Re: dont forget the subject here. my 2c worth

[Dark_Dude@darkcastle.ecore.fnet.org (Dark_Dude)]

In Article <5tqaqg$qm2@rock101.genie.net>,
<p.krass@genie.com> wrote:


>Some ignorantt pirate wrote that there's no  way
>to buy legit software anymore..
>Well..let's see..I can name a few:
>  Dont' try to make up excuses for your piracy!


Sorry, I don't agree with that pirate. I think you refer to NIPP, but I totally
agree with him. You should live in Europe for a while to understand why the
Apple II is a vague imagination according to Apple dealers. When you have a
question about an Apple II, they answer: "Apple II? Wasn't that in the early
80's? Sorry, we never saw an Apple II, they're very, very rare".

Now, as for finding software dealers...... I know over 40 Apple IIgs users in
Holland, and I do readings 4 times a year at the national Apple meeting. And
believe it or not, but 8 out of 10 don't even know about other Apple II users,
let alone software (re)sellers in the USA. Moreover, "the USA is far, far
away, so why bother?". Only those who frequent Dark Castle BBS, and/ or read
c.s.a.2. have some decent knowledge. You want to some facts? :)

       - we have around 10.000 GS's in the Netherlands
       - we might even have more IIe/c's around
       - over 500 people still use their Apple IIe/c/GS at least weekly
       - I know over 40 of them
       - Over 15 call my BBS
       - Only 4 read the message bases; others only download or do nothing
       - Only 2 read c.s.a.2, and that's me & NIPP.

All the rest is just CUT OFF. That's it. When I tell them that Graphic Writer
has been updated to version 2.0, they'll be surprised. Even today, several
months after 2.0 was released.

Now, how would those folks find out about places to buy software? I AM the
ONLY source for many of them. That sounds selfish, but it's true. Sadly, but
true. So when I write about some sources in Dark Castle Magazine that I
publish... -> it's one of the 2 ways for many to find out about software/
addresses. Since most don't modem, or don't have one, they can't connect to
this BBS.
Then their thought comes up: "Why buy in the USA if I can copy it from Mr.
X?". It's the same thing for them as you would have to find an address in
China where you could buy, for $3 an ancient program. And that's as much as a
phonecall and stamps for a retour and disk would cost. "So why bother? Folks
even don't know I have a IIe/c/GS and copied 50 disks".

I bet others can find themselves in this opinion, especially European Apple II
users (Or ][ users as NIPP calls them :-).

Well, I hope I have not started a flamewar... if you need to react via email,
please send it to: dboomsma@sci.kun.nl. My other address (where I'm typing
this from) has been unstable lately...


       --Doede

--
"It's not who is right, but who is left".