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From: kenny@uiucdcsb.CS.UIUC.EDU
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Profiteering from Shareware/Freewar
Message-ID: <4400140@uiucdcsb>
Date: Wed, 25-Jun-86 13:33:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcsb.4400140
Posted: Wed Jun 25 13:33:00 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Jun-86 04:35:23 EDT
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Nf-From: uiucdcsb.CS.UIUC.EDU!kenny    Jun 25 12:33:00 1986


I have on several occasions bought ``freeware'' from Workman & Associates.
While Workman has been accused of profiteering on the labours of others, I
see him as providing a real service, for which I am willing to pay.  For
example he is providing

	o Configuration management.  He has consistent, documented versions
	  of the programs he sells.  The source matches the object.  Both
	  are of the same version as the documentation.  

	o Selection.  There is a whale of a lot of public software out there.
	  Most of it is trash.  Some of it is invaluable.  I'm willing to
	  pay someone else to find out which is which.

	o Packaging.  I can get a version which is configured for my machine
	  and written in my disc format.

	o Testing.  I can get a version which (usually) works.  I have
	  some confidence that it is free of Trojan horses.

	o Integration.  I'm reasonably sure that the software won't break
	  anything else when it's installed.

Anyone who has used a lot of PD software and shareware has run into problems
with all of these points.  You can spend many hours tracking them down.  I
have better things to do with my time.

Of course, there will always be people who flame useful services for being
operated to make a profit.  Sorry.  Welcome to the real world.  If they
weren't profitable, people would do something else.  [Of course, there are
profits other than money.  I have released some public domain software for
limited distribution; my primary motive was that my name would be recognized
in the community in which that software circulated.  It was almost worth the
maintenance headaches that I suffered.]

/* Flame off.  Thank you. */

Kevin Kenny
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
UUCP: {ihnp4,pur-ee,convex}!uiucdcs!kenny 
CSNET:	kenny@UIUC.CSNET
ARPA:	kenny@B.CS.UIUC.EDU	(kenny@UIUC.ARPA)

"Yes, understanding today's complex world is a bit like having bees live in
your head, but there they are."