Re: Before Dimdows 10 Goes EOL, I'm Testing Linux To Save My Laptop From The Landfill

On 6/28/25 8:28 PM, Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:

On Sat, 28 Jun 2025 20:00:08 -0700, T wrote:
 

They usually have not idea what OS they are running.  They only care if
their exact software runs on it.
>
Yes Windows is s*** or so they have heard (and experienced).
But if Linux will not run their stuff, "Here is 25 cent and go tell some
one cares".
>
Figure a way around it and I will pitch in to build you a massive
statue!

 How about going around customers that use some particular piece of
Windows-specific software, and getting a pool of funding from them to put
together the necessary testing and patches to get it running properly
under WINE? Which they all can benefit from? (And others as well?)
 That’s got to be less than the cost of upgrading all their machines to
cope with Windows 11.
 Free Software doesn’t write itself. Like with anything, you have to put in
an investment to get something out. It’s “free” as in “freedom” not “free”
as in “beer”.

You make a good point.  I do not have a lot of customer running
Linux and none of them are running Wine.  Just me.
Wine is the downside of the Open Source marketing model.
Give the software away for free and charge for the maintenance.
If you are an individual or a small business, you simply do not
have the financial wherewithal to support an extra person
on your payroll.  It is somewhat of a hostage situation.
And the developers do deserve to be paid for their labor.
Wine is a terrible example of the downside of open source.
Libre Office too.  I have actually did what you discuss
above with one of the desperately asked for enhancements
for Libre Office.  Hundreds of people have asked for it,
but I could not get any traction from them to start a
go fund me to get someone to implement the enhancement
request.
Fedora is a wonderful example of the upside of
the open source marketing model.