Why so much dishonesty - Free download is NOT free software

Hi there

Why can't people be more honest on their websites -- as well as making it harder and harder to find REAL downloads without confusing extra offers / links to other programs with the real link buried deep down in an easy to miss website - I really hate the following that seems to be commonplace now -- FREE DOWNLOAD which implies FREE -- but the SOFTWARE most certainly Isn't but totally no mention of BUY / PAY on the site.

We should BOYCOTT those sites and make our feelings known --nothing wrong about people wanting to make a few bucks - especially these days with good jobs getting harder to find -but we can still be OPEN.



Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

Why can't people be more honest on their websites -- as well as making it harder and harder to find REAL downloads without confusing extra offers / links to other programs with the real link buried deep down in an easy to miss website - I really hate the following that seems to be commonplace now...

And yet, when Microsoft work towards trying to address this issue by creating 'Project Centennial' and the Windows Store, all they're met with is negativity...

Free download is not the same as free software. Why do they make it hard to find the correct download link? They get paid for every click from their webpage. It's the same principle of why you shouldn't use ad blockers on web sites you want to support.

Short answer: Money makes the world go round Just take a look at the economy or governments, lying just seems to be ordinary behavior nowadays. For example the VW Diesel scandal: They kept lying until proof was provided. Then they admitted that they had been cheating and lying for years. But would they work with the authorities? No, they just started a new lie about who was involved until this new lie also collapsed like a house of cards... It has just become horrible, you cannot trust anybody anymore. It's sad but you have to suspect a lie behind every claim. And if it's not a lie it's at least whitewashed.

Wise words. Generally free is more than often just a disguise for a rip off.

I think the "free download" comes from the days of bulletin boards where one paid for the connection to a server to enable downloading software, most often Shareware [try then buy or uninstall]. I also pass those free downloads unless it's something I really, really want to try. The downside is once the trial software is installed then uninstalled it can't again be installed except only after a fully clean reinstall [HDD wipe] of the OS, leaves something behind/hidden that prevents that.

Hi there

actually people being OPEN and say what they are charging for generates MORE business in the long run than people trying to make money by the Back Door.

I don't disagree with "Money makes the world go round" -- but my beef is that the ways people use to get / earn it -- if our business people run on deceptions etc how can we expect to install decency into our kids etc.

Running a Business (or even several) is actually a perfectly fine occupation -- you don't have to resort to subterfuge and deception to run successful businesses.

Cheers
jimbo