On 03/10/2007, James Knott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > andrew arnold wrote: > > I crashed my computer and need to be able to reinstal the openoffice i > > purchased online. how do i do this? > > > You don't have to purchase OpenOffice, as it's a free download from > www.openoffice.org. Just download and install the latest version.
there is something not right in the way you say that. it leads to the infinite loop of the following conversation...a funny one so not a vicious one... 1. you don't have to purchase OpenOffice 2. vendors are free to sell OpenOffice so on one hand, whenever the copy a vendor has sold goes bad, they are (almost) cursed at and the link to openoffice download is given. and then on the other hand...usually by the next reply, people side with the poor vendors, talk about (L)GPL freedoms and give example of RMS selling free software (for example). this is perfect formula for total confusion. first of all, if the user has purchased openoffice or any derivative of that let that be. we are not aware as to what exactly was the buyer charged for. code modifications/extensions or installation and on-site support or adding exhaustive print documentation or more personalized artwork or much larger clipart gallery or ... etc. we cannot complain that the vendor' not sold them the original thing, who knows, they might have expended resources to fix something like the Fontworks problem and using it as an USP. on our part, we can let the user know what LGPL allows him to do, but on the other hand, if the vendor gives a high-speed link to download a paid version or gives some added benefits like phone support or something, the user should take advantage of that. we know that openoffice lists have well-established users, but the vendors be given a chance to. it makes the purchase look not such a waste. what we can mention is that if the vendor doesn't let its customer get another copy of what he purchased...y'know, just the software program, then i believe the vendor is not giving users all the LGPL freedoms (i may be wrong here. i believe, even if its a modified version, the license to copy and redistribute the product applies to them, isn't it so?) In this case, we mention about the original openoffice project, but not stress on 'original' such that the buyer think he got duped into buying a fake one. now my question is: - modifications to gpl/lgpl software are released under the same license preserving the users' freedom. so if a vendor sells a derived version and then someday the buyer damages or loses his copy of the vendor's version of OO.o the vendor is free to redistribute the copy again, but is he free to charge again for it as well? just consider the software package in this case. because we know one can sell free software but every copy or first copy...first copy ever or first copy per buyer...how do you even know which is the first copy...unless (say) you are one of the buyers. what if the download link to the vendor version is a time-limited one? so after 31 days, program goes for a toss and now no download link to get the software back again. gone with (say) all customizations that the buyer's work depended on and no more link to download this special version, anymore. is it right for vendors to 're-charge' the buyer to give access to the download? sheesh...now that's grown into some confuing mess, but i hope my messy questions are answered and atleast it hopefully would choose either of 1. vendors are not stealing your money or don't charge for nothing at all 2. download the 'original' openoffice only. vendors are wasting your time and money trying to sell it. lgpl simply allows vendors to sell free software coz the contradictory terms like sell and free come together and make interesting n infinite conversation. since i quoted off this list, so i am posting to users list only. i wish we had some vendors of openoffice come up with their perspectives..how strictly they followed the LGPL license. -- Diabolic Preacher As Is Blog: http://pintooo15.livejournal.com/ Bookmarks: http://simpy.com/user/dpreacher -----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK----- Version: 3.1 GCS/IT d+(-) s+:+ a22 C++@ UL@ P L+(++) E- W++ !N o? K>++ w(-) !O M-(--) !V PS+ PE++ Y+ PGP t- 5? X>+ R- tv@ b-(+) DI+ D+ G++ e++ h-- !r y- ------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------ --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
