It's only relatively normal in the software, drug, chemical, and shaving razor business and maybe a few others... But there aren't really too many other industries which thrive by making life difficult for their customers. It tends to happen most where businesses benefit from government granted monopolies (i.e. patents, trademarks, and copyrights) or otherwise have huge barriers to entry for competition.
I, for one, believe in making money from software by being better at it, rather than by limiting my customers' options. My company's been doing it for 10 years now, so I think it might be a goer. Also, it feels pretty good to know that your customers work with you... because they want to, not because they feel that *have* to. Cheers, Dave Philip Arndt wrote: > Sounds like how a normal company makes money? > > On 29/09/2008, at 5:20 PM, Don Gould <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Hamish Campbell wrote: >>> A slightly less aggressive answer: yes and no. If you want to be the >>> number one word processor then you have to account for the fact that >>> your formats will be kicking around for many (many!) years to come, >>> and must always be portable. Going backwards is almost as significant >>> - if only because they're so key to every organization on the planet >>> that uses a computer. >> Let's get real here... >> >> The reason MS default Word to the latest version, even for documents >> that don't need the new features, is to drive people to use the >> software. >> >> ..."You get an attachment in email from your Dad that uses Docx >> because >> he just got a new computer with Word 2007. >> >> To read it you ask your Dad for his CD, which you then install (not >> knowing you can just download a plugin for Word 2003). >> >> You then start to use 2k7 because you have it. >> >> You then upgrade your computer and get your own 2k7 licence at the >> same >> time because you've got used to using 2k7." >> >> MS know this game, they've been playing it for years and years and >> years. >> >> Cheers Don >> > > > -- Dave Lane = Egressive Ltd = [EMAIL PROTECTED] = m: +64 21 229 8147 p: +64 3 9633733 = Linux: it just tastes better = nosoftwarepatents http://egressive.com ==== we only use open standards: http://w3.org Effusion Group Founding Member =========== http://effusiongroup.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ NZ PHP Users Group: http://groups.google.com/group/nzphpug To post, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
