Re: Raise the Jolly Roger!

[carbide@egine.com]

Sean Fahey wrote:
> "Zorin the Lynx" <yakko@zorin.org> wrote in message
> news:ct98ve$shq$1@ottoman.cs.fiu.edu...
>
> > Is software like Proterm still making the authors a reasonable sum
of
> > money? If not, how come it hasn't been open-sourced? (If it is
somehow
> > making oodles of cash, then never mind, of course };) )
>
> Zorin, this isn't an answer to you personally - just a rant.
>
> I doubt at $20, it's making oodles of anything for Intrec. But
consider that
> for $20 you not only get the license, you also get a professionally
bound
> (and highly detailed) manual, the media, etc. You don't get a cheesy
> photocopied manual or a PDF you have to print out yourself.
>

I don't think anyone is suggesting they mail out all that for free. But
frankly, the $60 they were asking when I first needed a com program was
way more than I was willing to spend on an obsolete computer I saved
from the trash. So I downloaded a few comm programs from the archives,
and found that Agate worked well enough to meet my needs- and I had it
running in a few minutes. I didn't care that it didn't come with a
bound manual.

Very nice of them to now offer it for $20. That's what I paid for
MusicMatch, modern software that is updated regularly and which I use
regularly.

If I'd had to pay thru the nose for Shrinkit, a comm program, etc, I
would have tossed that IIc back in the trash.

> Now here's my button. There ARE people who can't afford $20 to buy a
> program - fixed income, disability, etc.... sometimes it's the reason
> they're still using the Apple II (free, cheap, easy - like me)

I just gave away a 400 mhz PC to a person like that, and set her up
with dialup internet access for an affordable $5.50/mo. (550access.com)
I picked up a 1 ghz Athlon with 512 meg or RAM and a 30 gig hd for $5
at the dump, so I didn't need the 400 mhz computer any more.

Considering that, I can't imagine someone using an Apple II to "save
money".

> but crikey,
> I've met plenty that are just cheap, freeloading jerks.

I prefer *thrifty*. ;-))
Waste not, want not. There's nothing noble about throwing away money.
-Paul