> > >> If software were free how could the employees of the software company
> > >> be paid to begin with?
Lots (most?) non-profit organizations' employees draw salaries.
Someone mentioned internet development as an example of "free software"
helping us all. I saw the guy that wrote the mailer program that the
majority of isps use on TechTV a couple of months back. He didn't seem to
mind that his "free software" was being used by millions. Although if he had
charged $5-$10 for each copy in existance he would surely be a millionaire.
Of course there are probbably other programs that do the same thing for
hundreds of dollars. I for one am glad that they aren't the only option, as
I live in a small town with dialup only and I can see how we could have been
severly restricted in internet isps if everything that was available for
free...
...Wasn't
> Red Hat has posted small (and growing) profits over the past few quarters.
> MandrakeSoft is apparently on target to post a profit next year or in 2003.
> Considering that the current economic climate is not conducive to profit
> making, these are not trivial feats. I think the key staff know what the
> GNU/Linux distribution market is like, and they won't be expecting too much
> from their share prices. MandrakeSoft is listed on the Marche Libre
> exchange, which was chosen (AFAICT) for its stability and lack of
> over-speculation, which is the main problem with the NYSE and OTC (AKA
> Nasdaq). Investors here generally tend to be more forgiving and don't
> expect quick, unsustainable profits.
How can one (in the United States) purchase a token amount of Mandrake
shares (just a couple I am afraid) without going to a stock broker?
> But, as you have said, "the verdict is still out on that". :)
It seems that a lot of the big (for profit) software companies (I'm thinking
along the lines of Microsoft and Apple here) are like chiropractors. Their
entire existance is based on taking people's money to just get them by until
the next visit (verion). If they got it right the first time they would all
go out of business.
Someone said to me, "You don't buy a new car and expect to get a free
upgrade when the next version comes out, do you?" But if I bought a new car
and it "stalled" at least once a day and I had to "restart", well, sure I
would expect a free upgrade - to a properly working version which is what I
would have paid for in the first place. I mean c'mon, why pay a hundred
dollars (or more) just to be what amounts to a beta (gamma?) tester?!?
Linux, on the other hand, IS free. If I do find a bug, it probbably
wouldn't anger me that much to download a newer version. And since the
minute you do there are probbably three newer versions out there, it isn't
like there is a long wait for bugfixes/upgrades.
Microsoft, I hate your OS's (well, I actually LIKED Windows 3.11, and its
File Manager (don't like to see my files as icons, y'see) - but I really like
your hardware (mice/keyboards are outstanding and cheap if you don't need the
absolute newest versions) and games (Flight Simulator, I think I have one of
the original DOS versions). It's a shame buying one of their products
doesn't give you a voice in the direction of development of their company.
Or maybe its just a shame their stockholders (Hmm, Bill?) don't have to use
their OS (exclusively). And BTW, WTF is Windows ME for, anyway?
Just venting/rambliing,
Wes Gregg
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Registered Linux User # 252649
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft?
Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
