Pricelessware CD edition

[Civilian_Target]

I've searched though this newsgroup but found no mention of this idea.

The pricelessware.org site is incredibly useful, particularly for
people on broadband, but its not so useful on modems, because so many
of the programs take so long to download. But having downloaded most
of them myself on broadband, I reckon you could fit them all (bar
Debian) onto a CD-R, and certainly onto 2 CDs. So why don't you sell
pricelessware.org CDs for modem users from the site. I know you
couldn't include every program (because of the licensing) but you
could include the vast majority if you weren't selling for profit, and
it might even help towards paying for the domain name and hosting of
the website.

Just a thought, and like I say, if I've missed out on this on my quick
scan of the group, apologies.

Civilian_Target

 

[status]

I've searched though this newsgroup but found no mention of this idea.

The pricelessware.org site is incredibly useful, particularly for
people on broadband, but its not so useful on modems, because so many
of the programs take so long to download. But having downloaded most
of them myself on broadband, I reckon you could fit them all (bar
Debian) onto a CD-R, and certainly onto 2 CDs. So why don't you sell
pricelessware.org CDs for modem users from the site. I know you
couldn't include every program (because of the licensing) but you
could include the vast majority if you weren't selling for profit, and
it might even help towards paying for the domain name and hosting of
the website.

Just a thought, and like I say, if I've missed out on this on my quick
scan of the group, apologies.

Civilian_Target

According to the Gospel of John Corliss one would have to pay for s&h
and / or blank cd's so thus it would no longer be pricelessware and
hence would no longer be considered freeware. That according to the
Gospel of St. John the Corliss.

 

[JimSP]

(e-mail address removed) ([email protected]) wrote in

According to the Gospel of John Corliss one would have to pay for s&h
and / or blank cd's so thus it would no longer be pricelessware and
hence would no longer be considered freeware. That according to the
Gospel of St. John the Corliss.

According to sense, this is false 'gospel' interpretation.

Such payware determination applies to software available *only* by mail
order CD.

If the software is anyways freely available on the net, this CD idea is
not a requirement for acquisition, but only an additional convenience
which in no way negates the "freely available on the net" freeware
status.

Magazine CDware, when in infrequent cases is also "freely available on
the net", is judged to be freeware.
This is already on the discussions record.

 

[olfart]

(e-mail address removed) ([email protected]) wrote in


According to sense, this is false 'gospel' interpretation.

Such payware determination applies to software available *only* by mail
order CD.

If the software is anyways freely available on the net, this CD idea is
not a requirement for acquisition, but only an additional convenience
which in no way negates the "freely available on the net" freeware
status.

Magazine CDware, when in infrequent cases is also "freely available on
the net", is judged to be freeware.
This is already on the discussions record.

But you have to give John C something to *rant* about

 

[Susan Bugher]

(e-mail address removed) ([email protected]) wrote in




According to sense, this is false 'gospel' interpretation.

Such payware determination applies to software available *only* by mail
order CD.

If the software is anyways freely available on the net, this CD idea is
not a requirement for acquisition, but only an additional convenience
which in no way negates the "freely available on the net" freeware
status.

Magazine CDware, when in infrequent cases is also "freely available on
the net", is judged to be freeware.
This is already on the discussions record.

as a practical matter . . .

someone would have to download the programs . . .
download program updates at frequent intervals . . .
take the orders, process the money, burn the CDs, ship the orders . . .
etc. etc. etc.

How would all that happen?

Susan

 

[SINNER]

While strolling through alt.comp.freeware, Susan Bugher was
overheard plotting:

as a practical matter . . .

someone would have to download the programs . . .
download program updates at frequent intervals . . .
take the orders, process the money, burn the CDs, ship the orders
. . . etc. etc. etc.

How would all that happen?

Susan

In the MAME group we have at least 20 burners that do this for FREE and
MAME roms are take up 20 GIGS (thats 5 DVD's) Linux users also provide
Bootable Distros and FULL distros via the same methods. All it takes is
a couple of voulenteers to get it started, Once you have a standard set
coming up with an 'update' cd would take even less effort.

In short is is a great idea and TOTALLY doable.

 

[Ceg]

as a practical matter . . .

someone would have to download the programs . . .
download program updates at frequent intervals . . .
take the orders, process the money, burn the CDs, ship the orders . . .
etc. etc. etc.

How would all that happen?

Susan

Ummmm...Lemmings!

 

[JimSP]

as a practical matter . . .

someone would have to download the programs . . .
download program updates at frequent intervals . . .
take the orders, process the money, burn the CDs, ship the orders . .
. etc. etc. etc.

How would all that happen?

Susan

Well beats me!

I just addressed the stalkers false classification assertion,
the OP made himself a Civilian_Target with the heady proposal.

