| Subject: RE: Why not free software? |
Author: Brian Van Tilborg (cr386603-a.brntfd1.on.wave.home.com)
Date: 05-22-2001 17:40
There is open source software for the Atari. There is sozobon c etc, if you want to program. Open operating systems including one of the most powerful, MINT.
New Ataris/clones come bundled with software.
Sting, Stik II and Cab overlays are free. Along with the Stik developers pak.
Newsie is Free.
Lots of internet apps are shareware, and not even restricted.
Fact is the handful of commercial programs are pretty damn good.
The shareware is excellent. And so is much of the public domain.
The only new atari users, will be old atari users, returning to their roots after many years away. Hobbiests, musicians, and still the desktop publisher.
I use all the software mentioned above in your post on my ST.
This is amazing in itself, that the humble ST which can be had for virtually free, can run some of the best and most current applications available.
A TT/Falcon/Hades/Milan make things that much better and faster.
Its not free software that is needed. Look around there is more than enough.
But certainly a NEW FAST Atari clone with a browser that supports java, ssl, is what is really needed to get people on board with Ataris.
The software we have is already pretty good. Giving it away free, won't get us anymore users, especially if they haven't seen an Atari.
I would be more concerned with keeping the few developers/commercial and shareware, active on the platform.
Aicq is excellent isn't it:-).
Which is the result of a port of mICQ to the Atari, by Dan, who then used his knowledge to create the ovlerlay for the Gem driven AICQ.
New software such as these, ports from open source keeps Atari users on the platform, but it won't bring non Atarians to the platform.
Brian.
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