EU software patent law faces axe 792

On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 13:22:52 +0000, billwg

You're showing your prejudices once more. I use Linux because I like it, and it is as good and often better than Windows. I have now moved up from download editions to commercial ones.

They maintain that their way produces superior product

They don't need to 'convince themselves' of anything. It happening right now.

I know where I'm going. That's all I need to know. Liux will go where its developers and users want it to.

Because it's none of my business, nor yours.

Because not everyone's needs are the same. One goal of Debian is solid stability and security

It seems to me

First, who the hell is this 'goat boy' character? Second, the apps are not 'freeware'. They are Free software, which is an entirely different thing.

No, it doesn't. The software is Free for anyone to use in any way they wish, to modify as much or as little as they like, and the GPL makes no demands on users. And if I or any other user is making bug reports, or whatever, that's a contribution. If we're supporting other users in mailing lists, that's a contribution. If we donate money, or buy a distro, that's a contribution.

What are you talking about? Users are hardly unnecessary. Without them, you don't have an OS, you just have a lot of code. Again, you wilfully mis-characterise users.

Mandrake just came out of their financial problems, and are looking healthy. Red Hat seems to be making money quite happily

These companies have

What has any of that to do with whether he could make money? His skills in coding alone would make him valuable, indeed, do make him valuable.

Effective according to whose terms? Yours? Didn't you read the part where I said he was fairly obviously content with his modest wealth and happiness? Why should he work for a company he dislikes? Why should he compromise his ethics?

Why are you talking about sports in a discussion about OSen?

-- Kier