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Comment: Several Reasons (Score 1) 891

by tannhaus (#29397693) Attached to: Why Users Drop Open Source Apps For Proprietary Alternatives

There are several reasons why I've chosen proprietary in the past over open source. There are reasons why I'm running Mac OS X instead of Linux, and why I use the Gimp instead of Photoshop.

First, the price of the software has something to do with it. I can't see spending $100 or more on a piece of software unless it's the OS itself. This is a what I do when I'm not at work, not a paying job. So, if it's a question between a free Gimp, where things are often hard to do, some features are missing, etc. and hundreds for Photoshop, there is no question. I go with free because proprietary isn't affordable.

But, if it's the choice of a sub-$100 program and open source, there are several factors:

1. Does the software have the features I'm looking for RIGHT NOW?

I'm not talking about developers talking about adding the features. I'm not talking about poorly implemented features that they promise to get working well in the future. Can the software do what I want it to do right now? If the proprietary version I'm trying to communicate with is using a protocol and your software is using an outdated/works sometimes or with interaction on their behalf protocol....are you really an option?

2. How does the software LOOK?

Sit down and look at open source vs. proprietary solutions sometimes. Open source software often looks like a flashback to the 80s, while the proprietary is clean, crisp and beautiful. Fonts and UI add to your everyday enjoyment.

3. How easy is it to use vs. proprietary?

I don't want to learn a special scripting language to use a piece of software. I don't want to go through 10 steps to accomplish what I can in one with the proprietary solution. I don't want to have to google and then edit text files to accomplish what reading a prompt and clicking or checkmarking cïan do in a proprietary solution.

These things are all worth money to me. As long as they are, there will be cases where I chose proprietary over open source. I'm not a long bearded, hawaiian shirt wearing activist screaming "Free as in beer". I'm a person who uses his computer to do things and enjoy himself. The easier it is to do those things and the more pleasurable the experience, the more I enjoy myself.

Linux Business

Samba creator quits Novell, picked up by google

Submitted by bl8n8r
bl8n8r writes "As many of you will guess, this is due to the Microsoft/Novell patent agreement, which I believe is a mistake and will be damaging to Novell's success in the future. But my main issue with this deal is I believe that even if it does not violate the letter of the licence it violates the intent of the GPL licence the Samba code is released under, which is to treat all recipients of the code equally.

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=200612210 81000710"
Announcements

'Bungee backpack' Helps lighten load on your back

Submitted by UniversalVM
UniversalVM writes "Larry Rome, a biology lecturer at Pennsylvania University claims to have invented a backpack that enables people to carry 25 per cent more weight while expending the same amount of energy. The mechanical basis for this is: The suspended backpack reduces the accelerative forces during the more energetically expensive phase of walking, which is when both legs are simultaneously in contact with the ground and performing mechanical work against each other.
Cool picture included too...."
Toys

Non-Geeky Gifts for Tech Geeks 142

Posted by Zonk
from the when-you-absolutely-have-to-serve-hockey-puck-smoothie dept.
An anonymous reader writes "FiringSquad.com has just put out another holiday gift guide. They've gathered together, along with the usual video cards and whatnot, several non-techie toys with a techie slant. With the exception of an mp3 and a digital camera, everything else they recommend is stuff I haven't seen on any list before. They have things ranging from $10 to $7500. My favorite has to be the Blendtec blender. 2 horsepower motor. Turns hockey pucks into mulch."
Math

Science's Breakthrough of the Year

Submitted by
johkir
johkir writes "Last year, evolution was the breakthrough of the year; We found it full of new developments in understanding how new species originate. But we did get a complaint or two that perhaps we were just paying extra attention to the lively political/religious debate that was taking place over the issue, particularly in the United States. Perish the thought! Our readers can relax this year: Religion and politics are off the table, and n-dimensional geometry is on instead. This year's Breakthrough salutes the work of a lone, publicity-shy Russian mathematician named Grigori Perelman, who was at the Steklov Institute of Mathematics of the Russian Academy of Sciences until 2005. The work is very technical but has received unusual public attention because Perelman appears to have proven the Poincaré Conjecture, a problem in topology whose solution will earn a $1 million prize from the Clay Mathematics Institute. That's only if Perelman survives what's left of a 2-year gauntlet of critical attack required by the Clay rules, but most mathematicians think he will. There is also a page of runner-ups. Many of which have been covered here on Slashdot."
User Journal

Journal: Help with a toy USB camera 3

Journal by Engineer-Poet

I bought a few toys to give as gifts, and I ran into some trouble with the one I'm testing. Maybe you can help.

I bought a toy digital camera (says it's also a webcam). Unfortunately, when I plug it into my Mandriva system, the auto-mounter doesn't know what to do with it; it's there on the USB bus but it is not recognized as a filesystem.

You're definitely on their list. The question to ask next is what list it is.