[Info-vax] Real Usenet clients, was: Re: backups and compaction or nocompaction might be better

[Paul Sture]

In article <keg8qn$hpp$2 at online.de>,
 helbig at astro.multiCLOTHESvax.de (Phillip Helbig---undress to reply) 
 wrote:

> What are the realistic options?  Obviously, coming from VMS I shouldn't
> go for another niche product, so it's basically Windows, Linux or Apple.
> Windows means that I have to be constantly up-to-date on anti-virus
> software.  Sorry, a system which can be infected within seconds if
> exposed to the internet is obviously so poorly designed from the ground
> up that I don't want to waste time with that.  Gnu/Linux?  RMS says that
> I commit crimes against humanity, so I will be avoiding his cronies as
> much as possible.

Amongst other things I am using FreeBSD here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BSD_licenses

"BSD licenses are a family of permissive free software licenses, 
imposing minimal restrictions on the redistribution of covered software. 
This is in contrast to copyleft licenses, which have reciprocity 
share-alike requirements."

> Apple?  I actually like the concept---similar to DEC,
> actually, with hardware, software and applications all from one
> place---but if I go that route I would like to go all the way.  However, 
> Apple have apparently been taken under the control of the Daughters of 
> the American Revolution, not only not allowing some apps which are 
> capable of displaying nudity or whatever, but bowldlerizing books and 
> music.  No, not my cup of tea.  What is left?

You don't need to buy any of that content from Apple.  I have been using 
OS X for over a decade and have never bought e-books or music from Apple.

The only issue I had, and this was several years ago, was with playing 
DVDs from different zones.  Using Apple hardware and software to play 
DVDs was subject to pressure from Big Content and although you can 
change the zone, you can only do it a few times.  Apparently VLC and 
other media software gets you around this, but I simply play DVDs on 
non-Apple kit and don't have to worry about it (the optical device 
connected to my Apple is too noisy to enjoy watching a film anyway).

-- 
Paul Sture