Not to beat a dead horse, but reading your last "footnote" I couldn't help but notice that you are missing the most important point reguarding Free software.
This is a point that is missed by 99.9% of the population (those who use Linux as well) however so don't feel bad. It took me a long time to get it also.
The term "Free Software", used in reference to GNU software has nothing to do with the finacial cost of the software, in fact as you illustrated, it can be perfectly normal to have to spend money on "Free Software".
The Free aspect has to do with freedom, and the lack of freedom provided by non-GNU software.
I understand that it is not your "job" to be a programmer however I think that you can understand the benefit to everyone who uses software that the programs you use are not restricted by copyrights, patents and other means.
A point that you make in your footnote that resonates with me is "Praise from other programmers is all very well but what about people who are highly demanding in their business needs and care nothing about operating systems or hardware minutiae.". This is exactly why we need people such as yourself particpating in the development of Free Software. The benefits of this were first obvious to programmers, now we need to enlighten users like yourself so that your contributions can also be folded into the development of software that not only competes with commercial applications on the basis of purchase cost, but on all other fronts as well.
This is where traditional, non-GNU software fails miserably. A typical software company will only consider your feedback when it is fiscally benificial to them, whereas you can have a direct and measured effect on GNU software; all you have to do is join in the project.
And that brings me to my point. If you are truly interested in providing up-and-coming designers with the tools they need to suceed, your time and effort would be much better spent joining ranks with GNU developers to produce superior tools instead of simply following suit with the less-sophisticated media and talking about the flaws.
I look forward to your feedback!
This is a point that is missed by 99.9% of the population (those who use Linux as well) however so don't feel bad. It took me a long time to get it also.
The term "Free Software", used in reference to GNU software has nothing to do with the finacial cost of the software, in fact as you illustrated, it can be perfectly normal to have to spend money on "Free Software".
The Free aspect has to do with freedom, and the lack of freedom provided by non-GNU software.
I understand that it is not your "job" to be a programmer however I think that you can understand the benefit to everyone who uses software that the programs you use are not restricted by copyrights, patents and other means.
A point that you make in your footnote that resonates with me is "Praise from other programmers is all very well but what about people who are highly demanding in their business needs and care nothing about operating systems or hardware minutiae.". This is exactly why we need people such as yourself particpating in the development of Free Software. The benefits of this were first obvious to programmers, now we need to enlighten users like yourself so that your contributions can also be folded into the development of software that not only competes with commercial applications on the basis of purchase cost, but on all other fronts as well.
This is where traditional, non-GNU software fails miserably. A typical software company will only consider your feedback when it is fiscally benificial to them, whereas you can have a direct and measured effect on GNU software; all you have to do is join in the project.
And that brings me to my point. If you are truly interested in providing up-and-coming designers with the tools they need to suceed, your time and effort would be much better spent joining ranks with GNU developers to produce superior tools instead of simply following suit with the less-sophisticated media and talking about the flaws.
I look forward to your feedback!
