carbide@egine.com wrote:
Greg Andrzejewski wrote:Pirating currently sold software only hurts the platform. If we don'tsupport those who write the programs, eventually this amazing line ofcomputers will fade into oblivion.To be honest, I'm not much interested in "currently sold software." I have boxes and boxes of old software, which is what I want to use on my old Apple computers. If these old farts had their way you wouldn't be able to copy (Pirate!) firmware such as upgrade firmware for SCSI cards or accellerators, or copy manuals (Stealing copywrited material!).
Ok, I'm going to try to explain this in a fashion that even Paul, the village idiot, can understand.
First, the above is a flat out lie. He knows it too. But, childish person that he is, he thinks that name calling and lies make his argument strong. I, on the other hand, am calling him names simply because it pisses him off, and I enjoy that. ;-)
If someone wants to write software for the II, and charge for it, that's their right, and no one has the right to steal what they worked so hard to create.
If someone wants to write software for the II and give it away, in the public domain, that is also their right.
If someone wants to write software for the II and copyright it, but then allow others to have it for free, but not the source code, that is their right.
And, finally, if someone wants to write software for the II and copyright it, but then give it and the source away, that is also their right.
I, for one, appreciate all of the above, and any possible combination of the above. Michael Mahon has done some really cool stuff with the II and has very generously made his hard work available. Hats off to Michael!
Others have created commercial software, and decided that supporting it hasn't been worth their time and have released it as freeware. Thanks!
And there are a few, a very, very few, who have created software and are still getting lunch money from it, and think that their hard work is worthy of compensation, if someone still wants it. I appreciate them too!
Paul has boxes of software that he didn't buy and says he isn't interested in using more recent stuff. Fine. No one has asked him too. So why does he get so exercised over the programmers of software he doesn't want asking money for their products? Sounds like a guilty conscience to me.
Frankly, as I've thought over this issue over the years I've flip flopped. Several times. But here I stand now: Is something still sold by people who produced the item, or who have been assigned the right to sell it? Then buy it, or don't use it. And don't throw childish temper tantrums, or spout socialist nonsense. Be mature and go your way.
Is something no longer sold, you want it you can't buy it, and no one supports it or cares what happens - then if your conscience lets you, go ahead and get a copy. Neither accuse nor excuse others.
And Kelly, hurt feelings are legitimate motivations for suing for financial injuries. Or for destroying all your work for the II and leaving the community that had hurt you emotionally. Nathan, for example.
Roy
I'm surprized they weren't screaming about my making mp3's from that 1987 Apple promo tape (Stealing!) and making them freely available (Piracy!). If they had their way, these things would be lost forever. This amazing line of computers would fade very quickly into oblivion if it was an expensive hobby. What keeps it going is the free information, help, and software archives. New users can come here and get started at no cost other than their own time and effort. Suppose they went to the blood suckers over at The Syndicate and were told they had to pay thru the nose for everything, including info! That Apple II they found or were given would end up in the trash. You have it backwards. Charging real money for *old* software only hurts the platform. Keep in mind these people oppose archiving of even *abandonware*, insisting that it's "piracy" unless you have written permission for every file. They can kiss my cutlass! Har! -Paul