[iMacThere4iAm]

I am thinking of rewriting the Freeware article.

There are two options:

1. Keep it like it is, arranged by platform then by category.
2. Arrange it by category, and then by platform within categories.

I am more inclined towards the second option, but I'd like some peoples' opinions.

Either way, I will also add a lot more content on the Mac side, since that's kind of my thing.

Finally, I propose changing the name of the article to 'Free Software' or something similar, because to some people, 'Freeware' means a specific type of license and doesn't include, for example, open source software.

[randdom]

Just to note that I have seen this and I think renaming it would be a good idea. I don't really know about the organisational side of it (as i don't really know about freeware) I would go with whatever you think is best

[iMacThere4iAm]

Originally Posted by wes

Why is the article called freeware, when some is and some isn't ? Freeware =/= free software.

Hence the renaming.

I'm halfway through rearranging the article at the moment.

[SunburnedCactus]

Tbh I don't know if you'd be better just tagging each as (PC) or (Mac) or (PC/Mac) etc. simply because so many are cross-platform.

[iMacThere4iAm]

Originally Posted by SunburnedCactus

Tbh I don't know if you'd be better just tagging each as (PC) or (Mac) or (PC/Mac) etc. simply because so many are cross-platform.

Yes, I'm doing that.

[SillyFencer]

Originally Posted by iMacThere4iAm

I am thinking of rewriting the Freeware article.

There are two options:

1. Keep it like it is, arranged by platform then by category.
2. Arrange it by category, and then by platform within categories.

I am more inclined towards the second option, but I'd like some peoples' opinions.

Either way, I will also add a lot more content on the Mac side, since that's kind of my thing.

Finally, I propose changing the name of the article to 'Free Software' or something similar, because to some people, 'Freeware' means a specific type of license and doesn't include, for example, open source software.

I like the idea of arranging it by cat, rather than platform. Also, yeah, you correctly mentioned that freeware relates to a specific type of licence, in that it cannot be changed at all. Open source is also free software, which is encouraged to be distributed around by anyone. 2 very different things.

[iMacThere4iAm]

Sillyfencer, there are a couple of your edits that I'm not sure I agree with.

Please feel free to add your own review to the list, if you wish. Don't forget to sign your name by typing --~~~~ or your review may be removed!

I think it's useful that people should sign their reviews, although perhaps it's right to get rid of 'or your review may be removed'

This official [MSN] client is adware.

That is actually true. I'm not sure whether adware should be promoted on a list of free software, but that's parhaps a debate for another time.

Other Protocols Clients

I think Protocols is the more appropriate title, however as a compromise, I would change it to 'Clients for Other Protocols'

We now have Portable Firefox and Firefox Portable on the list. Are they different?

[SillyFencer]

Originally Posted by iMacThere4iAm

Sillyfencer, there are a couple of your edits that I'm not sure I agree with.

I think it's useful that people should sign their reviews, although perhaps it's right to get rid of 'or your review may be removed'

That kinda defeats the point of a wiki being editable by anyone, but I'll leave this one open to debate.

That is actually true. I'm not sure whether adware should be promoted on a list of free software, but that's parhaps a debate for another time.

What do you mean it is adware? Adware is software which installs or displays ads without consent (normally malicious). I can't see how MSN comes under this...

I think Protocols is the more appropriate title, however as a compromise, I would change it to 'Clients for Other Protocols'

Protocols are sets of rules which determine how things work, such as http, ftp, etc. Clients are software programs which use these protocols to operate. Chances are msn, yahoo messenger, etc. etc. all use the same protocols to transmit messages.

We now have Portable Firefox and Firefox Portable on the list. Are they different?

Whoops. I thought that would have been there, couldn't find it though.

Incidently, the article is looking good, well done

[SunburnedCactus]

Loads of free software asks if you want to install extra nonsense these days but as long as you are under no obligation to do so I wouldn't call it adware. At the end of the day you're not paying for the software and although it's best to avoid including anything nefarious in the list, at the end of the day it is at the discretion of the user as to whether they choose to install "extras".

[iMacThere4iAm]

Originally Posted by SillyFencer

That kinda defeats the point of a wiki being editable by anyone, but I'll leave this one open to debate.

I'm not really interested in debating it either! I simply think that signing a review shows that the opinion belongs to someone in particular, whereas an unsigned comment is more like hard facts.

Originally Posted by SillyFencer

What do you mean it is adware? Adware is software which installs or displays ads without consent (normally malicious). I can't see how MSN comes under this...

It's not malicious, but MSN has ads at the bottom of every window. However, as sunburnedCactus points out, it's not all that important, given that a lot of Windows freeware is funded by ads these days.

Originally Posted by SillyFencer

Protocols are sets of rules which determine how things work, such as http, ftp, etc. Clients are software programs which use these protocols to operate. Chances are msn, yahoo messenger, etc. etc. all use the same protocols to transmit messages.

Actually you're wrong here. MSN, Yahoo, etc all use different protocols and most of them are not inter-compatible. However, some protocols have more than one client (such as MSN, which has several on this list). Also, some clients such as Pidgin are compatible with multiple protocols at once.
Google Talk and Skype are both individual protocols just like the rest. Trust me on this one.
Anyway, the question is moot because I've removed the section and given them both their own sections.

Thanks for your comments!

[iMacThere4iAm]

It's good to see lots of people editing this page now

[TheSpinDoctor]

I also think it should be rewritten as the following:

Keep it like it is, arranged by platform then by category.

Sorry for gravedigging :P