Free Software

The concept of "Software Piracy" and the term itself remain highly controversial nowadays. Some computer industry executives claim that so-called "piracy" is by far the largest problem facing the software industry. Others assert that it is a relatively minor problem and that the real problems are poor quality and excessive prices. In the other hand, FREE software (like Open Source in Linux) can show that people are supporting good projects without forcing them to have a license to be able to use a software.

If you like a computer software, will you support it without the need of having a valid license to operate it?
My answer is ... Yes, of course!. I had done that many times and you feel better to contribute freely to good projects.

If you can choose of having a database manager software (DBMs) that each license for using it in one computer can cost you about 5,000,000 yens per year, and a similar DBMs that is completely free to use in many computers as you want and paying (optionally) 500,000 yens to have a professional support from that company, which one you would select? MySQL and PostgreSQL are the best example of good DBMs and are accessible to any students or small companies

I use Linux almost all the time because of the Open Source software. I like Open Source software not only because its free, also because if you have a certain amount of programming knowledge you can contribute fixing or improving an application. That is how it works, millions of people work together in order to improve a System (e.g, Linux, FreeBSD, etc.) or applications (e.g., OpenOffice, Firefox, etc.). But, in the other side, Closed-source software or proprietary software (e.g., Windows, Flash, etc.) is only improved by few employees.

There are very good examples of proprietary software that is FREE (freeware) or almost free (some shareware without function limitation) that are really awsome (e.g., Irfanview, xmplay, 7zip, GetRight, GoldWave, Skype, MediaPlayer Classic, WinAmp, etc.).

For me, one disadvantage of proprietary software is that in most cases they only produce for Windows or Mac. Since I started to use Linux as my main OS, I found really anoying having to change to Windows in order to use a software or having to use an emulator to run those programs inside Linux (making them more unstable). Sometimes, I run my Windows XP inside my Linux (using VMware player, other FREE software) in order to use Microsoft Office (not free). Why if OpenOffice exists for Linux? The reason is because it is not 100% compatible with the Microsoft's version, and sometimes, some files I receive are not displayed correctly (mainly if they are in Japanese), very similar of when you are using MS Office in Windows and open it in Mac. However, sometimes I prefer open them inside Google Documents.

For the software I used in Windows, I opted to move to an Open Source alternative. I used many years Photoshop, I was a faithful customer of Adobe and I even imparted courses during in my University about Photoshop. I was really used to it. However, I use now Gimp, and I find it just perfect to my needs (sometimes even better than photoshop in some features).

Sometimes I had to create vector-based images (SVG) to create logos or drawings. I had to download Freehand (trial version valid for 30 days). However, if I wanted to use it in other ocasion few months later, I require to pay in order to use it. In those situations I had only two options: forget about it, or search for something in order to activate it. I personally don't like the second option, so I prefer to forget about it. Fortunately, now in my Linux, I have "Inkscape vector illustrator", that in my opinion, is by far better than Freehand in many aspects, mainly in the user interface and file formats between versions.

Other software I used in Windows was Flash. Now in Linux, there is no substitute, so I abandoned that area... unfortunately I have enough experience using Flash, but I don't think in paying it only to use it in Windows to produce personal stuff. Until Adobe is interested in Linux, I will never use it again at least in my personal computer. Maybe in the near future, Multidmedia Zink software could be created for Linux (apparently they are more interested in Linux than Adobe).

Finally, something that makes me once in a while turn on my Windows are my games collection. But, since I can run Starcraft with wine, and I have Tremulous and Wesnoth native in Linux, my Windows is missing me more and more.

If you are thinking in changing your Windows and explore the Open Source in Linux, do it!, don't think it too much, I recommend you to try the Live DVD's before installing it. At first you may ask things as: "Where is 'My Documents'?" or "Where is Internet Explorer"?, fortunately, almost all your questions can be answered, just google it. Inside your Linux, you may find a packager mannager that will let you download, easily and fast, as many software you want, for free, and totally legal!!! Isn't that great?

That's all for now... I will keep developing in Java using my Open Source software: Eclipse :)