Re: Emulator Softwares (was Time Share)

[James Rich <james@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, 27 Mar 2005, Jerry wrote:

> I've become jaded in this world.  Nothing is really free.
>
> Quoting Pete Helgren <Pete@xxxxxxxxxx>:
>
> > tn5250j http://sourceforge.net/projects/tn5250j/
> >
> > It's a Java based, Open Source, 5250 emulator.  Runs on Windows, Macs,
> > Linux.  Very powerful and ...FREE!

While it may be true that nothing is really free (in terms of cost), 
projects like tn5250j are truly free of charge to you, and you are given a 
number of freedoms in connection with the software.

While I don't work on tn5250j, I do work on other emulator projects (even 
tn5250 on which tn5250j was originally designed around!).  We give you 
those freedoms without charge or compensation.  It costs me time to work 
on the software, but I give you that time freely.  So to say, "it isn't 
really free" is technically true (again, in the sense that it costs me 
time) but saying so implies that the gift of freedoms I give you somehow 
costs you.  And that is somewhat offensive.

James Rich

It's not the software that's free; it's you.
        - billyskank on Groklaw