[Novalug] Re: Free Software Tools Unavailable

[Dan Arico]

On Thu January 18 2007 12:21 pm, Alan McConnell wrote:
> On Thu, Jan 18, 2007 at 11:18:21AM -0500, Theodore Ruegsegger wrote:
> > Dan wrote:
> > > It makes sense to use free software when you've got it, but what
> > > do you do when you have work to be done and no free software tool
> > > to do it with?
> >
> > This is hardly a new question and detailed answers are easy to
> > find.
>
> 	Hmm . . . maybe I need to be pointed at such.
>
> But IMHO it is a good question:  what can not be accomplished with
> free SW tools?  This is not meant to be pugnacious: there may be
> good answers.  But let me review a few areas:

All of the routine stuff is pretty well covered, but .......

The web is littered with proprietary formats. Either we have to use 
proprietary software or break the law. In many cases, we have to break 
the law. It might be argued that this doesn't actually involve work. It 
all depends on your line of work. A lot of business communications are 
distributed in proprietary formats.

There are also the specialized applications that only run on non-free 
OSs. I have to use one in my business to do bulk mail presorts. There 
just isn't any alternative.

Dan Arico

-- 
One OS to rule them all, One OS to find them,
One OS to bring them all, and in the Darkness bind them,
In the land of Redmond, where the Sales Reps lie.