Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ispi!jbayer
From: jbayer@ispi.UUCP (Jonathan Bayer)
Newsgroups: comp.emacs
Subject: Re: Gnu for profit?
Summary: gnu prices
Message-ID: <345@ispi.UUCP>
Date: 10 Dec 88 15:38:42 GMT
References: <8812081600.AA18091@nav.icst.nbs.gov> <1278@cps3xx.UUCP>
Organization: Intelligent Software Products, Inc.
Lines: 24

In article <1278@cps3xx.UUCP>, usenet@cps3xx.UUCP (Usenet file owner) writes:
> in article <8812081600.AA18091@nav.icst.nbs.gov>, rbj@nav.icst.nbs.GOV (Root Boy Jim) says:
> > ? A recent posting advertised the distribution of GNU software by a
> > ? company named ISPI, located in New York.
> > Seriously, how did their prices compare with FSF? 
> 
> Their $150 price for a tape seemed resonable, but $400 for GNU on
> floppies seemed way out of line. Now, I realize that it would take a lot
> of floppies to put GNU on. HOWEVER, I'd estimate that over half of that
> price is profit....  

First off, your price for the tape is high by $ 25.  The price is $ 125 plus
shipping.

Secondly, regarding the floppies.  Using 1.2 meg floppies we need between 25
and 30 diskettes.  The time involved is where the  costs are.  

Finally, this is a service.  As such, it should not interfere with our normal
business.  If it does then we will be losing money.  The price for the 
floppies reflects this.  We  would prefer to ship on tape.  But, if someone
wants  the software on floppies then we will be able to oblige.  

Jonathan Bayer
Intelligent Software Products, Inc.