I like open source software and use a lot of it. Everything I do on Linux is done with open source and, although I use Windows too, a lot of what I do on Windows is also using open source, or at least freeware programs.
I deeply appreciate the contribution that open source programmers make, and I recognize the benefits to society of open source software. But having said that I have to say I'm not really opposed to commercial software, any more than I'm opposed to commercial hardware, commercial cars, commercial food, or commercial television. Hundreds of thousands of people make their livings writing software, just as millions of others do building computers, building cars, farming, or working on TV shows. I don't see anything inherently evil in that. I don't endorse monopoly practices. I think that's bad for society, and I think that many of the practices of Microsoft and Intel have anti-social monopoly characteristics. I oppose those. But if someone wants to buy a computer program, even including buying it from Microsoft, why not? -- Alan Meyer amey...@yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Pan-users mailing list Pan-users@nongnu.org http://lists.nongnu.org/mailman/listinfo/pan-users