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From: 6600dadg@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu (Mark Dadgar)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Novel Software Distribution Ideas
Message-ID: <8847@hub.ucsb.edu>
Date: 5 Feb 91 07:18:40 GMT
References: <1037@kaos.MATH.UCLA.EDU>
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In article <1037@kaos.MATH.UCLA.EDU> barry@pico.math.ucla.edu (Barry Merriman) writes:

>My suggestion:

>Build the pre-set meter into the software---put
>in a timer that prevents the app from launching after a certain 
>number of hours used. For the full price you get infinite time on the meter,
>and there could be a few other standard settings (just like parking meters)
>that don't cost as much. For most apps in the NeXT universe, 20 hours
>would be plenty of time. On the otherhand, serious users would need
>an order of magnitude or two more. Reducing the price accordingly
>would put the price in the $20--$40 dollar range, which is about
>what I'm willing to pay for such things.

>Also, this fits with the current NeXT community standard of
>releasing crippled demo versions of software---except, instead
>of crippling the printing, or deactivating after some date, they
>could just release a fully functional version with five hours on the meter.

>But, I'd like to hear other
>alternatives---this is just the first that came to mind. 
>There are probably hidden flaws I haven't considered (and some I am
>aware of---a foolproof metering system may be impossible, unless the
>meter can be made to respond appropriately to copying and multitasking.
>But NeXT could perhaps put a few hooks in their OS to make it work).

FLAW NUMBER 1:
   - It's 3:30am and you're using that crippled version of 
     BartSimpsonCAD that you paid 30 bucks for.  You're just     
     about to save and print out that isometric diagram of
     Marge Simpson's hair-do that you need for your presentation
     at 9am.  AND THE METER RUNS OUT.  Go figure...


+-------------------+---------------------------+------------------+
|    Mark Dadgar    | 6600dadg@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu | Bill & Opus -'92 |
+-------------------+---------------------------+------------------+
|  From the dolequeue to the regiment a profession in a flash,     |
|  But remember Monday signings when from door to door you dash.   |
|  On the news a nation mourns you unknown soldier count the cost. | 
|  For a second you'll be famous but labelled posthumous.          |
|  Forgotten Sons.  Forgotten Sons.                                |
|                                   - Marillion, 1983              |
+----------Would UCSB write anything this intelligent?-------------+