Tom - I agree with you that not all software should not be free.  I believe
there is nothing wrong with charging money for software in some
circumstances, and keeping the source closed.

However, I also believe that the open-source , free software model is
perfect for certain types of software.  I also think it can produce a
superior product.  Take a Web Server for example.  Apache is an outstanding
product.  It is needed by millions of people and actively developed by
thousands of developers.  Sendmail is another example.  But the best example
is the Linux kernel itself.

For these types of "commodity software", open-source leverages the talents
of a large number of developers and testers to create a product that would
be difficult and expensive to reproduce in a closed-environment.  An
Operating System should be developed by society for society.  Think of it
like freeway system.  Society builds it for society.  Nobody "owns" the
freeway.  Another analogy would be our government process.  Nobody "owns"
the way a democracy runs.  The processes and checks and balances are public,
free, knowledge.

As a software user, you are much better off using open-source than
closed-source.  By using open-source you empower yourself and others the
ability to maintain, modify, and enhance your software.  As a software user
if there are 2 identical products, 1 open 1 closed, you should opt for the
open one.  But not all products are availible closed-source, nor should they
be.

Open-source can be good(especially for users).  Closed-source can be
good(especially for developers that need to make money selling their
software).

;-)
Bob

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Achtenberg" <lists@achtenberg.com>
To: <plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2002 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: Linux for small business


> Sorry, but after reading the first line of the "About Free Software"
> section, "Free software is a matter of freedom: people should be free to
use
> software in all the ways that are socially useful. "  I cannot buy into
this
> "movement"  The clear implication is they feel anything someone writes
> belongs to everyone, not the person who wrote it.  That is the very system
> that was tried and failed miserably in Easter Europe.  I do not and will
not
> buy into it in the least.  It is the same mentality that drove me away
from
> the Libertarian party in the political world.  Under that system, there is
> no incentive to improve or excel.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gontran Zepeda" <gontran@gontran.net>
> To: <plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
> Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2002 12:32 PM
> Subject: Re: Linux for small business
>
>
> * Tom Achtenberg (lists@achtenberg.com) wrote:
> > RE: Linux for small businessI don't see a whole lot of difference
between
> > the "Free Software Movement" and the "Shareware" movement.  Just a
> > different platform.
>
> Harumph.
>
> See:
> http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/philosophy.html
>
> And related documents there at gnu.org
>
>
> Gontran
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