Comment by dpower | Hacker News Reader

Comment by dpower | Hacker News Reader

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I'm certainly not trying to deride open source. For the record, we have plenty of Linux users paying for the product (see previous article), but I simply don't understand why some people won't buy the product because it's not open source. I mean it's their choice - fine. But it's also our choice on whether we open source or not. No need to abuse us for this choice. I am trying to remedy the issue - I'm writing about it.

As for free software being more ethical, I'm just not sure what that means? You think because someone is giving their time the motive is always altruistic and therefore superior choice? I'm not trying to antagonise you. Just asking the question. I don't think of it as a zero sum game. You can add to humanity and get paid for it. I'm no libertarian, but if you add value, create jobs, contribute to taxes...

I don't think I was in any way abusing. I said that your attitude does not inspire goodwill or good sentiments. You're trying to make money, like everyone. That's fine, not everyone is a monster for not writing free software, giving to charity, whatever. I just don't see why you should feel entitled to make the money the way you're attempting to. Your userbase feels strongly about some issues and these are the same people you're trying to convince to give them money to you. Calling them fundamentalists will not help or solve anything, and I can't emphatize with "If only more of my users agreed with me so I could make more money".

> I simply don't understand why some people won't buy the product because it's not open source

Because we want the freedom to use it however we wish, to modify it to behave as we wish and to share those modifications with our friends. That's why I don't use proprietary software any more than I have to: I like freedom.

> I simply don't understand why some people won't buy the product because it's not open source.

Because Microsoft is putting ads into its email application.

The software people pay for.

Used to be, you could say "If you didn't pay for it, you're the one being sold."

Well, their users damned well did pay for it, and they're still being sold.

You can say you'd never do that.

I'm sure Microsoft would have said they'd never do it five years ago, too.

I'd be interested in paying for your product if it was open source. Having an open source product doesn't stop you from selling it.

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