What if all vendors had Linux versions of their software?

[emh]

I'm just kind of curious.  Let's say Linux is popular enough that all vendors, including Microsoft, release full Linux versions of their software, because not releasing one would be hugely detrimental to their profit margin.

Would you buy and use the vendor product instead of the open source/free alternatives?

Would you instead continue using the open source/free alternatives?

Would you only consider using the vendor product if they opened their source code?

Do you think open source software and proprietary software can easily benefit each other, if they're both available on the same platform?

What are your thoughts?

[Siplus]

quote: including Microsoft

lol...that'd be the day

 

quote:  Would you instead continue using the open source/free alternatives?

well, i use whatever i have as far as apps (office, web browsers, etc.), so i'd probibly still use the free ones. Games, however, i would still buy in vast quantities  

 

quote: Would you only consider using the vendor product if they opened their source code?

depends on what company. if i think i can trust it, i wouldn't care.

 

quote: Do you think open source software and proprietary software can easily benefit each other, if they're both available on the same platform?

proprietary software would benefit from open source software, but not the other way around. proprietary--while maybe having something better then OSS--would become a leech off of Open Source alternatives...u'd probibly see everything but the Mozilla button on every proprietary web browser (hmm...netscape?)

[preacher]

I only buy the absolute necessary software regardless of which operating system I use. When Im on my XP box, I still use mozilla, the gimp, open office. I only pay for software if I feel a true need, for instance I did buy CD burning software for my XP box, because the software it came with was so shitty I needed something good.

[SAJChurchey]

quote:
including Microsoft

Thats more than just hypothetical that's impossible.

 

quote:
Would you buy and use the vendor product instead of the open source/free alternatives?

A lot of open source alternatives have the added bonus of being free, and the fact that the source code is available lets me know that I can trust what's in there (no spyware, bloat, etc.)   So I probably wouldn't switch back to proprietary.

 

quote:
Would you instead continue using the open source/free alternatives?

Of course, open source rules.  It will always run more efficiently and be feature rich by its very nature.

 

quote:
Would you only consider using the vendor product if they opened their source code?

I would definitely consider them.

 

quote:
Do you think open source software and proprietary software can easily benefit each other, if they're both available on the same platform?

Yes, I belive more people would come to linux if more well known proprietary software (games especially) were ported over to linux.

[Calum]

this isn't really a hypothetical question. it's becoming a reality.

realplayer is available for linux, of course it is ad supported, closed source and one version behind windows and macintosh. OR... you could use MPlayer with realplayer codec libraries. i used to use realplayer, till i saw the light. mplayer plays quicktime too (which is not available on linux) and a shitload of other things (windows media video for one!)

i heard only today in these forums a totally unsubstantiated rumour that macromedia might be porting dreamweaver to linux. it'll be closed source, though and i will probably continue using quanta plus. same goes for MS office (or staroffice) vs openoffice. same goes for Opera versue mozilla.

HOWEVER i am a minority. most people would pay through the nose for what they are familiar with. just look at the 85% of windows users! so i reckon they would all pay for those programs yes.

[suselinux]

I would buy software as long as it wasn't based on open code,and then sold as closed code.

Lindows as an example.  Is Xandros opensource?

[xyle_one]

i do like dreamweaver & photoshop. if those were ported i would probably buy them. of course, in  a few years, those apps will not stand up to the open source alternatives anyways, so buying them, becomes a waste of money.