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From: wallwey@snoopy.Colorado.EDU (WALLWEY DEAN WILLIAM)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Windows-the interface that may never happen...
Message-ID: <22052@boulder.Colorado.EDU>
Date: 8 Jun 90 21:26:02 GMT
References: <4ae0dff2.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM>
Sender: news@boulder.Colorado.EDU
Reply-To: wallwey@snoopy.Colorado.EDU (WALLWEY DEAN WILLIAM)
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Colorado, boulder
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In article <4ae0dff2.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM> nelson_p@apollo.HP.COM (Peter Nelson) writes:
>
>  I observed that apps written to run under Windows seem to be
>  very expensive.  I even cited an example of one app where the
>  Windows version of the exact same version number was hundred$ 
>  more than the non-Windows version.
>
>  I want to know why this is.  
>
>  I'm not familiar with the Mac end of the business but for comparison
>  I looked at some back issues of MacWeek and MacWorld.  I  did not get
>  the impression that Mac software is outrageously expensive compared
>  to PC software even though *all* of it has to conform to their 
>  interface.   Is it harder to write for Windows than the Mac?
>
>  So you still didn't answer my question.   Right now there's lots 
>  of useful and interesting software I can buy for the PC in, say,
>  the $50 - $150 price range.  Drawing packages, compilers, DTP 
>  packages, comms packages, etc.   Under Windows, for the same
>  software, what will I expect to pay, and why?
>
>                                                      ---Peter

Please give some more percise examples.  Honestly, alot of Windows aps
don't cost a lot more than comprible DOS counterparts.  Desktop
publishing for example---Pagemaker versus Ventura,   Word for Windows vs
Word and Word-Perfect.  Excel vs Lotus 1-2-3 ver 3.0.
Granted the windows versions cost some more, but
alot of time, (in my opinion) they are 10 TIMES BETTER! Also remember 
now that MS Windows 3.0 now comes with some really usable small aps
itself.  In particular the terminal program, PaintBrush program, and
Notepad. (For small jobs, less than 32K, I actually use Notepad for my
main editor!).   

Most of the examples that I sighted above are the 'Profesional' level of
programs.  Granted there are alot of cheaper(even shareware) programs
that do what the big expensive Windows programs do, but they are
no where near the quality of the windows aps(IN MY OPINION).  
Also one of the reasons that windows aps tend to be more expensive, is
that people who run Windows tend to be (I hate the term) 'Power Users'.
They have 1 Meg or more running on a 286 or better with EGA or better.
Compare this with all those 8088 CGA and Herc. machines out there.  The
markets are just plain different, and Windows ap. writers know that
Windows users are just plain willing to spend more.  

One last note: Everybody is complaining about the lack of shareware for
Windows.  Check out Simtel20.arpa and some of the other anonymous ftp
sites that carry Windows software.  Alot of it is not that bad, but it
is sometimes hard to find because Windows users are still a very small 
minority.  I hope this changes with Windows 3.0!


	My $0.02 worth...Maybe Less....
		Dean Wallwey
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The above message is my own opinion!  I am not affiliated with any of
the products or companies mentioned above!