Poll for a LZ 3.x for Linux, even a paid version

[Romu]

Hi all,
I'm a very first time Lightzone fan, and I desesperate to see this new 3.0 released for Linux. I already used the "donate" button and I'm ready to do it again or even to pay for a "real" LZ for Linux release.

I guess that if we are enough, Lightcrafts can hear us, don't you think?

So here is the poll :
- I'd really a LZ 3 for Linux with the "donate button"
- I'm ready to buy for a LZ3 Linux release
- I'm not interested

[JLK]

Romu,

I think Lightzone can hear just fine. They typically release the Linux version a few weeks behind the commerical version, and I would expect them to do the same for v3. It's an interesting proposition you have with regard to trying to get 'open sourcers' to actually pay for software... I think it's been very generous on Light Craft's part to release the Linux version free of charge.

[Jacek Gozdz]

Commercial release of LZ4linux is not my dream, but I do prefere that over no release at all. I use free software and do whatever I can to pay developers back - send them feedback, spread the word, help others on forum. I wouldn't do that if I would have to pay for the product (hey, I bought linux version of bibble and I even didn't register on their forum).

So if there would be a commercial release of LZ4linux I would pay and use it, but my enthusiasm will fall. I just know that.

[tex andrews]

why you would lose enthusiasm for an editing program as good as this one that you've been able to use for so long for free, and with which you've done such nice work, just because now you have to pay for it.

that might be taking the linux/freeware/shareware ethos a tad too far! ;-)

but seriously, LZ has treated you well so far. i certainly didn't mind paying for RSP after using RSE---in fact i jumped at the chance! i don't mind paying for stuff that works.

[Romu]

Jacek, as you're "Super moderator", could you do something to allow new registrations on this forum ?

Some people would like to vote to this poll but can't because there are not registered, ok. But the problem is they also can't register.

[Jacek Gozdz]

Yes, I am a linux fan, great fan. I used every (or at least, every known to me) photo editing software availeble for linux (including C1 under wine) and I wasn't impressed with LZ when I downloaded it for the first time (it was pre 1.0 version). In fact contrast mask, sharpening, blurring and noise reduction didn't work.

I got involved into LZ because when version 1.0 came out it had all the the same bugs and I got angry with that. I thought "What a BS american company, the name "lightzone" is too good to be wasted" and wrote to Anton about that. We started to chat, and few months later I had a working version. I also hacked it to support my camera and created an extensive set of default tools for it. It was the first "template" ever. I sent it to Anton and he answered "I was talking with Fabio about the way you are using default settings, and that brought us some old ideas about LZ". After month or two there was LZ 2 with templates and batch processing I was trying to create using event log in LZ.

How could I leave LZ after all that? Impossible. But now I have new problems. LZ didn't learn new tricks while I learned a lot. I need more power, more tools, and actually started to look at GEGL libraries and upcoming gimp. RawTherapee is also great but has its drawbacks.

Generally speaking, I have put a lot of work to make LZ a nice program. Alpha and beta testing, some bug reports and bug hunting with Anton. I was the first one to register and post on this forum (excluding lightcrafts), I made first templates, I wrote more posts than anybody here (including lightcrafts, all together!). I do some of lightcrafts work on this forum, and my only reward is "thank you for all your work" letter. I don't want any money, nor free LZ licence, but please, don't ask me to pay 250$ after all of that (and the fact is that I earn about 350$ per month, yeah - beeing an underpaid teacher sucks, but I love it).

[Jacek Gozdz]

I reported this issue few days ago to Grant Kim, and he answere that they are now very busy with all license mess and bugfixing, and that forum problems will be solved later.

I don't have power to do it myself. I can do everything with users and posts but not with forum engine.

[tex andrews]

Generally I have putted a lot of work to make LZ a nice program. Alpha and beta testing, some bug reports and bug hunting with Anton. I was the first one to register and post on this forum (excluding lightcrafts), I made first templates, I wrote more posts than anybody here (including lightcrafts, all together!). I do some of lightcrafts work on this forum, and my only reward is "thank you for all your job" letter. I don't want any money, nor free LZ licence, but please, don't ask me to pay 250$ after all of that (and the fact is that I earn about 350$ per month, yeah - beeing an underpaid teacher sucks, but I love it).

well, NOW i certainly see your point! that you nhave not gotten some kind of honorarium is odd....and being an underpaid teacher does suk, i was one for a decade, but everything i've been doing since then [except my artwork and familiy] has sukked much, much worse. so i envy you....

[Jacek Gozdz]

I added some votes from people at kast-dev that can not register at the forum right now, so number of votes and results does not match.

[Paolo]

Hello everybody,
I've taken a relatively long amount of time thinking about a paid version of LZ4Linux.
At first I'd just say "Yes whatever it costs!". On the other hand I've considered, could I afford a full license right now? Probably not.

So my reply is: ok to a paid version if it's absolutely necessary to keep LZ4Linux alive. I love this piece of software, it totally changed my approach to digital photography and gave me a new enthusiasm for my hobby. And I will probably buy sooner or later. Of course I'd expect a really full version, with printing ability and full support and all the rest.

I'd probably like much more to donate for it, but I assume if you want commercial software that's not the way to go.

Of course I won't be offended if LightCrafts keep offering LZ4Linux for free, in exchange for the cooperation that the Linux community usually provides to software developers.

So... well I don't know how you can fit this reply in your poll... maybe you could add 40% to "paid version" and 60% to donation? :-)

Thanks
Paolo