Hi all,
Haven't posted in a while and thought this would be an interesting topic. I've just installed Ubuntu 9.04 RC on my computer (loving it, by the way
). This time, also for a change, I went with x86_64.
Most of the things I need work fine. The few applications that no longer work are closed-source applications.
I've noticed that, some freeware (non-open source) applications are of extremely high quality. In some cases, they are miles away better than some open-source'd applications around.
The problem is, well, when they die (no longer being updated), there is very little we can do to save them without the source being available. Right now, I am struggling to get a descent PSX emulator to run. All projects seems to have stopped. The only one working and being updated is psX, but that is closed source. And in all fairness, I don't trust it. The first issue, no x64 release. The second, there is no guarantee that this project will exist in one year or two.
I can understand some applications being freeware, but still closed source, such as Skype or iTunes, because well, they are more like stores where you buy services from. Again, I don't agree with them, I just understand it.
But why some applications, such as the great text editor PSPad for Windows and a few console emulators are kept closed-source.
Can anyone please enlighten me and show me a few reasons why a text editor or a console emulator are kept closed source? Or can you give me an example of an application you wrote/may write would go closed-source.
I see a lot of applications out there with lots of potential, but the closed source approach is really what is stopping me to use them.
Again, I understand some applications being closed source, such as iTunes, which is nothing but a portal for Apple to sell stuff.
What are your views about closed source applications? Do you use any? wWhich ones? Do you or Would you support them? (donating or otherwise).
My feelings today: I am not going to use any freeware, closed source application, unless I absolutely have to. Reason: There is not guarantee the project will exist in the future, so I can't rely on them.
Thanks everyone for reading this.