Will you keep on getting free software?

[fguy64]

When I said will you keep getting free software...I meant illegal free software, pirated software. Yea there are many free legal programs out there, ....but it is the guys that pirate software that they can't buy with money that do harm others in a way.

Can't argue with that. I don't mean to be moralistic, but it's really just stealing. But I don't feel too sorry for companies like Microsoft though.

The losses associated with pirating software, music, movies, are overstated though. Industry guys will make an estimate of the value of the pirated software out there, and say this is our losses, but it makes an incorrect assumption that if the software wasn't pirated, then it would be purchased.

[chingola]

I know a bit late. I think I wound up with some a while back that I used to see how good it was and then wound up recommending it to about 100 of my customers of which about 70 or so bought it. Mmmm so if I didn't pirate it ...no 70 sales....
Ok, now I just call the companies and they will in about 80% of the time send out free full working software for my use.
I do have a company.

[chingola]

Oh, and if EA wrote a better game and supported it fully they would have less layoffs as more people would have jobs. Anyway in many of there online games cheaters are caught and wind up buying many copies of the game they cheat at. ups there sales a bit.

[xav0989]

That is some pretty intense necromancing :P Anyway, here is my opinion, since I am here. I usually get free software because I can't afford paying software, and most of the times, you can get similar or even better results using free open-source software. I do, however, believe in giving back to the community, so I myself am doing some free open-source development.

[fractalfeline]

That is some pretty intense necromancing :P Anyway, here is my opinion, since I am here. I usually get free software because I can't afford paying software, and most of the times, you can get similar or even better results using free open-source software. I do, however, believe in giving back to the community, so I myself am doing some free open-source development.

Go you! I agree with this sentiment, if you're going to take something, give something back. If I were better at programming, I might do this myself!

[redoakranch]

You don't have to be a programmer to give back to the FOSS community. Share links to the various legitmate sites, like Open Office. Participate in the various user forums - if you're a crackerjack with Ubuntu, offer to help out someone who isn't. Write a blog post or put up a page with some "how to" tips for Gimp (and send ME a link when you do, lol). And spread the word, share the love! ;-)

[CWeb Creative]

Well here are my reasons:

A. the company's are trying to sell 1's and 0's for almost a thousand dollars when it should be little more than the disk costs to make.
edit: they will sell more copies if it is cheaper thus they dont lose anything and it doesnt cost as much as we have been lead to beleave to develope software because most of the tools that are used to develop them are inexpensive or free.
B. i have been laid of work due to the idiot company's screwing themselves over so i feel that they deserve it
C. i have to have it to complete school but have a lot of school loans left and will get the software when i can
D. i hate big businesses
E. software should not be written to rip off the consumer but to help them.
F. i feel that there is no need for software to be proprietary

Edit: i have only ever used 1 pirated software for about 1 hour
Edit: pirated software has specificly lead by experts estimation to about 500 workers being laid off in the last 5 years thats not much! (in the us)

[newtown11]

I never pirate software.

Instead, I go with freeware and FOSS alternatives, because they're out there and because some times they are better than the paid apps.

Of course, I do take advantage of giveaways when ever they happen.

That's the whole of my argument.

[xav0989]

One thing that I like, is that some compagnies are starting to see the value in such free systems. For exemple, Microsoft's Office 2010 is free in it's beta version, and is not restricted at all. I agree that not all features are complete, but Word, Powerpoint and Excel are, so I am happy :P

[descalzo]

I figure, if they want to charge for it, I either pay for it or don't use it.
If they want too much, I find a cheaper/free alternative.

I don't want my stuff stolen, why should I steal theirs?