I don't know if many people know this, but there is actually more than 3 types of software to choose from so it is your choice. We all know about commercial software, or retail software as it is more commonly known, the type that you buy over the counter at a store or via an online Internet store. The next one is Shareware, which is a little different because it allows you to trial the software before you buy. While I like the idea of being able to trial the software rather than having to buy the program, take it home, and then realise it isn't for you, the down side is that many programs (software) limit you to certain features. You may find some features are disabled and, sometimes, a message will appear when you click on a feature telling you to buy the program if you want to access that particular feature. Another reason I don't like Shareware is that many (not all) have adware and/or spyware built into them that connects to a server and brings up ads whenever you open the program or it sends details about your computing habits that allow ads to be sent to you. It's great when you can trial a program before buying it, but when you see there are ads in the program, that's when it is best to avoid using that type of software.
The next type of software is Freeware software. Freeware is great in that it is free, or free, but also with certain features disabled. In this case, usually software companies have bigger and better versions of the program available. Take, for example, NoteTab Light, which is a Freeware program. NoteTab Pro and NoteTab Std are the two bigger brothers of NoteTab Light because you get more features when you use them, those features are only available in NoteTab Light for a month only, but you get the option to have them or not. The worst thing about Freeware is that, like Shareware, you're subjecting yourself and your computer to adware and spyware, except some Freeware software is so full of adware and spyware, it's not good to use them at all. Freeware software is also more vulnerable for viruses as well. Unfortunately, no software you get, whether commercial, shareware or Freeware is safe from viruses. If you buy a computer magazine from your local store or newsagent, or a book from the book shop and that mag or book comes with a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. You'd think there would be no viruses on a CD or DVD of software that you bought with a book or magazine, unfortunately that is not the case at all. The Australian PC User magazine which comes with a DVD-ROM states that even though they've tested the DVD for viruses and it comes up clear, you never know if it's going to be the same on all computers using different anti-virus software. That's why they advise people to scan the DVD through their own Anti-Virus software before using it. Whether you plan to use commercial, shareware, or freeware software, or even the software I mention below, you can never be 100% safe from viruses because your Anti-Virus software may miss a threat that another Anti-Virus program will find and vise versa.
The next two types of software you can get are my favourite type and I much prefer them to the ones mentioned above. The first one is Open Source software. The benefit of Open Source software is that you can use the software, modify it and even improve the software to make it better. You can even redistribute existing software whether you've modified it or not. The benefit of Open Source over the above mentioned software types is that Open Source allows you to view the source code of the program and you can literally do what ever you want with it as long as it follows the Open Source Definition! Some people might think Open Source means free software, but even though it is pretty much free, it doesn't give you as much freedom as the next type of software I'm about to mention. In my view, Free Software is an even better in a way than Open Source. Do not get Free software confused with Freeware because they are both very different types of software. Free software allows you, as long as you have the source code, to modify the software to the way you want it too. You can even improve it, and redistribute the software, just so long as you give the other people who want the software the source code as well either, via the software, or linked to a web site. Free Software is supported by the Free Software Foundation and is true free software compared to any of the above mentioned types. Open Source, according to the Free Software Foundation on the GNU website in this article, was actually part of the Free Software movement but because people didn't agree with the goals of Free Software, they broke away and formed Open Source. This explains why Free Software and Open Source software are so similar but with some differences.
So......why should we pay for our software when there are free or Open Source alternatives available? Instead of forking out money for every new version of Windows, why not get a computer that has a version of GNU/Linux on it? Ubuntu is a great Open Source GNU/Linux Operating System and gNewSense is a great "free" GNU/Linux Operating System. Or rather than buying a computer with a GNU/Linux Operating System on, why not download image files from the Internet and burn them onto blank CD-R/RW or DVD-R/RW discs and create "Live CD" versions of the GNU/Linux OS (Operating System)? At least that way you can try it before installing it! How about ditching the expensive Adobe PhotoShop CS software and start using The GIMP instead and rather than paying heaps of money for Microsoft Office, Microsoft Works, WordPerfect or the Lotus programs, why not use OpenOffice.org instead? How about using Firefox for your web browsing, or Thunderbird for your email, or if you want to go the totally free way, browse the Internet using Epiphany and check your email using Evolution? IMO, they're better alternatives! I've said to Mum several times that if it wasn't for the software we use in Windows (especially since I've paid for one of the programs), I'd switch over to Ubuntu Linux tomorrow and ditch Windows all together. Even better, I'd switch to gNewSense instead as, unlike Ubuntu which is Open Source, gNewSense is a pure free operating system of GNU/Linux!
Another thing that makes me want to get rid of Windows is the fact that I can no longer trust what is being installed onto my computer by Microsoft, I don't like the fact that Microsoft and other companies are trying to control our computers. Do you think you can trust your computer to obey you instead of Microsoft or other commercial companies? If you want to know why I'm so against what Microsoft and other companies are up to, I strongly recommend you read an article by Richard Stallman called Can You Trust Your Computer? I would if I used GNU/Linux! In that article, Stallman gives software made by Microsoft and other commercial companies the name of "Proprietary" software. I tell you one thing, The GIMP may not be as easy to use as PhotoShop or Paint Shop Pro, but the more people who help make The GIMP a better program, the more like PhotoShop and Paint Shop Pro it will become. That goes for any Free or Open Source alternatives to retail/commercial software. If you think the Free or Open Source alternative isn't good enough, why not make suggestions to the creators yourself, or even better, become one of the developers and make the software better and more user friendly!
By the way, if you feel like I do after reading that article by Richard Stallman, then I strongly recommend you go to GNU's website and watch the video by Stephen Fry about Free Software and GNU's birthday (that is, if your favourite media player can open .ogg files). You will find the link under the Freedom Fry heading on their home page. He'll explain it much better than I ever will and I also encourage you to read some or all the documents listed in the GNU website's Philosophy section as, then you'll see my point. You can also go to the GNU site to get more information on what Free Software is! The site is well worth the read IMO!
If I had to choose between Open Source and Free Software (not to be confused with Freeware), I'd choose the latter. In fact, if you want to see what Free Software is available, go to the Free Software Directory and browse their range! When I get my new computer, I'm going to have a dual boot system with Windows on one hard drive and Ubuntu and gNewSense on the 2nd one and I'm looking forward to trying them without running them on the LiveCDs I have of them! When I do get my computer, watch this space for full reviews on 2 GNU/Linux operating systems called Ubuntu and gNewSense! I'm looking forward to comparing them!
So, which would you choose, commercial/retail (buy over the counter), Shareware (try before you buy though some programs have ads and limited access), Freeware (free but with limitations and/or adware or spyware), Open Source or Free Software? I know what I would choose!
