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Re: Web services are NOT freeware.
de Craig 01/18/2007 06:30
Susan Bugher wrote:
> John Corliss wrote:
>
> erm. . .
>
>> Freeware refers to programs installed *ON YOUR COMPUTER*.
>
> Agree.
>
>> You can start such programs and use them *without having to be
>> online*.
>
> Disagree. One example: Xenu's Link Sleuth
> http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/2007/PL2007INTERNET.php#0875-PW
>
Although I get what you mean, Susan, Xenu works fine w/o a net
connection on local files...A great tool to check links /before/
uploading a hairball of html pages. Even something like hoverip has
good standalone uses.
There are plenty of apps, though, which require a net connection to get
at their help files! "The Dude" (http://www.mikrotik.com/thedude.php)
is one that comes to mind. This, however, doesn't stop an app from
performing its functions...
Back to "renting" software: There are a couple of game publishers[OT]
(Valve & Blizzard) which had started out w/titles that were standalone,
only to later require net access even for "local" use. In the case of
Valve, customers who'd bought the gaming app and could merrily play w/o
a connection, one day woke up to find that unless they were logged onto
the company's server, no joy.
Software as a service versus as a product.
<bleh>
-Craig