Re: [Pan-users] Re: OT: freedomware vs... Was: Building Pan on Windows?

[Leslie Newell]

> > As a closed source software vendor it is in my interest to keep my
> > customers as happy as possible. My sales rely on my good reputation.
> > That means I have to fix bugs quickly and add new features as they are
>
> Oh, if only Microsoft & Adobe were like you!

Actually, to be fair to Microsoft their stuff is fairly bug free 
considering it is so bloated. They also have to be very sure about any 
fixes which is why they take a while. I work around that problem as much 
as possible by offering an older 'stable' version and a new 
'development' version that has all the latest bells, whistles and bugs.

> This actually raises a good point about closed/licensed software: can 
> you try it first?

I won't buy if I can't try it first. Even Windows offers a trial period.

> (2) Interoperability, can you import/export data correctly from any 
> propitiatory formats?

Depending on what is being stored, proprietary formats are ok where it 
would not be useful for other packages to have access to the data. Even 
supposedly open formats have their problems. Don't get me started on 
Autocad's DXF format.

> I have little problem with the Gnome version bombing, maybe its a 
> video driver issue?

That is a possibility. Actually I can put up with KDE bombing once or 
twice a week. It is all of the other issues that drive me nuts. I am 
afraid I don't get on with Gnome. I like to be able to tweak the UI. I 
do use it on my CNC machines and they are noticeably more stable.

> There are lots of bugs/irritations in windows as well, some are only 
> apparent when you use it for prolonged periods (e.g. getting slower 
> with time, applications failing to un-install cleanly, etc)

Yes. I am beginning to wonder if it is deliberate policy for Windows to 
slow down. It encourages people to go out and buy the latest and 
greatest machines because theirs are too slow.

> For most work I used Ubuntu desktop and run a VMware image of w2k (or 
> my work XP machine) for things that Linux won't do/do well enough. I 
> would suggest it as the best general solution to the problems of 
> security and application support. So long as you don't play fancy 
> Windows games of course...

Possibly. I use Windows pretty much exclusively for my main work machine 
but my file server and home machines are all Linux. Much as I hate to 
say it, Visual Studio is a pretty damn good IDE once you dump all that 
.NET stuff.

Les