Hi
Over the years I have become more of a command line-console tools user. In many occasions I tend to prefer console apps over Gui apps. I think that console apps have some sort of minimalistic beauty embedded in them.

Generally I use Cygwin - Linux console apps.

Here are my favorites. Please list yours as well

Elinks (browser)
Lynx(Browser)
Newsbeuter(Rss reader)
Task (Task-warrior, Task-todo manager)
Cal (Calender app)
Vim (text editor)
Cone(email)
Mutt(email)
Scp(copy utility)
Unison(Sync utility)
Ipython(Python shell)
Necromancer Dos navigator(file browser)
Midnight Commander(file browser)
Centerim(Messaging)

I think that releasing "some" of their software for free and open source, they gain some benefits(naturally)

-Makes big corporations look friendly
-Looks good in the news
-They show their intellectual power(to other corporations)
-They release a product without real support and warranty worries, but if someone wants support, they probably pay to get it
-More people use their software, which makes them gain ground. Especially if they can get more developers
-Community contributions which means that some of the developement will be shifted to dedicated unpoaid community developers and fanboy developers


In the end I think that it is incredibly benefitial for Corps to release their software for free or even open source. I would not be surprised if MS would start making a free version of Windows, now that whoever has more browser users seems to make big desicions in web technology.


I actually have a good example, think about Iphone from Apple. They released it and alot people bought it including alot of developers who wanted to make money from Iphone. I bet the number of developers who wanted to develop something on Iphone would be thousands of thousands people, not that everyone developes but you get the picture. So Apple not just makes money out of selling Iphones, it also creates a platform where it gives developers hope to make money. Well probably only %2 of those developers probably could get their invetsment back. Anyways you get the picture on thate example. The same thing can be said for open source. For example Google wave platform or other opensource web technologies. They first gain ground by making it developers only and slowly they make their number up. So the way I see is that open sourcing is a way to create buzz, build some ground, make money by making real products on top of those open sourced apps or OSes like Google phone and browser stuff.