• Hillock@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    They often sell an auto-install USB stick you just have to plug into your PC. So at least there is some effort put into it that still makes it “worth paying for”. And if you need to install it on multiple devices, it can save a lot of time if you don’t know how to do it yourself.

    • IDew@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Fair tbh. Didn’t know about this until know. But I would be VERY sus about a random USB rather than the source. But as you said, some less knowledged peeps could find it rather useful

      • Grimpen@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        I’d agree. In theory, there are many legitimate reasons to “sell” FOSS software. If I was putting it on a DVD, labelling, and mailing FOSS software my time and materials certainly deserve to be rewarded. Likewise, listing it on closed store like the MS store but keeping it updated from sources might make it easier for people embedded in the MS ecosystem to keep up to date.

        I would expect legitimate repackagers/redistributors to be open that the software itself is freely available though. Besides I fear the well is poisoned by hustlers trying to sell something free for cheap to make a quick buck.

        • Piers@beehaw.org
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          1 year ago

          In my eyes it’s no different than a publisher selling a book that is in the public domain. You’re not paying them for their copyright, you’re paying them for everything else that goes into putting a physical copy of that text into your hands.

    • pascal@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      And that’s why most of the spam in my filters is from Indian IPs.