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From: nather@utastro.UUCP (Ed Nather)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc,net.micro
Subject: Re: software protection - dongles & other gizmos
Message-ID: <475@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 2-Aug-85 11:42:11 EDT
Article-I.D.: utastro.475
Posted: Fri Aug  2 11:42:11 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 3-Aug-85 21:27:40 EDT
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Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
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> Software buyers aptly believe that our industry is inordinately profitable,
> if not predatory.  Rather than concern ourselves with the harm this image
> does us, we love nothing more than to brag about it.  Small wonder that
> we aren't taken seriously when it's our most bloated representatives who
> moan the loudest about illicit copies and use the most restrictive licenses
> and protection schemes.
> 	Jay Plett

I don't think this perception is universal.  For example, there are people
selling inexpensive, well-written programs that receive support directly
from their users.  Bob Wallace, who sells the text editor PC-Write as a
"shareware" product, is not perceived as "bloated"; Mark DeSmet, who sells
a complete C development system, including a screen editor, for just over
$100, is not perceived as greedy -- and both products are excellent.

Part of the "image" problem depends on how the product itself is perceived.
During the recent "oil crisis" the OPEC countries were seen as greedy, and
were widely resented because oil was seen as a cheap item made artificially
expensive by fiat.  True or false, many people perceive software in the
same light: the developers point to their development costs, their detractors
point to the ease and minuscule cost of making copies.  It's hard to justify
high software prices when the original development cost has long since been
paid, and current profits go into the pockets of managers and salesmen.

The semiconductor industry lowers prices when production is ramped up and
development costs are paid off.  Check the current price of the 8088 chip,
and the current cost of Lotus 1-2-3, and note the contrast.
-- 
Ed Nather
Astronomy Dept, U of Texas @ Austin
{allegra,ihnp4}!{noao,ut-sally}!utastro!nather
nather%utastro.UTEXAS@ut-sally.ARPA