Tim Long - All Comments

re: Slimy Free Software

Tim Long — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:26:42 GMT

Thank you @Sozo for your comments. In hindsight, perhpas my point was not as well made as it could have been. I tend to agree with your remarks about donation buttons and advertisements. I've no issue with software publishers having a 'donate' button and I think it is completely right and proper to make money from software. My point though, is that human nature is such that the majority will not donate because if something has no cost, then it also has no perceived value. I'm of the opinion that if you want to make money from software, then you ought to just ask your users to pay for it. Either charge for it, or make it completely free, period. The middle ground of donations and advertisements seems like a poor compromise whee no-one really wins.

re: Slimy Free Software

Sozo — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:13:32 GMT

Just because you didn't name Mr. Brewster doesn't mean you aren't referring to him. You article refers to the software engineers of certain programs, and then you bring up Paint.NET as an example. Since Rick Brewster is the developer of Paint.NET and the website, you are referring to him indeed.

Regarding the article. I agree, ads are an annoyance. I don't like the ones on the Paint.NET home site, and I don't like them on any other site either. But that's why services like AdBlock are developed, for your convenience.

In regards to donation: if you choose to donate, suprise: it's your choice! A donation button does not obligate you to click and send your money away. Paint.NET, like much other software out there, is indeed totally free. But if you want to send Mr. Brewster a sum of money in gratitude to support his work, so be it. If you don't, you don't. He, and most others, will not beg.

I'm sorry if I'm too critical, but it seems like you're complaining over a non-issue. Ads are an unnecessary evil and can be done away with. Donation is a kindness, not a requirement.

re: Just a Minute

Chris Eargle — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:34:49 GMT

I disagree that conclusions can be easily drawn from one interview on one culture. Without having data on various countries' male/female technology worker ratios and payscale differences, it's difficult to pinpoint what works on and what doesn't. At the most, I would say it warrants further investigation.

Just a Minute - Tim Long's Review on Hanselminutes about Women in Technology in the Muslim World

DotNetShoutout — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:32:07 GMT

Thank you for submitting this cool story - Trackback from DotNetShoutout

re: Slimy Free Software

Tim Long — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:02:58 GMT

@Rick Brewster - I can see I've touched a nerve there. Freedom of expression means that sometimes people disagree with you, and that's OK. That's why I chose to publish your response to my article. I disagree that expressing an honest opinion is anything to be ashamed of.

There is certainly nothing libellous in my remarks. For one thing, in order to be libellous, I would have to have made defamatory remarks about an individual. I haven't done that, my article refers to the general principle of monetizing free software through donations and advertisements. I happened to pick your web site as an example of the practice because it was one I had visited that day. I fail to see why you think my article is either unprofessional or cowardly, and I find it a little ironic that you accuse me of 'bordering on libel' while in the very same sentence levelling a defamatory remark squarely at me. If you have a point to make, I really think you can do better than that. I would be interested to hear your point of view and hear why you do things the way you do. I'm quite prepared to engage in discussion with you and, perhaps, even have my opinion changed, but vitriol is not going to do it. If you would like to write a rebuttal on your own blog, I would be more than happy to link to it.

I do think you have an excellent product, one that I use very often and recommend to my friends and colleagues. My point is that, as a general principle, if someone wants to make money out of software, then I'd rather that they just said that. Given the choice of paying or not paying, my choice will be "not paying" every time. I'm sure there are those who would choose to pay, but it has been my experience that they are in a tiny minority.

re: Slimy Free Software

csm725 — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:38:31 GMT

EXCUSE ME CANT U APPRECIATE THE GOODNESS OF DEVELOPERS TO OFFER U A SOFTWARE 4 FREE? SAY THANKS AND DONT COMMENT ABOUT IT.

re: Slimy Free Software

Rick Brewster — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:41:21 GMT

It's one thing to say you don't like ads, or that you think the website is ugly, or that you won't donate.

It's another thing entirely to make a moral judgment bordering on libel, and reeking of unprofessional cowardice. You should be ashamed of yourself.

re: Slimy Free Software

Brad Wolff — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:46:43 GMT

I think that any free software developer that passes up on a nearly passive influx of capitol is suffering from one of those brain conditions that I can't pronounce.

The ads don't bite...just ignore them and let the webmaster rake in a few pence off your visit.

Slimy Free Software

Tim Long — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:01:08 GMT

I’ve written several times on why I think free software is harmful ( The Zen of Free ; Free Software

re: Google Wave: The Next Big Thing in B2B?

Tim Long — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:46:04 GMT

Kelly (or should I say pbx-phone-system.info ?)

Occams Razor states that, all things being equal, the simplest explantion is probably the correct one.

Given that my web site displays correctly on all other browsers (as far as I know), then applying Occams Razor would lead to the inescapable conclusion that the problem is more likely in Android than in my web site.

Ciao

Kelly — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:40:08 GMT

Very nice post. I thought to let you know that youwebsite wasn'tt getting displayed properly on android web broswer on my pda.

Have a nice time...sorry for typo mistakes

re: More Google Wave Invitations

Tim Long — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:45:03 GMT

I would need an email address.

Do you have any invitations left?

David — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:26:27 GMT

Hiya, just wondering if you still have any invitations left for google wave?

My friend keeps talking about it and i want to have a go at it...

Cheers

re: Got Questions? Ask startups.com

Fred Imparatta — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:11:03 GMT

Thanks for the great write up! If you want to follow up or get more info on Startups.com, don't hesitate to contact me.

Fred Imparatta

Community Manager @ Startups.com

@fimparatta

re: Google Wave: The Next Big Thing in B2B?

andy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:43:45 GMT

Online collaborating and teaching can work, If you have trust and the right tools.

I recommend you try this alternative to google wave - http://www.showdocument.com - good app for uploading documents and working on them in real-time.

Most file types are supported and it needs no installation. - andy