But I'm sure the idea will nag now that it sneaked out

 

[Ben Cooper]

as a practical matter . . .

someone would have to download the programs . . .
download program updates at frequent intervals . . .
take the orders, process the money, burn the CDs, ship the orders . . .
etc. etc. etc.

How would all that happen?

There's a bunch of the MAME folks who have been doing this
for years.
Check out-
http://lazarus.org.uk

SINNER could probably help you get started.

 

[George Orwell]

Civilian_Target wrote:
|
|I've searched though this newsgroup but found no mention of this idea.
|
|The pricelessware.org site is incredibly useful, particularly for
|people on broadband, but its not so useful on modems, because so many
|of the programs take so long to download. But having downloaded most
|of them myself on broadband, I reckon you could fit them all (bar
|Debian) onto a CD-R, and certainly onto 2 CDs. So why don't you sell
|pricelessware.org CDs for modem users from the site. I know you
|couldn't include every program (because of the licensing) but you
|could include the vast majority if you weren't selling for profit, and
|it might even help towards paying for the domain name and hosting of
|the website.

I see some things that might be issues and I have some questions.

1. The authors of the programs would have to be contacted and
agree to allow Pricelessware to include their programs on the
CD's.

2. What do you do about programs where the author can no longer
be contacted?

3. How often do you update the CD? Once a year?

4. What would the CD's cost?

5. What would make this any different then what other freeware
sites are doing? Besides maybe the price? I seem to recall some
people complaining about these type of sites. That people would
be crazy to pay for freeware.


If the goal is to help out those that are on dial up then there
are other things that can be done as well.

An ISO can be made of the programs. The ISO can be uploaded to
alt.binaries.freeware for those that have access to it.

The ISO can be split into parts (maybe 10mb each) and uploaded
to a web site (or several web sites) for people to download.
With the aid of a download manager people can take thier time
downloading.

 

[SINNER]

* George Orwell Wrote in alt.comp.freeware, on 2004-01-22:

Civilian_Target wrote:
|
|I've searched though this newsgroup but found no mention of this idea.
|
|The pricelessware.org site is incredibly useful, particularly for
|people on broadband, but its not so useful on modems, because so many
|of the programs take so long to download. But having downloaded most
|of them myself on broadband, I reckon you could fit them all (bar
|Debian) onto a CD-R, and certainly onto 2 CDs. So why don't you sell
|pricelessware.org CDs for modem users from the site. I know you
|couldn't include every program (because of the licensing) but you
|could include the vast majority if you weren't selling for profit, and
|it might even help towards paying for the domain name and hosting of
|the website.

I see some things that might be issues and I have some questions.

1. The authors of the programs would have to be contacted and
agree to allow Pricelessware to include their programs on the
CD's.

Most authors stipulate its OK to distribute without authorization in the
license.

2. What do you do about programs where the author can no longer
be contacted?

See above, when in doubt check the documentation included with the
package, if none and its known freeware it is OK to be distributed for
nonprofit.

3. How often do you update the CD? Once a year?

As often as you see fit, quarterly OR you can just make update CD's
available monthly, its all up for debate, even once a year would be
fine.

4. What would the CD's cost?

Price of the media plus postage, in the US it should cost no more then
$3

5. What would make this any different then what other freeware
sites are doing? Besides maybe the price? I seem to recall some
people complaining about these type of sites. That people would
be crazy to pay for freeware.

I don't recall any complaining, this is still common practice for many
things today, Linux comes to mind.

If the goal is to help out those that are on dial up then there
are other things that can be done as well.

An ISO can be made of the programs. The ISO can be uploaded to
alt.binaries.freeware for those that have access to it.

The ISO can be split into parts (maybe 10mb each) and uploaded
to a web site (or several web sites) for people to download.
With the aid of a download manager people can take thier time
downloading.

All these suggestions still eat bandwidth and waste time, there is really
no reason NOT to do it unless no one volunteers. The CD idea is much
cheaper then the necessary bandwidth needed to support web downloads
and news groups while good for some its not for others. The premise is
to make the software available to as many people as possible.

--
David | AGM Favorite Games - http://tinyurl.com/loec
Flanders! My socks feel dirty! Gimme some water to wash 'em!

-- Homer Simpson
Boy-Scoutz N The Hood

 

[Ronald Cooley]

IDM is the great for aol users how right to save a pic and can only
get an art file with IDM you get a jpg file as long as its an jpg file
to start with just right click an download with IDM its that easy.

http://www.internetdownloadmanager.com/index.html?affilid=9875-194

 

[Civilian_Target]

All these suggestions still eat bandwidth and waste time, there is really
no reason NOT to do it unless no one volunteers. The CD idea is much
cheaper then the necessary bandwidth needed to support web downloads
and news groups while good for some its not for others. The premise is
to make the software available to as many people as possible.

