeware, the
personage of 512/udp <[email protected]>, courtesy of Message-id


Another nay-sayer/potty-mouth (not John Corliss) falls into the bit-bucket.
Click to expand...
wow. you've sure become a penis smoker since leaving warez...
 
["Signpoet"; Wed, 25 Aug 2004 12:43:39 GMT]
I quite agree. The freeware part is like finding a piece of jewelry in
the street. More than that, trying a new program lets you look into
the thinking of the programmer.
Click to expand...

Plus there can be the feeling of helping out the little guy, with smaller
applications.
 
Vrodok said:
512/udp bleated & squealed:

Another nay-sayer/potty-mouth (not John Corliss) falls into the bit-bucket.
Click to expand...

Vrodok,
Won't do you any good. It's just another sock puppet for the local
troll. Best just to ignore.
 
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