Open source

sanstitre1

Hello,
Let's talk about open source
Do you prefer open source or paid prog??
Have you ever participated on developping open source progs/projects

Or let's list open source alternatives for paid solution

microsoft office --> open office
photoshop-->Gimp
Iexplorer-->Firefox

... enjoy Cool

(does any one know a powerful alternativ to macromedia flash?)

prongs_386

i always enjoy open source projects more, in half of the projects I use i find one or two functions missing which could easily be implemented. I add these myself in open source progs, I havnt been a part of a project though as of yet.

desertwind

elekis

testing and using for 2 years ,

ubuntu, ooo2, etc..etc...

it' cool and easy and more with apt-get . hte best tools on the world.

a+++

Rocky3478

In my experience, Open Source software (or shareware) has been getting better and better lately.... One example being Smultron vs. BBedit.

Although I still like PS CS2 better then The GIMP.... ;D

kany

You its a matter of choices as well as a matter of money. You know the paid ones are really expensive and out of reach of the medium user so open source is really there to help.
But i myself like the paid over the open
i like photoshop instead of GIMP
Microsoft Ofiice instead of Open office

and well i like Opera as my explorer and well its a paid but this 8.5 version is free Wink

Kd527

For me, it depends. Ususally if there's an equivilent from Apple, I get that instead of Open Source. On windoze and Linux, definately open source.

KHO

There are some things that l would still use the paid stuff for, like photoshop, but there are not many of them, and as soon as vista comes out and MicroSoft starts trying to kill off XP, then l am on to the Linux bandwagon Neutral

magnusmoty

I WILL NOT PAY EWER!
I SO LOVE FREE PROGRAMS SO I WIL PAY ANY MONEY FOR THEM!!!

moncader

Most sotware products that you pay for are largely overpriced. And since they are made by a company that sells software, in many cases that product doesn't allow the programmers to express their creativity in their own way, because of rules layed out by the company.

In Open Source world, this problem doesn't exist, and things like Linux are created. Smile

I'm a huge open source fan, and personally think the world would do much better without the money aspect...

kenetix

definetly open-source, I loved, love and will love open-source

Ranfaroth

Paid solution is not the contrary of Open source solution

Open source softwares can be paid ones, and non-paid softwares can be closed source ones...

srijit

some programs have no open-source equivalents yet.
for example photoshop CS2. but am glad to see that the list is becoming less and less.
open source software usually have better support, from users and developers alike.
for OS, linux is a good choice for people who are willing to learn / experiment. for designers, OSX is best IMO. for people who cant make up their mind, they use MS windows :p
In server software, open-source rules!!!! apache, spamassasin, ftp .... best things are open-source. Smile

desertwind

v3nd0r

open source , is not, that you do not have to pay for it. Open source is that with Programs came source of it. Free software is something like do not have to pay for it.

There few Open Source programs that cost some...

Or maybe i'm wrong...

garvalf4

yes it's true.
Anyway, many open source software are very useful, I'm thinking to KDE, openoffice, Blender, Gimp, and many more

Jedi Master

tengsoon

I tried ubuntu for a while until i realised that i didn't know how to get my games to work there..

Nhoj

I prefer open-source solution because I can afford them. It makes no sense the spend money on something when there is an alternative with just a good if not better usability. I also like knowing many knowledgeable people have looked over the code. Makes me feel safer about it. If you have enough coding knowledge, you can even modify the software if it doesn't do everything you want it to.

msorc

I guess that 'open-source' term should be considered as 'free'. The popularity of so called 'open source' software is only because its free.
Users don't bother do they have sources. They just want a software that does work.
How many of you guys have ever looked into the sources of e.g. OpenOffice.org or GIMP? And lets pretend that MS Office and Photoshop are free. I guess in this case OOo and Gimp wont be so popular

Ranfaroth

No : the popularity of open-source softwares in administrations and governments is because they're spyware-less, and extensible.
Cost has very few influence...

desertwind

msorc

Guys, when you driving a car do you care how 'free' is its engine?
How many of you can disassemble the engine and make it better?
You just drive and enjoy your trip.
Only car mechanicals enjoy maintaining the car. They may discuss the car models saying that carA is very bad because only firm's parts can be used to repair it. And they may admire carB because anybody can repair it with just a screwdriver, a pair of pliers and a hammer.
Others do not care...

The same with software. Mostly people who understand programming care about sources, the other part cares about the price, wants functionality, but not the 'freedom' and 'sources'.

msorc

My answer to the question "Do you prefer open source or paid solutions?"
For individual use I prefer open source software, because its free and I, as a software developer, can play a bit with it.
For my work I prefer a SOLUTION which help me and my employees to work effectively. I don't care how open and free it is. Even if it costs some money but invesment will be returned, I will pay for it.

Ranfaroth

elefas

is open source == free ??? I think there is a slight difference, maybe I am wrong, who knows, but yes we can use open source programs for free and we can tweak them to better suit our needs but few of them can compete paid solutions.

desertwind

msorc

All your arguments about freedom are only applicable to people who have programming skills. Ask your mother, wife, sister, doctor in hospital, dressmaker, miner, taxi driver etc about the 'free' software. I am absolutely sure they consider it free as free beer.
Regarding the example with car engines. Just pretent that an open source product is written in exotic and very complex programming language. There is no IDE, and development tools are ugly. So nobody exept authors can fix the product. Is it free?
I don't believe you guys that buying a car you will ask for service manual and technical drawings of an engine. If your refrigirator is broken will you repair it by yourself?
When you read comparisons of using MS products and OSS products by either side (MS or OSS supplier). What is the main resulting reason? Price!
When you visit a dentist do you care how 'free' is his tools? You care only about price and final result mostly.
Just look behind your working place and behind your circle of colleagues. Most people does not have programming skills and they don't care about freedom.
OSS is free as free speech only for programmers, it's free as free beer to others.

Ranfaroth

msorc

The topic is going to become a holy war flood here. I guess we have shown enough arguments to each other. I quit the discussion.