In the past, most software I used was paid and proprietary and would have some sort of limitation that I would try to get around by any means possible. Sometimes that would be resetting the clock on my computer, disabling the internet, and other times downloading a patch.
But in the past few years I’ve stopped using those things and have focused only on free and open source software (FOSS) to fulfill my needs. I hardly have to worry about privacy problems or trying to lock down a program that calls home. I might be missing out on some things that commercial software delivers, but I’m hardly aware of what they are anymore. It seems like the trend is for commercial software providers to migrate toward online or service models that have the company doing all the computing. I’m opposed to that, since they can take away your service at any time.
What do you do?
I always perfer FOSS whenever possible.
I figure if someone out there is working on a project and wants me to use it, I owe it to them to at least give it a shot.
Occasionally, the proprietary stuff is the only option. And occasionally-occasionally that company isn’t worth supporting or the price is unreasonable or more than I could afford. In which case, perhaps some seas are sailed.
Allegedly.