only as in free beer

- Linux isn't free because it uses your electricity
  
  Those sneaky bastards.
  
  True, Linux isn't free because it uses electricity. It's free because it's licensed under the GNU General Public License which is designed to defend the freedom of its users.
  
  Technically.... it's the hardware on your PC using all the electricity.
- Except you can simply debloat and disable everything with a single script. Linuxbros are the biggest misinformation spreaders around windows.
- Linux has been having issues for a few years now. They’ve been going an obfuscation route with GNOME3 and systemd. Red hat basically decided to contractually kick people out for doing the traditional CentOS thing ever since they decided to change what the official CentOS does.
  The worst thing is, Debian also started using systemd.
  
  systemd doesn't obfuscate shit. It's Free software and you know exactly what it's doing. Stop spreading misinformation.
  
  No, systemd and GNOME are not part of mainline, and also GNOME and systemd arent obfuscated
  
  me when i spread misinformation on the internet
  
  There are plenty of distributions without systemd --- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Linux_distributions_without_systemd

Piracy is cool, but I prefer to use community-driven software rather than ones driven by corporate profits. I prefer a model where many can contribute to it, fork it, and for which making integrations is much easier thanks to its openness.
- Do you donate for the efforts?
  
  Yes
- Hell yeah

Not that I condone piracy, but I thought photoshop switched to a SaaS model from CS6 or so that made it unlikely to be pirated?
- It's still possible and last time I used it, it was about as easy as can be.
  When I last did it, you just downloaded the regular program, installed it, then you ran a patcher and that was it. This was a couple years ago now, but Adobe already had their current business model.
  
  Yup. The only real difference is the pricing model, the program is pretty much the same.
  I rememeber they tried offering online libraries of stuff for download to justify the subscription for some products.
  
  Last time SWIM used a patcher, it came with a malware dropper. Is that still how this "free" works?
- Would you describe it further? I don't see how coming to a subscription-based model makes it not piracy. I feel like I miss something there.
  I died a little inside by remembering that I was there when their lifetime CS licenses were sold and that licensing servers went offline at least a dozen of years ago... On the other hand, it raises a question if breaking CS versions is a piracy if they are abandoned. There's no way to use them even if you are a paid customer wanting to install it on your new PC.
  
  Again, I don’t condone piracy.
  It used to be that you could install a legitimate Adobe and use then the only thing you would need is a key generator that would open the software. In essence, the entire software is located on your computer.
  I was under the possibly mistaken impression that they took away the ability to register offline, and put the license server online. In other words, you’d have to patch the code or fake the license server to do accomplish the method of years prior
- CC is very piratable.
- It is, yes. They do a ton of really small updates all the fucking time now, sometimes breaking critical shit, sometimes fixing things. (I don't remember which version it was that ended support for PANTONE; now you have to pay for a subscription to PANTONE also, and the plug-in is trash and buggy as hell.) Since it wants to be always connected to the internet now, it's more of a pain in the ass to pirate, although it's likely still possible.
  I have to use it for my job, so my company pays for it. But TBH, if you're an industry professional, there's really not any viable options on the market. Half the stuff clients send to me are in proprietary formats.
- Free trials 4 lyfe

Yarr, ye by digging yourself a Mass Grave if you be running them Next Gen programs of the P variety.
Honestly, though, how long is that going to work for you? Windows 10 runs out of service like next year, sooner for most versions. It's just not sustainable.
- You can still pirate Windows 11 matey. And don't forget Win 10 LTSC edition still has support until 2027.
  
  Yeah but then you would have to deal with Windows 11 which is gross. I think only the IoT version of 10 has support the longest.
  
  Windows 11 LTSC was also released recently for anyone that has to use 11.
- I’m trying to figure out what to do with my lab workstation. If I want to mess with the settings of my Reolink cameras windows seems to be the only stable option sadly. I’ve tried their android software and it’s garbage. The web interface is very limited after enabling it in the settings via their software. Wine has not worked well for me. It’s an isolated lan so it’s not a huge deal but I really wish there was a Linux build. I love the hardware and don’t want to replace the physical cameras. Just so stupid they won’t support a Linux client.
  
  I feel that. I use an old Canon EOS model and the HDMI output isn't clean so I was hyped when they released webcam software for windows...
  but they charge $5 a month to use it in anything other than 720p...
  Picking good devices to use is hard.
  
  Have you looked into configuring them directly from your NVR? Or third party options? I did a quick search and saw a list of several that as far as I can tell can display Reolink streams (though I haven’t confirmed any can configure the cameras):
  ZoneMinder
  Moonfire NVR
  Frigate
  Motion Eye OS
  OS-NVR
  And some proprietary options that have native Linux builds:
  Bluecherry
  Shinobi
  Agent DVR / iSpy
  Digital Watchdog Spectrum
  
  Run a windows vm?
- You can use windows 11 too? Just run an activation script and boom
  
  Yeah but Windows 11 is even worse than Windows 10 which was already a step down from Windows 7.
- Windows 10 LTSC ftw.

only free as in beer
In other words not free.
- Gratis versus libre

Pirating Windows for what? It works as full version even if you let it be, watermark does nothing.
- https://github.com/massgravel/Microsoft-Activation-Scripts. Use this and get that horrid watermark off your screen!
- Yeah but u cant change personalization settings without hassle so why not run an activation script?
- 'tis a mistake. Supposed to be MacOS
  
  Or Linux 🔥
  
  Why would anyone pirate MacOS 😂

If you want actual libre alternatives - Manjaro GNOME Linux, Krita with the AI Image Generation plugin. I'm sure someone else can suggest one for the third one.

Krita has a better brush engine and the AI plugin is amazing. The live AI painting with layers is so cool. It's like magic

When monopolies exist. How everyone didn’t care for the last 25 years is even wilder. Adobe has been controlling the design communities forever *flips water bottle