> I use let down and bloat in the same sentence with regard to what Microsoft releases. > Because I am a user of their code/product and I have a right to make a comment as a > paid consumer. That type of thinking shouldn't extend towards free software.
I think what you're saying here is that you were talking about Microsoft software when you used those terms? Let me quote you:
> The only let down is the SDL Mame inside.
This is an insulting way to categorize SDL Mame. It's not a huge insult, of course, but it's also not a very nice way to describe someone else's hard work.
> Seriously though just get .84 which will run great on that freebie. Anything recent > will need a faster rig to chew through all the bloat.
Here you are clearly referring to post-.84 MAME as bloated. That's also insulting to the developers who worked on improving mame post-.84. You probably already know that 'bloat' is a term thrown around alot on these forums when talking about newer releases of MAME and its connotations are now so inflammatory that the use of the term is unwise.
> I was reading an article in Games Magazine [108] regarding the cost of games and the > availability of free software, and how the consumers of the free software evaluate > with sharp criticism. The same being towards full price software. I found the article > addressed the situation correctly. [Its a good read.]
Criticizing is not the same thing as insulting. When you toss around inflammatory wording it is more insult than criticism.
> If you acquire a free piece if software and do not like it, you are entitled to a > full refund. There is nothing stopping you making a valid and genuine comment about > the same said software. So much time and effort goes into maintaining each release. > > The developer can either go cry in a corner, ignore the comment, or make a change in > the code to address the problem. Microsoft doesn't get upset, they just do a better > job or ignore the comments.
Well this is an aside but I know of no company who can produce so little with so many resources as Microsoft. With the hundreds of billions of dollars that have been thrown their way over the years for their products they should really be light years ahead of where they are now. I expect that most of that money went to buying multimillion dollar homes around the Puget Sound instead of into the software though.
And there is a crucial difference between Microsoft software and MAME: Microsoft software you pay for with your dollars. MAME you pay for with your respect so be sure to pay generously.
> A classic example is Vista. Nearly everyone complained (myself included) about the OS > and its performance. Now we have Windows 7. Does that extend to a user who gets that > OS free like a MSDNAA? Damn right it does.
I don't quite understand your point entirely but I think you're trying to use this paragraph as some supporting claim for justifying criticism of free software. But the thing is, nobody claimed that you can't criticize free software. It's about being respectful in your criticism when you are communicating directly with people who have given you something for free.
> Developers are starting to listen to the general public, as the public contributes to > the development as testers of software. > > As far as I am concerned Mame was good enough at .84 for legacy and .116 for my > current build. I'm grateful for that. If software runs slow for no reason, does one > remain mute?
Nobody said you had to remain mute.
You expressed surprise that you have gotten responses from MAME devs to your comments, implying that they are targeting you specifically. I am just telling you that the reason that you are getting these responses is because of the way you insult (intentionally or not) their efforts. Now that you know that, you can change your approach or not, it's up to you; but don't act surprised anymore.
Index 
Flat 
Re: Tredding on toes again
Reply
