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: Software pricing (was Re: WHAT ATARI NEEDS TO DO...)
Message-ID: <5111@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu>
Date: 2 May 88 14:44:58 GMT
References: <209@bdt.UUCP> <115@avsd.UUCP> <10400@sunybcs.UUCP> <267@gould.doc.ic.ac.uk> <305@bdt.UUCP> <924@elmgate.UUCP>
Reply-To: davidli@umn-cs.UUCP (Dave Meile)
Organization: Flying Taoist Graphics
Lines: 45
Keywords: Sadness

In article <924@elmgate.UUCP> rg@aurora.UUCP writes:
>I could'nt agree w/ Mr. Beckmeyer more! I can buy a PC-Clone much cheaper
>than a mega. And, the public domain applications software is in most
>cases better than commercial grade ST software. 

So.  Go out and buy a PC-Clone and quit bitching in comp.sys.atari.st. It is
getting pretty boring hearing nothing but "Jack Tramiel did me wrong."

>                PRINT-IT!, another program I coded that never made it to
>market (another story completly) was given to Beta testers... And one day
>I recieve a phone call from a chap I had'nt talked w/ since early 8 bit
>days. We chatted botu' this and that... and, I was told (to my total
>astonishment!) that PRINT-IT! was on bulletin boards in california...
>He downloaded it and showed it to me! And I'm gonna make enough money
>to justify the time and effort put into an application? (har! har!).

Sounds like you have more of a problem with your "Beta testers" than with
Atari.  Or, do you blame Jack Tramiel for the fact that YOU let your program
out to someone without scruples?  You can, of course, rant and rave about
all of those mean nasty people who buy STs for the sole purpose of pirating
software -- but do it somewhere other than in a semi-technical ... no
scratch that, THIS newsgroup is really the "I HATE JACK TRAMIEL" newgroup,
right?

Your problem is that you should be developing software for another computer.
There's an easy solution -- buy another computer and work with it.  At least
then I won't have to wade through umpteen messages from folks complaining
"Jack Tramiel did me wrong".

>A mac II developers system was/is able to be had for $3500... Apple has
>an upgrade for AUX thats free... a total motherboard replacement...

There, you see.  I thought you could find a computer that suits you more than
the Atari ST.  Buy a Macintosh and program using AUX (fully realizing that
the folks who shell out $$ for a Mac II running A/UX will expect your
program to be worth running on their $7500-$10,000 machine.)

>cheers... Rick

I understand how difficult it is to market software -- even for computers
with great support.  I understand how frustrating Atari management can get.
I just do not want to hear it, day in and day out, in this particular forum.
There are other things to do than hear people carp about a hardware company.

-- Dave Meile