[techtalk] re: Where's your favorite place to get software?

[Caitlyn M. Martin]

Hi there,

This probably should move to issues, so...  I'll copy it there.

On Sat, 19 Aug 2000, pheret werks wrote:
> i would highly suggest NOT buying software and getting it online . . .
> well, that's how i do it . . . go to www.freshmeat.net,
> www.linuxberg.com, do a search for software, it's absolutely amazing
> what you can find out there.  i can recommend something for just about
> anything you might need!  whoohoooo!!!

While, in principle, I agree with you, it doesn't work for those of us wh=
o=20
are still using old fashioned dial-up connections, at least for the momen=
t,=20
and need something really large, like a whole Linux distro. =20
>
> okay, i get a little enthusiastic and i also get a wee bit irritated at
> the whole distribution scene right now . . . way too microsofty . . . o=
f
> course, i could be opening a whole can o' worms here . . .

I think comparing the various Linux distributors with Microsoft is not fa=
ir=20
at all.  None of them is an arrogant monopoly trying to control all of th=
e=20
IT industry, and by extension, all information, and our lives.  Even the=20
biggest, Red Hat, published all of the stuff they develop under the GPL. =
=20
Would Microsoft ever do that?  Methinks not.

I generally do buy one whole copy of the official release of at least one=
 or=20
two distros.  Of course, I then install it all over the place, at home, i=
n=20
my office, and for my clients.  This, of course, is perfectly legal.  Not=
 so=20
with MS, is it?

Why do I bother with the official release?  Some come with really nice=20
documentation. I'm paying for a book, which I can then recommend to Linux=
=20
newbie clients. =20

Also, when I was having weirdness (or perceived weirdness, in one case) w=
ith=20
the firewall box I was working on last week, I actually called Caldera, g=
ot=20
a really good engineer on the phone, and got help.  I don't care how good=
=20
you are or how expereinced you are:  every network and every installation=
 is=20
somewhat different, and you're going to hit weirdness sooner or later.  T=
hat=20
call was way worth the cost of one whole copy of Caldera on sale for $9.9=
9. =20
Heck, my client paid for it at my recommendation, and they still have the=
=20
book :)
>
> my point is, if you are poor (like me) then go get the software online!

If you have the bandwidth, do it even if you aren't poor :)  I expect tha=
t=20
once we have IDSL, that's how we will generally do it here even for the b=
ig=20
stuff.

> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> what's the matter with me?
> i'm gay, i'm loveable, i've got
> nice teeth .=20

LOL  :)  Why did you choose pheret works?  I have to ask, since I have ei=
ght=20
fuzzies here.

Regards,
Caity


--=20
Caitlyn M=E1ire Martin
caitlyn at netferrets.net
http://www.caitys-world.com