Windows 10: Why so much dishonesty - Free download is NOT free software

There's no such thing as free.
No such thing.
When you see a sentence containing the word "free", remove that word and you're one step closer to the truth.

 

I wouldn't go that far. Right now I'm using some really good software that's free/shareware. For example OpenOffice is free and it's very top notch software.

 

While I agree that "free" is often misleading, one of the absolutely very best FREE apps is Macrium Reflect. For a while, they encouraged purchasing it by providing options like Boot Entry on the hard drive ONLY in their paid versions. But in this recent version, they now offer even that for free.

 

"In the USA it might work like that but in some European / Nordic countries a few supermarket chains pride themselves of NOT putting those sorts of things in front of the checkout and help parents to avoid "Pester Power" --and guess what THOSE supermarkets make MORE money !!!"


How did they prove that they make More money?

Edit: Buy one, Get one free is not the same as Buy one get second one at a discount.

 

I agree, There is a lot of great free software. Some great free versions of software include programs such as Macrium Reflect, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and MiniTool Partition Wizard to name a few.

 

tanstaafl

 

Bing lookup didn't like that phrase. It took me 4 tries before Bing stopped crashing this web page. *Smile

 

" Congratulations! You are our lucky winner for today vacation ticket to Hawaii beach, just click this green " FREE DOWNLOAD" button to claim your reward."

 

i have run into a lot of "dishonest" sites in my days. when i see "totally free!" or "amazing freebie of the week" iam always cautious. there is almost always some kind of catch to lure you

 

I have a very large collection of freeware, but only real freeware, no add supported or with any other ties. There's some really good stuff written by either budding programmers or serious programmers fed up by lack of simple SW that does one or very few jobs but does it good.

 

I have no problem with a developer covering their costs by including sensible advertising within the package or using an advanced feature to drive sales of the "pro" version. As long as advertising is not so intrusive as to prevent use of the package then it's only fair that they get some compensation for all the development time spent.

 

Hi there

Whether paid for or not I have no problem whatsoever (and there is both high quality really FREE and Commercial software) out there -- my beef wasn't whether it was paid for or otherwise but just the totally underhand and sneaky ways some people try and lure you in.

A lot of websites are really tricky to navigate these days - absolutely riddled with false / confusing links, junk bundleware and advertising so bad it ruins your use or even trial of a product -- no probs at all to developers who want some sort of compensation for developing new and useful stuff but PLEASE be straightforward up front.

I can see why so much malware is often present on a lot of people's machines.

Cheers
jimbo