Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!hp-pcd!hpcvca!charles
From: charles@hpcvca.CV.HP.COM (Charles Brown)
Newsgroups: comp.text.tex
Subject: Re: TUG and TeX...
Message-ID: <20100002@hpcvca.CV.HP.COM>
Date: 6 Sep 90 20:29:14 GMT
References: <9009040308.AA06677@lilac.berkeley.edu>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Corvallis, Oregon
Lines: 41

Dimitri, you have some valid complaints.  But I think you are
overstating them.

> Selling TeX's is not an honest way to make money. While it's not in
> the public domain, its source code is published, comes with excellent
> comments, and is available in machine-readable form. It doesn't take a
> rocket scientist to make a runnable TeX for MS-DOS, nor is it so hard
> to produce DVITYPE-based device drivers (better yet, Beebe-based:).

Piffle.  It may not take a rocket scientist, but it takes time.  I
bought a commercial version for my Amiga even tho I knew about the
free versions.  I bought it because I knew it would work right away,
because of the support, and because of the enhancements.

> Very few people would pay hundreds of dollars for an MS-DOS TeX
> implementation knowing they can get TeX and device drivers of
> comparable quality from Eberhard Mattes or John Radel.

That doesn't make it wrong to sell it to those who want support.

> Regarding the suggestion that the people putting TUGBoar together do
> it for free and hence don't have to do a good job, I personally would
> prefer that they be paid and do a better job. (We do pay for the
> fruits of their labor.)
>	Dimitri Vulis

Don pointed out that if you want it to be done better it is in your
power to change it.  If you want more articles about free copies of
TeX then write them.  Not every will want the subscription cost
increased.  But nobody will complain if you volunteer your services to
fix the problems you perceive.

If you don't like it, don't complain.  Fix it!

BTW: I have not yet gotten around to joining TUG.  I intend to.  Your
ravings have not discouraged me.
--
	Charles Brown	charles@cv.hp.com or charles%hpcvca@hplabs.hp.com
			or hplabs!hpcvca!charles or "Hey you!"
	Not representing my employer.
	"The guy sure looks like plant food to me." Little Shop of Horror