Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!uwvax!umn-d-ub!umn-cs!davidli
From: davidli@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu (Dave Meile)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: WHAT ATARI NEEDS TO DO...
Message-ID: <4744@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu>
Date: 8 Apr 88 14:53:29 GMT
References: <166leigh@byuvax.bitnet> <2059@pasteur.Berkeley.Edu> <81@avsd.UUCP> <48536@sun.uucp> <92@avsd.UUCP>
Reply-To: davidli@umn-cs.UUCP (Dave Meile)
Organization: Flying Taoist Graphics
Lines: 24

In article <92@avsd.UUCP> govett@avsd.UUCP (David Govett) writes:
>    --> True.  Nevertheless, the software cost should be proportional
>    to the cost of the computer.  I can buy WP for DOS for under
>    $200, but it costs about $300 for the ST.  Since software is
>    more important to me, the implicit message is that I should
>    switch to the DOS world.

Mr. Govett is under the mistaken impression that the cost of developing
software is in any way, shape, or form related to the cost of the hardware for
which it is developed.

Software companies are in the business to make a profit.  A program which
could sell for $100 when aimed at a computer with an installed user base of
3 million computers or more (IBM world...) will not make as much money at
$100 when aimed at an installed user base of less than 1 million computers
(reasonable estimate for Atari ST at present time).  In order to obtain as
much profit, the program would be increased in price.

IF software price is the main reason you purchase a computer, buy a
Commodore 64.  You certainly aren't going to like the $200 and above prices
for many packages on the PC/Clone.

-- Dave Meile