-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- - --- Levi Pearson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On Jul 16, 2005, at 10:22 PM, Doran Barton wrote: > >> I would suggest you use some of Eric Raymond's essays for >> source material. He goes on at length about the ethical >> issues of software development, business, etc. For example, >> Raymond argues the only real value in software is the >> support that comes along with it. He points out an obvious >> illustration of this: the price of a piece of software from >> a company that has gone out of business is very near to >> free. Think bargain/ clearance bin. > > The idea that the only real value in software is the support > that goes along with it is not exactly on very solid ground. > Just like any other tool, software has value corresponding to > the utility that it offers to those willing to pay for it. > Complex tools do require some support, in which case there is a > second source of value, but claiming that it's the only source > of value is ridiculous.
If "support" only means "someone to call when I have a problem", then the most valuable software is the software that doesn't /need/ any support. I don't think that's the case, though. Support, in the context of ESR's comments, also includes future development and updates. Hardware evolves, OS platforms evolve, user needs evolve, and a program that doesn't have support in the sense of active development and updates is a program that will very quickly become obsolete -- that is, a program that has, or will soon have, nearly zero value. - - Gary -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP Desktop 9.0.1 (Build 2185) iQCVAwUBQtoGR1fF6zZA0GQlAQGhOwQAmMpiL8tE68LXfLy+YR/UKnwzW2gWR6vr Ns+PE3IyZofE0Dxu69zej6N59zuUnFo0ZGxCbjORF01nQZNbIk1xRTsgGQR6j+NV 3jxBaYPwkCCyH8CHHDngpCbR3xfy9MBVCalPP10+cVlVL6wBVYzJfw7TiLX0PBsB 4qZYm6FfPy4= =mPC0 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- PGP Key ID: 071B173D Fingerprint: ED30 B048 6833 56B4 28C0 CE52 F12B 884A 071B 173D .===================================. | This has been a P.L.U.G. mailing. | | Don't Fear the Penguin. | | IRC: #utah at irc.freenode.net | `==================================='
