Question re: freeware definition.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Helen
  • Start date Start date
H

Helen

schrodinger's cat said:
Good point.
offer.

So if Microsoft offers free add-ins to Office they are not freeware, but
if another party offers the same Office add-ins for free they are
freeware?
Click to expand...

Well, yes, they are "free", but so are things in the trash heap.
(e.g., useless, but nonetheless "free").

Here in this ng we speak of "free" and useful. Your example is one that's
free but useless (unless and until you purchase the MANDATORY program with
which to use your "free" add-on, etc.)
 
Can a program which is itself free, but provides no functionality except
as an add-in or utility for a specific commercial software application
(excluding the OS), rightfully be called freeware? I am thinking of
programs which are designed strictly as enhancements to MS Word, Excel,
PhotoShop, etc. I use a number of such utilities myself, and I'm glad to
have them, but if they require the purchase of a (sometimes rather
expensive) commercial app then I'm wondering if they can rightly be
considered freeware in the truest sense of the word. "Adjunctware"
anyone?
 
schrodinger's cat said:
Can a program which is itself free, but provides no functionality except
as an add-in or utility for a specific commercial software application
(excluding the OS), rightfully be called freeware?
Click to expand...

Sure.

I am thinking of
programs which are designed strictly as enhancements to MS Word, Excel,
PhotoShop, etc. I use a number of such utilities myself, and I'm glad to
have them, but if they require the purchase of a (sometimes rather
expensive) commercial app then I'm wondering if they can rightly be
considered freeware in the truest sense of the word. "Adjunctware"
anyone?
Click to expand...

If there are absolutely NO strings attached it's free. If someone gives you a CD it's free whether
or not you own a CD player. If someone offers to "give" you a CD *if* you purchase a CD player it's
not free. If someone offers to give you a CD *if* you've already purchased one of their CD players
it's not truly free - you had to spend money to qualify for the free offer.

People who don't own the #ware app often feel a Freeware "helper app" is not going to be very useful
to them. There's not much discussion of such apps here because they're of limited interest to the
group as a whole.

Susan
--
Posted to alt.comp.freeware
Search alt.comp.freeware (or read it online):
http://www.google.com/advanced_group_search?q=+group:alt.comp.freeware
Pricelessware & ACF: http://www.pricelesswarehome.org
Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)
 
Susan Bugher wrote:
snip
If there are absolutely NO strings attached it's free. If someone gives
you a CD it's free whether or not you own a CD player. If someone offers
to "give" you a CD *if* you purchase a CD player it's not free. If
someone offers to give you a CD *if* you've already purchased one of
their CD players it's not truly free - you had to spend money to qualify
for the free offer.

People who don't own the #ware app often feel a Freeware "helper app" is
not going to be very useful to them. There's not much discussion of such
apps here because they're of limited interest to the group as a whole.

Susan
Click to expand...

Well then by that discription, any software at all that runs on a
computer you have to purchase is not "free"...;0)
Just kidding, I get it.
granpaw(ducks and runs for cover)
 
... If someone gives you a CD it's free whether
or not you own a CD player.
Click to expand...

Good point.
... If someone offers to give you a CD *if* you've already purchased one of their CD players
it's not truly free - you had to spend money to qualify for the free offer.
Click to expand...

So if Microsoft offers free add-ins to Office they are not freeware, but
if another party offers the same Office add-ins for free they are
freeware?
 
Good point.
Click to expand...
So if Microsoft offers free add-ins to Office they are not freeware, but
if another party offers the same Office add-ins for free they are
freeware?
Click to expand...

It's not who is making the offer. It's the kind of offer they're making. Microsoft offers free
downloads that you're elegible for *if* you have purchased something from them. They also offer
Freeware that anyone can download - no strings attached. You have to look at the offer.

Susan
--
Posted to alt.comp.freeware
Search alt.comp.freeware (or read it online):
http://www.google.com/advanced_group_search?q=+group:alt.comp.freeware
Pricelessware & ACF: http://www.pricelesswarehome.org
Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)
 
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