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From: arun@cwruecmp.UUCP (Arun Lakhotia)
Newsgroups: net.nlang.india
Subject: Marketing s/w on micro in India
Message-ID: <1357@cwruecmp.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 20-Dec-85 18:03:39 EST
Article-I.D.: cwruecmp.1357
Posted: Fri Dec 20 18:03:39 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 22-Dec-85 00:26:29 EST
Organization: CWRU Dept. Computer Eng., Cleveland, OH
Lines: 44

I received a specific query on marketing s/w
for PC-compatibles India.

Unfortunately, i don't have anything encouraging to say
about it.

Software doesn't have a very good reputation in India, presently.

Reasons : Most of the high-priced (in US) s/w is available 
	  for throw away prices or for free in India.
	
	  People involved in marketing PC-compatibles give off
the s/w free (to sell their hardware). They don't loose much
because they (of course) by only one copy (if at all) and
just copy it and so on. 

	  There have been stories of competing companies 
pooling in software bought from abroad.

Because most people get the s/w free there is a general
tendency in the market to expect s/w free. That goes
to the extent of indegeniously developed product.

People still can't appreciate why they should pay a phenomenol
amount for a 'floppy'. It doen't justify their reasoning. 
(like the doctor's fee for just feeling the pulse).

Result: 
	There is a whole breed of young chaps who are 
experts in installing any software (with or without) documentation
on any machine/OS. Experts in breaking s/w locks.
And there is a 'sort of a pride' in this expertise too.


---
arun

PS: I have no intention in initiating (or participating) in
    discussions regarding ethical issues. I am simply stating 
    facts in their barest form.

These are just my views and not remarks on what is happening
anywhere. I don't stand by it, One may do his/her own survey