I hear ya on the underdeveloped country bit. Most of our colleagues on the list make triple the profit with half the capital layout on software and hardware. A decent notebook here costs roughly two and a half times more than in the US, and if you fly there to buy one, you get nailed 100% import duties on the way back in.
Director programmers here are few and far between - and, of the seven or so people I know doing it here, I'm the only one I know for a fact has a legal copy (that cost me the shirt off my back). Life in Africa's a real b*tch. Anyone got any jobs going in Australia? ;) A ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jorge Pena" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 11:35 PM Subject: RE: <lingo-l> Mac stub workaround > Hi Kerry, > > If I recall correctly the use of stub projectors was allowed some time > ago by Macromedia. Off course for any serious cross-platform programming > having both versions is highly recommended, but I guess that for a one > time project having to pay for a full version is quite expensive. > > I wouldn't dream of doing what I suggested (actually I didn't even plan > to do it to start with) because if I get into Mac programming I'd really > like to be able to program, debug, test on authoring, etc... My comment > was more geared at the fact that I disagree with Macromedia stand on > this point. > > Probably my main concern is that (with totally valid reasons) a copy of > Director is extremely cheaper to any US or UK based programmer than it > is to some of us working on less economically developed countries. For > instance (not a real world situation) if an average lingo programmer in > the US makes $4000 in the US, the same programmer, with the same set of > skills, would earn $1500 where I live. If Macromedia's objective was to > be fair, a copy of Director here would cost $400 which IMO is much more > reasonable. In reality a copy of Director, through the authorized > Macromedia dealer here is a bit more than what it costs in the US. I > know this is very difficult to accomplish because then all American > programmers would purchase the program where it is cheaper unbalancing > the market once again. > > Having a bundle with both platform versions is a reasonable suggestion > and I think it would benefit Macromedia. But if you are already paying a > hefty lump of money for one platform, would it be too much to ask that > included in that price would be a set of standard projectors for the > other platform? > > The last thing I want is to be perceived as a cheap guy that's willing > to make all twists and turns to avoid a legal sanction by Macromedia to > save some bucks. What really makes me mad is Macromedia way of handling > their PR with their own customers regarding this issue. That's all :) > > I am still wondering if what I suggested (putting aside all moral > concerns) is still doable. From previous discussions I have concluded > that the line is very fine on this subject and Macromedia says that > their interpretation is that the use of stub projectors if you don't own > a license for that platform is illegal. Still if what I think could be a > work around, is actually legal, I guess Macromedia should revaluate > their stance on this point. > > Cordially, > > Jorge > > -----Original Message----- > > it seems pretty stupid to me to spend $1200 to be able to make a > > projector. > > > Why does that seem stupid? You're not paying $1200 to make a > projector--you're paying $1200 to create a product for a new platform. > > I think you would find the same thing with other cross-platform > environments. You would have to buy separate copies of Code Warrior, for > example, for Windows and Mac. IMHO, it's reasonable for Macromedia to > charge for a program that will allow you to increase your sales. > > > So what would happen if I "buy" a copy of Dir8.5 for Mac from a > > friend, make the stub > > projector and then sell it back to him? > > > > Have I lost it completely? Am I going to jail if I do that? > > > I doubt you're going to jail, but it sounds an awful lot like a lawyer > looking for a technicality to get the client off. > > It is as much an ethical and moral question as a legal one, IMHO. To me, > it smells like piracy, however it's dressed up. (I'm not accusing you of > being a pirate, Jorge--just commenting on the larger issue). > > I've posted rants about this before, so I won't repeat myself too much. > I just think that if you're going to make money off of a tool, you > should pay for it. > > Having said that, it would be really nice if Macromedia were to bundle > the PC and Mac versions for a discounted price. I wonder if it would > increase their sales? I bet there are a lot of people out there who > develop cross-platform who don't own legal versions of both, simply > because it costs too much. > > Cordially, > > Kerry Thompson > > > [To remove yourself from this list, or to change to digest mode, go to http://www.penworks.com/lingo-l.cgi To post messages to the list, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Problems, email [EMAIL PROTECTED]). Lingo-L is for learning and helping with programming Lingo. Thanks!] [To remove yourself from this list, or to change to digest mode, go to http://www.penworks.com/lingo-l.cgi To post messages to the list, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Problems, email [EMAIL PROTECTED]). Lingo-L is for learning and helping with programming Lingo. Thanks!]
