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From: jcohen@lehi3b15.csee.Lehigh.EDU (Josh Cohen [890918])
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: More on ROM extraction
Keywords: ROM,Piracy,extract,48
Message-ID: <1386@lehi3b15.csee.Lehigh.EDU>
Date: 7 Feb 91 20:18:27 GMT
References: <10594@jarthur.Claremont.EDU>
Reply-To: jcohen@lehi3b15.csee.Lehigh.EDU (Josh Cohen [890918])
Organization: CSEE Dept. Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
Lines: 34

Well here's my two cents...

  I am also someone who writes software and sells it.  Although I write less
copyable stuff, (pc software for first aid squads and such ), I agree with 
what you are saying to a point.  Nothing annoys me more than to write a 
good utility and find it on a public board spread around our campus(lehigh)
which does happen. Some have even gone as far as modifying and selling others
work.  But anyway, we arew not talking about your average 20-40 dollar game
or application for a PC.  We are talking about 100 to 500 or more dollars.
Look at other programs for the pc which cost more, almost every single one
is non protected, software or hardware.  You can bet your ass that if I am
going to fork over somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 dollars for some
soft/firm ware, I would like to have a copy just in case.  I am not just going
to 'hope' that it doesn't break after the warranty runs out.  And then what?
these are new things.  With the versatility and diversity of the applications 
for this baby, you could conceivable end up in some unusual environments for 
a calculator. Look at the surveying cards! 400 dollars at least and you will
be outside!  I use my 48 on an ambulance.  I use it for data aquisition and
such.  I love it.  But if something happened and the card was destroyed where
would I be? With a ram based application, I could just reload it. The only 
possible loss short of the calc itself would be my data.  

 The other point I see as valid is the workspace.  I am a college student.
I want to have one EE library, the periodic table , personal databank and
whatever else. I spent a thousand dollars at least on a calculator. Call
me crazy, but I am going to do my damdest to make sure I dont have to pay 
to replace it or any of its accesories.  I buy my thihngs to use them
and I dont have so much money that well, if it breaks and its out of
warranty, oh well, buy a new one.  Not me.. In addition I'm not going to
sit and swap cards during an exam or project lab and wait 7 seconjds to swap
back and forth each time.

josh cohen
jcohen@scarecrow.csee.lehigh.edu