Re: [Freedos-user] Some food for thought

[Jim Hall]

>
> On 22/05/2016 21:10, Ralf Quint wrote:
> > I think what the author mentions does apply in an even greater range to
> > FreeDOS
> >
> > http://www.techrepublic.com/article/time-linux-fans-open-their-arms-to-closed-source/
>

On Sun, May 22, 2016 at 2:37 PM, Mateusz Viste  wrote:
> I agree with the author, but I fail to see the point you are trying to
> make regarding FreeDOS.
>
> FreeDOS users are free to use whatever software they like - and I'm
> pretty sure most FreeDOS users run FreeDOS to execute mainly proprietary
> applications (old games, productivity software from the nineties, etc) -
> after all, that's exactly what FreeDOS has been designed for in the
> first place.
>
> What FreeDOS, as a /distribution/ ships with, is a totally different
> subject. The article you point to doesn't imply that Linux distributions
> should start distributing closed-source software.
>

The most significant statement came at the end of the article:

"Open source has been very good to me for over a decade and I intend
on never using a closed source desktop or server platform. Why?
Because I have found [open source] to be the single best platform for
me to get my work done efficiently and reliably. On top of those
platforms, however, I will use whatever tool gets the job done.
Closed, open, or somewhere in between. When a viable open sourced
alternative to a closed source app arrives, I'll happily replace that
closed source software. Until then, well...you get the idea."

And I think this is true for many FreeDOSers. Mainly because most of
us are "of an age" and grew up in a time before "Free software" and
"Open source software" were a thing, and commercial software was just
fine (WordPerfect and Lotus 123 are excellent examples). At that time,
"shareware" was the closest we got to permissive copying. And even the
try-before-you-buy model of shareware worked well, and gave us quality
software (games like Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM, Commander Keen, Duke Nukem
.. office software like Galaxy Write and AsEasyAs .. and so on).

So like many Linux users, FreeDOSers may choose "closed source"
applications. But I think as the article also suggests, most prefer
the core operating system is free/open source software.

jh

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Re: [Freedos-user] Some food for thought

[Rugxulo]

Hi,

On Sun, May 22, 2016 at 2:37 PM, Mateusz Viste  wrote:
> On 22/05/2016 21:10, Ralf Quint wrote:
>> I think what the author mentions does apply in an even greater range to
>> FreeDOS
>>
>> http://www.techrepublic.com/article/time-linux-fans-open-their-arms-to-closed-source/
>
> The article you point to doesn't imply that Linux distributions
> should start distributing closed-source software.

Linux is already partially closed source. Binary blobs, needing
proprietary firmware, various other things like Steam or maybe EME, I
dunno. The FSF doesn't promote any of the popular, major Linux distros
because of this.

Some of that is unavoidable: accept it (despite no sources) or do without.

But I assume they still want the "core" to be free. Optional
media/gaming stuff is probably okay (or at least "mostly"
unavoidable), but core functionality? No way.

--
Mobile security can be enabling, not merely restricting. Employees who
bring their own devices (BYOD) to work are irked by the imposition of MDM
restrictions. Mobile Device Manager Plus allows you to control only the
apps on BYO-devices by containerizing them, leaving personal data untouched!
https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/304595813;131938128;j
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Re: [Freedos-user] Some food for thought

[Mateusz Viste]

On 22/05/2016 21:10, Ralf Quint wrote:
> I think what the author mentions does apply in an even greater range to
> FreeDOS
>
> http://www.techrepublic.com/article/time-linux-fans-open-their-arms-to-closed-source/

I agree with the author, but I fail to see the point you are trying to 
make regarding FreeDOS.

FreeDOS users are free to use whatever software they like - and I'm 
pretty sure most FreeDOS users run FreeDOS to execute mainly proprietary 
applications (old games, productivity software from the nineties, etc) - 
after all, that's exactly what FreeDOS has been designed for in the 
first place.

What FreeDOS, as a /distribution/ ships with, is a totally different 
subject. The article you point to doesn't imply that Linux distributions 
should start distributing closed-source software.

Mateusz


--
Mobile security can be enabling, not merely restricting. Employees who
bring their own devices (BYOD) to work are irked by the imposition of MDM
restrictions. Mobile Device Manager Plus allows you to control only the
apps on BYO-devices by containerizing them, leaving personal data untouched!
https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/304595813;131938128;j
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