Are Linux apps and games worth paying for?

David M Williams
Wednesday, 25 March 2009 17:48

Opinion and Analysis

Here is where we need to see Linux box sets of accounting and payroll software adorning the shelves of office supply and chain stores, the “Linux” tag constantly subliminally reminding browsers of this alternate operating system’s existence and viability.

As much as the $AUD 149.95 price tag offends me, compareOFFICE 2008 suite could serve a useful purpose.

As I understand it, compareOFFICE is merely a rebadged version of FOSS staple OpenOffice. Anyone who buys compareOFFICE could have saved themself the money by merely downloading OpenOffice.

Yet, compareOFFICE exists and it doesn’t violate the terms of OpenOffice’s public and permissive license. Whether it is ethical or not is a matter of debate. However if the producers and distributors could in any way be persuaded to release a clear “runs on Linux” logo (as well as Windows) on the box then they would be aiding the Linux community by publicly reinforcing the message that Linux exists.

This is what I want to see. No, not rebranded FOSS apps at high prices, but Linux-branded retail boxes on shelves as natural as their Windows and Mac and PlayStation and Wii counterparts.

What must be done to make this happen? With games, as I said last time I think there must be development focus exerted by the kernel team and the Linux distribution builders to add far more built-in support for gaming into the core operating system. The easier it can be for game houses to target Linux then possibly the greater the chance of receiving native Linux titles.

The success of World of Goo ought to be encouraging; this title isn’t free. People are buying it. 2D Boy have dispelled the myth that Linux users are so used to getting their software free that they won’t pay for anything at all.

However, what can be done to attract business applications to Linux? What would it take for governments to release Linux versions of their tax software? Or for MYOB or Quicken or Quickbooks or Attache and all those companies to produce Linux ports?

Or, do you think I’m wrong? Maybe GNULedger suits small businesses perfectly and nothing else is required. Yet, how do you make its existence known?

This is the challenge for Linux. After all, people don’t really want an operating system per se.

They want programs, and they use an operating system so they can run those programs. It’s not sufficient to tell people the operating system exists; you have to get them to realise the programs exist too.

What do you think?