Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!emory!Dixie.Com!jgd
From: jgd@Dixie.Com (John G. DeArmond)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: software lending (was Re: Is Reliance commercial)
Message-ID: <20197@rsiatl.Dixie.Com>
Date: 31 May 91 20:31:50 GMT
References: <5861@lectroid.sw.stratus.com>
Organization: Dixie Communications, The South's First Commercial Public Access Unix
Lines: 42

jmann@vineland.pubs.stratus.com (Jim Mann) writes:

>I wouldn't go so far as to say the "only" use would be to steal a copy.
>I would love a service that would let me try software for a week before
>buying it.  Does a word processor do what you need?  Does it feel right?
>Is it easy to use?  The only way to find out now is usually to plop
>down a couple of hundred dollars and, if you don't like the way the
>thing works, well, too bad, you're stuck.

>Granted, borrowing software is not the only solution to this problem.
>Microsoft is heading in the right direction with its working models.

I agree.  My policy is to never buy software before getting a copy to use
for awhile.  This is a policy developed in the school of hard knocks.
Working models or any other technique short of the actual software that
my money buys me is unacceptable.  

Besides verifying that the software will actually run, my main interest
is to verify that the philosophy of the developers is compatable with
mine.  In many instances, such as with CAD software, there is little
alternative than to actually design something with it.  

I can't really envision any other mechanism than rental to fulfill
this need.  I am unwilling to expend any more effort than what it takes
to pitch bad software disks in the trash.  That rules out money-back
offers.  The hassles with getting refunds and RMAs are just not worth it.

I'd be much happier paying someone a few bucks for a rental instead of
having to troll around for someone to cut me some disks.  The pathalogical,
instutionalized paranoia present in most software companies tends to 
prevent this.  Ironically, it is the smaller companies that are hurt
the most by this paranoia.  It's much less likely that a small company
product will be laying around a colleague's computer.  Thus I can't 
look at it.  Thus I don't buy it.  Is that  hard to understand?  Wonder
why so many software companies seem incapable of comprehending?

John
-- 
John De Armond, WD4OQC        | "Purveyors of speed to the Trade"  (tm)
Rapid Deployment System, Inc. |  Home of the Nidgets (tm)
Marietta, Ga                  | 
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