aimeeandbeatles
watermelon
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- Apr 5, 2007
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I'd say about 80-90% of the software on my computer is freeware/open-source -- exception being some games, Paint Shop Pro, and some other stuff.
How much do you rely on freeware/open-source software?
- Thread starter aimeeandbeatles
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PeteAtoms
FormulaRandom
I use maybe 80% freeware. The ones I use the most are freeware anti-virus, spyware protection, mozilla stuff and Open Office.
The only non-open-source applications on my system are a couple of commercial games. The only non-open-source system software is my video driver. It's free, just proprietary. 
Edit: Actually, I think the Adobe flash player also falls in that category....
Edit: Actually, I think the Adobe flash player also falls in that category....
Genocidicbunny
Bug squasher
Free? Quite a bit if you dont count games. In fact, majority of my applications are free, save for stuff like mIRC or Adobe stuff ( I did get it for free though -- and no, not pirated )
Open source is a bit less. I cant recall many that are. I think Notepad++ is open source, OTTD is too. Dont know besides that.
Open source is a bit less. I cant recall many that are. I think Notepad++ is open source, OTTD is too. Dont know besides that.
Shadylookin
master debater
all of it except for the 64bit flash plugin, nvidia drivers, and sun's java jdk(can't wait for java 7 to be completely open source)
I also play World of Warcraft on occasion and played the world of goo demo
I also play World of Warcraft on occasion and played the world of goo demo
Aramazd
Deity
Aside from games and MS Office, everything else is free; although only a few are open source.
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- Mar 17, 2007
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Probably 20% or so freeware, and I don't even know if I have any open-source programs on my primary partition (XP). That said, my web browser (Opera) is freeware, as are my preferred alternatives to it, so I am somewhat reliant on freeware. I could get along with IE (which requires purchasing Windows) if necessary, but it wouldn't be as pleasant. Other freeware includes my PDF viewer, which is rather important for viewing assignments, and various system utilities. I could definitely get by without the system utilities, although they're rather nice to have and save some electric power. And my school's computers have Acrobat Professional (non-free), so I could get along without a free PDF viewer, too.
For music, I use Spiralfrog. It's free, but ad-supported - count it as you will. I could get along without it if necessary, though.
When not web browsing, I spend most of my time using proprietary software - either games, or Microsoft products (whether bundled with Windows or not). I'm pretty satisfied with it.
So I probably use freeware half the time thanks to Opera, and it definitely has improved my computing experience. But most of my software is proprietary and non-free, and I'm happy with that. Although I certainly wouldn't complain if it were free. I just don't have a problem paying for good software if I'll be using it a lot - after all, software developers have to earn a living somehow.
Of course, if you use the [wiki]Richard Stallman[/wiki] definition of freeware, I may well not use freeware at all.
edit: Do you count free web-based IM clients (such as Meebo) as freeware, too? If so, I'm a bit more dependent on freeware than I'd stated above, although I could certainly switch back to cell phone only if necessary.
For music, I use Spiralfrog. It's free, but ad-supported - count it as you will. I could get along without it if necessary, though.
When not web browsing, I spend most of my time using proprietary software - either games, or Microsoft products (whether bundled with Windows or not). I'm pretty satisfied with it.
So I probably use freeware half the time thanks to Opera, and it definitely has improved my computing experience. But most of my software is proprietary and non-free, and I'm happy with that. Although I certainly wouldn't complain if it were free. I just don't have a problem paying for good software if I'll be using it a lot - after all, software developers have to earn a living somehow.
Of course, if you use the [wiki]Richard Stallman[/wiki] definition of freeware, I may well not use freeware at all.
edit: Do you count free web-based IM clients (such as Meebo) as freeware, too? If so, I'm a bit more dependent on freeware than I'd stated above, although I could certainly switch back to cell phone only if necessary.
aimeeandbeatles
watermelon
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2007
- Messages
- 20,112
In my definition, freeware is applications which you can use (and *maybe* copy) for free, while open-source is applications which can be used, copied, and modified for free.
You can use your own definition, though -- if you want to include web-based you can.
You can use your own definition, though -- if you want to include web-based you can.
Northen Wolf
Young Hunter
If I can I usually prefer "free" over pay-to-use.
Free Programs:
Gimp (photo-editing)
Firefox (Web Browser and ChatZilla, free IRC client, firefox addon)
VLC(video-player for all my videos)
Pidgin (Msn, AIM, etc. client)
All my cd-writing, writing (office, writing programs etc) are "free" also.
Under "free" I mean I can download and Use them for free, without breaking copy-right laws.
Only things I pay for (or should pay for), are "Eset Smart Security" (virus protection), Windows XP, Few games, few music tracks.
Free Programs:
Gimp (photo-editing)
Firefox (Web Browser and ChatZilla, free IRC client, firefox addon)
VLC(video-player for all my videos)
Pidgin (Msn, AIM, etc. client)
All my cd-writing, writing (office, writing programs etc) are "free" also.
Under "free" I mean I can download and Use them for free, without breaking copy-right laws.
Only things I pay for (or should pay for), are "Eset Smart Security" (virus protection), Windows XP, Few games, few music tracks.
