From: MikeE@ster.invalid   
      
   Mike Easter wrote:   
   > Just for the sake of the group topic;   
      
   Speaking of the group topic, allegedly 'freeware'; the group tends to be   
   mostly about *windows* freeware -- and/but -- windows 'per se' is *not*   
   exactly freeware, in one sense, but in another it *is* seemingly free,   
   because we ALL need hardware to run a system, and generally speaking,   
   typically we buy hardware w/ a current Win installed by the OEM.   
      
   Linux users and others like to consider that a 'MS tax', but the reality   
   is that you CANNOT buy the same hardware w/o Win installed, such as   
   buying from a linux-oriented OEM, because the linux OEMs hardware is NOT   
   cheaper but in fact the competing ware w/ Win installed IS cheaper.   
      
   Over the decades I have bought quite a few systems and built a few from   
   parts assembled. It isn't cheaper to build my own which then requires a   
   system. It isn't cheaper to buy an OEM linux system. It is always   
   cheaper to buy a system w/ Win already installed; so in that sense an   
   OEM-licensed Win IS 'free' in some sense of the word.   
      
   There is a LOT of software available for linux which is almost all free   
   open-source as in free beer as well as free as in libre; information   
   wants to be free, but that freeware isn't typically the discussions of   
   this group.   
      
   I also don't think the group should be about 'system advocacy in the   
   form of animosity' -- people should use the system or systems which they   
   want to use, and a LOT of people use more than one system; in my case it   
   is mostly linux, some/ a little/ Win daily, occasionally android, never   
   Mac; but in the past it had been mostly linux, more Win, rarely Mac,   
   never android, and so forth all the way back to all Atari ST only.   
      
   On the one hand, while there is PLENTY of linux ware, there is also   
   plenty of Win ware that many people would rather use, just like there is   
   also Mac ware that some people would rather use. Nowadays I would say   
   that MOST people use more than one system; such as iOS or Android AND   
   such as Win; or Win and linux or 3 different systems.   
      
   --   
   Mike Easter   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)