Yep. Exactly. I can't see many authors not agreeing to it, since their
programs will get greater exposure, and no one will be making a
profit, or if they are it will be very small.

Personally, I have no problem, nor I doubt would many other people, if
the volunteer kept the change on the small fee to get the CD in the
first place (eg. the CD costs €3 incl. postage, whch would be about
€1.80 postage, 40c for CD & case and 80c for the volunteers bandwidth
and time). It's a much more efficient way of doing things compared to
say, in Ireland, where the only form of net access, outside major city
centres, is modem, at 1c per minute. Downloading 200mb on a modem at
33.6k/bits works out at just under €8, and it ties up your phone line
for a full 12 hours, so a CD is well worth having...

Civilian_Target

 

[omega]

Yep. Exactly. I can't see many authors not agreeing to it,

[...]

I see all these posts that are holding the opinion that the implementation
of the project is doable. I have no opinion on that, the supply end of the
idea. My question is the other, the assessment of demand.

[...]

centres, is modem, at 1c per minute. Downloading 200mb on a modem at
33.6k/bits works out at just under €8, and it ties up your phone line
for a full 12 hours, so a CD is well worth having...

If it continues momentum that people are interested in putting effort for
such a project, what thoughts on the idea of first trying to check demand
via a survey, a survey form on the PL website, or via a link from the PL
website?

 

[Susan Bugher]

* George Orwell Wrote in alt.comp.freeware, on 2004-01-22:




Most authors stipulate its OK to distribute without authorization in the
license.




See above, when in doubt check the documentation included with the
package, if none and its known freeware it is OK to be distributed for
nonprofit.




As often as you see fit, quarterly OR you can just make update CD's
available monthly, its all up for debate, even once a year would be
fine.



Price of the media plus postage, in the US it should cost no more then
$3




I don't recall any complaining, this is still common practice for many
things today, Linux comes to mind.




All these suggestions still eat bandwidth and waste time, there is really
no reason NOT to do it unless no one volunteers. The CD idea is much
cheaper then the necessary bandwidth needed to support web downloads
and news groups while good for some its not for others. The premise is
to make the software available to as many people as possible.

If there are volunteers they could do a trial run by posting in ACF.

The Pricelessware pages could be added to the CD. The PL page links are
relative - the Program Index page wouldn't be sortable but everything
else should work. Perhaps add a text list to the CD to show which
programs are included and have the programs in directories named to
match the PL pages.

Susan

 

[SINNER]

While strolling through alt.comp.freeware, omega was overheard
plotting:

Yep. Exactly. I can't see many authors not agreeing to it,

[...]

I see all these posts that are holding the opinion that the
implementation of the project is doable. I have no opinion on
that, the supply end of the idea. My question is the other, the
assessment of demand.

Agreed.

[...]
centres, is modem, at 1c per minute. Downloading 200mb on a modem
at 33.6k/bits works out at just under €8, and it ties up your
phone line for a full 12 hours, so a CD is well worth having...

If it continues momentum that people are interested in putting
effort for such a project, what thoughts on the idea of first
trying to check demand via a survey, a survey form on the PL
website, or via a link from the PL website?

Excellent Idea, and Tiger just pointed me to a freeware Java based
Survey creation tool.

http://www.objectplanet.com/Opinio/

 

[status]

Well beats me!

I just addressed the stalkers false classification assertion,
the OP made himself a Civilian_Target with the heady proposal.

But I'm sure the idea will nag now that it sneaked out

If thou doesest not believist me then thous must consult the Gospel of
St. John the Corliss (his FAQ in other words).

 

[John Corliss]

If thou doesest not believist me then thous must consult the Gospel of
St. John the Corliss (his FAQ in other words).

But of course, the F.A.Q. I wrote is no longer available (except as
archived copies).

 

[Anonymous]

Here is how it looks so far.

These ones said YES.
AI RoboForm
Aida32
AM-Deadlink
Ant Movie Catalog
AP Guitar Tuner 1.02
Alantis Nova
Atomic Clock Sync
Audacity
Batchrun
Cacheman
Calandar Magic
CDCHeck
Chainsaw
Debian
Directory Lister
DirKey
EasyCleaner
Empty Temp Folders
ExamDiff
Frhed
GrabIt (asked if he could get a copy of the CD)
IEradicator
JAlbum
KeyNote
LAME
MP3Tag
MyAlbum
MYIE2
Pegasus Mail
Web2Text (requires a copy of the CD)
WinPatrol
Yankee Clipper III
7-Zip
URL2BMP
EditPadLite
MotherBoardMonitor
XnView
WAssociate
SnIco Edit
nnCron Lite
Crypt Edit
ActivIcons
Catfish
TrackerV3
Blender
ZipGenius
Pimmy
Oubliette
Visit URL
CutePDF Printer
RegSeeker


OpenOffice...Yes

They had this to say about how OpenOffice is classified on
Pricelessware.

