Since it's Friday and I am not doing much today, I'll jump in. When one buys (actually licenses) a version of what is called "MS-Windows", they get a lot of different programs all "bundled" together. The programs which make up the .net run-time environment are a part of this bundle. Therefore, IMO, .net run-time is an integral part of MS-Windows and so is not "free" per se. You don't pay for it separately, like you do for MS-Office. But you can't get .net run-time separate from MS-Windows (well, ignoring Mono at this point, you can't run Mono on MS-Windows). Also, you cannot legally get and use the bundle called MS-Windows without a license. That license may be paid for by you; or by a friend; or hidden as the "Microsoft tax" when you purchase a PC with MS-Windows pre-installed. .net run-time is like Internet Explorer. Both are bundled and their use is allowed because you have a license for MS-Windows.
In opposition to this would be software such as Oracle's Java and LibreOffice. Neither of these are distributed in the "MS-Windows bundle". Both of these may be downloaded, installed, and used without paying money or "other consideration". However, if you look closely at the sites, you will see that there is a explicitly granted license to you to allow you download, install, and use them. They are not "public domain". Java is gratis (no cost). LibreOffice is both gratis (no cost) and libre (you can get; modify; and redistribute). Technically, you are not supposed to download Java, then give that downloaded copy to another. You are only granted the right to download Java for yourself, for use on that specific PC. Again, unlike LibreOffice whose license allows you to redistribute it. In the z/OS world, what exactly is z/OS? It definitely isn't free, so what is being paid for? Is it the BCP which actually costs money; and the rest (like TSO, LLA, VLF, DFSMSdfp, LE) are "free" just because bundled? LE might be considered the ".net of z/OS". LE is not cost-free! You certainly can't order z/OS without getting and using LE. If you don't like LE as an example, what about DFSMSdfp? It is also bundled and not part of the BCP. There is other software which runs on z/OS which some might consider as part of z/OS. One example is "Communications Server", aka VTAM and TCPIP. Guess what? You can order z/OS without ordering Communications Server. It is useful? Well, how about a batch-only image which is connected to another system using a CTC as an NJE channel. The second image could do JES2 NJE to the batch image without the need for Communications Server. Sounds weird to me, but what do I know of unusual requirements? There is other software which is obviously not part of z/OS: the compilers for example. Anyway, the way that I think of it ".net" is not free because it's cost is bundled into MS-Windows. Other may consider it to be "free" because it is not separately priced. You pays your money, you takes your choice. Either way, you pay money to MS. -- John McKown Systems Engineer IV IT Administrative Services Group HealthMarkets(r) 9151 Boulevard 26 * N. Richland Hills * TX 76010 (817) 255-3225 phone * john.mck...@healthmarkets.com * www.HealthMarkets.com Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message may contain confidential or proprietary information. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. HealthMarkets(r) is the brand name for products underwritten and issued by the insurance subsidiaries of HealthMarkets, Inc. -The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company(r), Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of TennesseeSM and The MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company.SM > -----Original Message----- > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] > On Behalf Of Shmuel Metz (Seymour J.) > Sent: Friday, September 28, 2012 7:51 AM > To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU > Subject: Re: Another Light goes out > > In <5064c431.8000...@bremultibank.com.pl>, on 09/27/2012 > at 11:25 PM, "R.S." <r.skoru...@bremultibank.com.pl> said: > > >We (me and others) claim that .NET framework is free of charge. > >Having it does not involve any additional cost. > > Does that mean that you will steal a copy of windoze? You are not > legally allowed to use .net without it, and that does involve an > additional cost. Whether you chose to pay that additional cost for > other reasons is irrelevant. > > -- > Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz, SysProg and JOAT > Atid/2 <http://patriot.net/~shmuel> > We don't care. We don't have to care, we're Congress. > (S877: The Shut up and Eat Your spam act of 2003) > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
