> On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 5:04 AM, <[email protected]> wrote: > Well, that's essentially the RedHat model; but there is one more > important ingredient to it: trademarks. While ..... > ... SNIP......
> In a true free software economy, no artificial scarcity need to be > created at all. Customers do not pay for the ability to use particular > "products" (not even indirectly through branding), but rather for the > further development of the software. Developers charge for the actual > work being done -- and once payed, the availability of the results > doesn't need to be restricted. and I thought RedHat model was in the true spirit of running a free software business. They give the sources to anyone to do anything with it. So I don't think it matters if the CDs containing binaries are patented, I have the source. Though you are right in saying, people buy it because of "The Brand". As per experience Ubuntu and Red Hat are two worst distros I have ever experienced as Linux user, After so much of bad experience I promise myself never ever to use them again. 2nd, why would a customer will pay when gets binaries and sources and updates and everything ? (from the point of business) > My point is that the proprietary software developers at Microsoft and > Apple do not really make more money than free software developers at > RedHat and Intel, or the custom software developers at CSC... The people > who earn a lot for money with Microsoft or Apple, are a handful of > investors and managers -- they get a lot of money for building and > running a company, not for developing software. Actual software > development almost always happens on a regular salary. The idea some > people seem to have that developing proprietary software is a way to get > rich, is just totally detached from reality. Well, I am in Hyderabad (INDIA). Here M$ pays 90,000-150,000 INR per month (INdian Rupees) to freshers with strong skills i programming. The average salary of a fresher (programmer) in India will be 15000 (my colleague earns that) and you come to 45,000 only after 3 years of experience with a Engineering degree (no other graduates) which is just 50% of the minimum level of M$. I earn 20,000 (= 1000 USD) and I think it will take another 15-20 years before I get to that 90,000 level. I don't know how much Red Hat pays but 90,000 for programming is big money. If I go into management then may be I could start earning that amount of money in 5 years but I am not interested in management, I use Linux and Emacs because I love them and they are my tools even for my daily use of a computer. I started programming because I love it and I will do programming all of my life. -- http://uttre.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/the-lost-love-of-mine/
