Author Topic: User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3  (Read 17062 times)

Greg Pringle

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User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3
« on: December 14, 2016, 05:58:54 pm »
The software is "free" but a donation is required to get a copy.
Sounds like a church having a concert where the concert is free but
a donation is required to get at ticket.

This practice does not violate the rules because it can be considered
the price of distribution but it is not clear  up front.

I have donated money the past but was not listed as a contributor by bitwiseworks
so they had an issue letting me have the latest Open Office. Reluctantly they
agreed without a donation so after they let me have it I sent another donation.

It looks like bitwiseworks.com is not getting enough money to pay for the
work they are doing.

Greg Pringle

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Re: User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3
« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2016, 06:08:50 pm »
I was told the donation could be old but a person would need to be in bitwiseworks database to be eligible.
An exception was OS/2 programmers.
« Last Edit: December 14, 2016, 06:23:30 pm by Greg Pringle »

drjohnnyfever

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Re: User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2016, 09:03:10 pm »
What email address did you contact them at? I donated in November but I have yet to get a response.

Greg Pringle

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Re: User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2016, 09:42:46 pm »
I originally contacted them using the "info" email account on the contact page.

info @ bitwiseworks .com  (without the spaces)

Then I corresponded with Silvan S using his office email account.

Sigurd Fastenrath

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Re: User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3
« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2016, 08:47:03 am »
Just for Information:

you may have read that os2.org collected 3.000 Euro as donations for the next Firefox Release/enhanced Java script Support.

http://www.os2.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1062

There was a very interesting discussion about "free Software" at all.

http://www.os2.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1057

Please use online translator and feel free to join the Support!

Greg Pringle

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Re: User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3
« Reply #5 on: December 15, 2016, 02:54:54 pm »
I note that the money listed there for Firefox does not include me. I had purchased 200 Euro of support that seems to have gone missing. That was part of my discussion with Silvan.

Martin Iturbide

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Re: User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2016, 07:00:27 pm »
This is an interesting discussion.

But it is necessary to differentiate the "Free of Charge Culture" to the "Free (Freedom) Culture". Both things are different and the issue is because on english "Free" is the same word for "Free of Charge/Gratis" and "Freedom / Libre", in spanish we don't have the wording problem, but there is also people wrongly expecting open source always to be free of charge.

I personally don't have issues of what Bitwise Works is doing if they are releasing the full source code of the OpenOffice port (I don't have the skill to verify that). It is legal and they need money to pay for developers. But people paying $20 need to understand that they are not paying a license fee to use OpenOffice, they are paying to support bitwise works development. Open source software changes the software development market to stop charging for software and start charging for service, and at the same time it also give the users a lower risk since there is not only one developer/company with exclusive access to the source code.

If it $20 it is too much or too less for the software, I think it changes from country to country. The other backdraw is that someone can grab the source code and compile another binary version of OO, in that case Bitwise should not get mad since it is also legal. But I think on this case that it is good to support "the services" (not the license) of a company support the OS/2 platform.

Regards

Martin Iturbide
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drjohnnyfever

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Re: User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2016, 09:32:44 pm »
Strictly speaking, I do not believe the Apache license used by Open Office 4.x requires bww to release any source code. The license is fairly permissive. Companies have made proprietary ports before. It would be nice if they released code, and it seems like they are working with the parent project on bug fixes but there is no requirement they release the OS/2 specific parts, at least that I'm aware of.

I have no problem paying 20 Euro for OpenOffice on OS/2, I'll pay 20 Euro and probably end up donating again in a few months. I'm extremely happy with the work being done.  I just wish the situation was a bit more clear. 


Pete

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Re: User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3
« Reply #8 on: December 16, 2016, 03:16:11 pm »
Hi All

The software is "free" but a donation is required to get a copy.


That is not what the release announcement states:-

"For the download location please write us an e-mail.
.
.
If you like Apache OpenOffice, please pass by our online shop and donate for Apache OpenOffice for OS/2."


Presumably if I send bitwise an email asking for download details I will get a response asking for a donation?

I must admit that I will have no problem in making a donation in order to thank bitwise for their efforts but do feel that if a donation is required in order to get the current release that should be made clear in the announcement.


Regards

Pete

Martin Iturbide

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Re: User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3
« Reply #9 on: December 16, 2016, 03:42:51 pm »
Strictly speaking, I do not believe the Apache license used by Open Office 4.x requires bww to release any source code.

That's why I like GNU GPL (or the group of copyleft licenses) better. Some people think it is a restrictive license, but I think it is more restrictive to have to pay for each license of use and keep the source code as secret. And now even the cloud  based software terms are more restrictive than GNU GPL.  If I accept a market where software can have a restriction that source code is a secret, that forces you can not share the binaries and that you can not create derivative works, why should I not accept a license that forces you to share the source code and derivative works?

I would really like to know where the OpenOffice OS/2 source code is being uploaded just for reference, not that I can or plan to do anything with it.
I was told that OpenOffice port (OS/2 related source code) is begin uploaded here: https://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/Source_Code

Regards
« Last Edit: December 16, 2016, 04:07:29 pm by Martin Iturbide »
Martin Iturbide
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Joop

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Re: User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3
« Reply #10 on: December 16, 2016, 05:22:33 pm »
The biggest problem is still the money. Not the amount but getting it to the account. There are lots of options, but first they have to explain to me why I can print 19 pages with names of companies who need to know that I paid through some kind of service. Credit cards are nice too, but not safe. Also the site where you have to fill in your numbers is not safe. In Europe we can transfer money to every other account in Europe thanks to one coin. But I never see an account number.
Next the thing I was not pleased. Latest donation for Java was spend in an other direction. When I donate for next version of Java I suspect that the money is spend that way. And I'm still waiting for the next release kick-off.
So I understand that Bitwiseworks needs money, but than they have to release an account number and spend the money for the purpose it was given.


Herwig Bauernfeind

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Re: User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3
« Reply #11 on: December 16, 2016, 07:57:20 pm »
We had the number of our bank account always on our contact page at
http://www.bitwiseworks.com/contact.php
from the very start of bitwise works in April 2012.

Kind regards,
Herwig B.
CFO bww bitwise works GmbH.

Joop

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Re: User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3
« Reply #12 on: December 17, 2016, 02:06:52 pm »
We had the number of our bank account always on our contact page at
http://www.bitwiseworks.com/contact.php
from the very start of bitwise works in April 2012.
Thanks, found it. Next question, when new version of Java?

Herwig Bauernfeind

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Re: User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3
« Reply #13 on: December 19, 2016, 12:25:09 pm »
Quote
Next question, when new version of Java?
Scheduled after next Firefox 45 (in the works) and Qt 5.x.
« Last Edit: December 19, 2016, 01:00:44 pm by Herwig Bauernfeind »

rdunkle

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Re: User Support for bitwiseworks.com ApacheOpenOffice.4.1.3
« Reply #14 on: December 19, 2016, 01:05:59 pm »
I went to the Bitwise Works online store. Put the Apache Open Office in my cart.  In a few minutes I had an email with a download link.  I think this is the least we can do to support development.