"Hmm... Just had a quick look at your site.... You need to add
to your
Glossary, to cover Open Source software, as none of the
definitions really cover it.

You most certainly may include OpenOffice.org (OO.o for short).
I would ask you to change one thing though. Don't call it
"Freeware". OO.o (as with Linux. MySQL, The GIMP etc...) is most
definitely NOT Freeware. It is instead "Open Source Software
(OSS for short - I'm a lazy typist ).

The prime difference between the two is in the licensing. Much
freeware is "Closed Source", in other words, you cannot freely
obtain the source code. Usually, Freeware does not allow/lend
itself to modification. OSS, OTOH, compels the free and ready
availability of the source code. Users are not only permitted to
modify the source to suit their own needs or fix a bug, but are
positively encouraged to do so (always assuming they know the
programming language). The only stipulation in relation to such
modifications is the requirement to release the modified code
under the same OSS license.

So I think a further definition needs to be added to your list,
to spell out the difference."


Partition Saving...Yes

He suggested a change in how Pricelessware links to his program.

"I take a look on your web site and if you could correct one
thing it will be great: using the http://www.partition-
saving.com/savepart.zip link for download in place of
http://perso.club-internet.fr/guiboure/savepart.zip will be
better as it will remain valid in case I choose another Internet
provider."

These ones said NO
Zoom Player
"You have my permission to include the Trail version of Zoom
Player Professional, not any other version."

HTML-Kit
"Please note that unlike traditional freeware,
distribution/redistribution of HTML-Kit and/or related files is
not permitted, as documented in its license agreement. Please
don't distribute it on CDs, DVDs, disks, disk/setup images, web
sites, archives, Intranets, networks or using any other method."

Dirhtml
"The license in the present version of dirhtml precludes
charging anything at all, though I will consider changing that
in the next version."

Karen's Replicator
"Hi! Absolutely not. You may not distribute any of my programs
or
newsletters, or other content I own. Sorry."

Filemon
RegMon
Process Explorer
"I'm afraid that the Sysinternals authors don't allow
redistribution of
their copyrighted materials via other's freeware products (such
as
compilation CDs, etc.). Sorry I couldn't be of more help this
time."

eSword...No......With a Maybe
"I can appreciate what you are doing, but the e-Sword license
agreement
prohibits distribution when any type of fee is charged. I do,
however, have the right to make exceptions If you give me
real live contact
information for the entity that will be in charge of this
distribution, then I can reconsider your request."

These are ones that where the emails bounced. Not saying that
the author can't be reached just that I got a Delivery Status
Notification (Failure) for these ones.

Visual Thought
Revelation
ReplaceEm
Quick Folders
Putty
Outlook-Quotefix
OE-Quotefix
MPEG Audio Collection
Memtest86
Cool Ruler
Cathy
Another Task Manager 2.2
EVE

The others programs are pending.

-=-

 

[Susan Bugher]

While strolling through alt.comp.freeware, Susan Bugher was
overheard plotting:

In the MAME group we have at least 20 burners that do this for FREE and
MAME roms are take up 20 GIGS (thats 5 DVD's) Linux users also provide
Bootable Distros and FULL distros via the same methods. All it takes is
a couple of voulenteers to get it started, Once you have a standard set
coming up with an 'update' cd would take even less effort.

In short is is a great idea and TOTALLY doable.

Thanks SINNER. I just did a little looking around. These pages have
details on how the distribution process works in the MAME group:

http://oz.lazarus.org.uk/

http://oz.lazarus.org.uk/index.php?burners

This method looked very straightforward:

<quote>
Send the media to one of the burner addresses located in your country,
enclosing some method of postal return. This may be a padded (jiffy) bag
with your address plus stamps ready for trouble-free dispatch, or merely
an address label with the stamps attached. If you opt for the latter,
your disks will most likely be returned in plain envelopes without the
safety of the jiffy bag padding - your choice, your gamble. Do not
expect the burner to (a) find out where you live, or (b) pay for your
postage if you do not enclose any form of address or payment for postage.

Handy tip: write your e-mail address on the back of the first envelope.
If there's a problem, the burner can contact you!
</quote>

All an ACF volunteer would have to do is burn a copy of the CD and drop
it in the mail (once the initial CD was created).

OO also has some CD distribution info:

http://distribution.openoffice.org/cdrom/#cdrom

Susan