In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dexter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes >Please understand me, I am not personally averse to this arrangement, but >it is very awkward and not transparent, and is also potentially illegal. >Now, I trust completely the two current resellers, but people may ask >questions, and they're entitled to do so. Speaking as one of the resellers I would like to say that I was not really bothered either way about whether the compiled code was sold or not until we discussed it at Eindhoven. Jochen and I have made very little from selling SMSQ/E over the last few years. The bulk of the price went to Tony Tebby and into the cost of manufacturing the manuals and distributing the goods. During the discussion at Eindhoven we decided to continue to send a reduced levy to Tony Tebby, whose return for a lot of work has always been less than he deserved, and we decided on the 'licensed reseller' approach as a way of paying us for the support that we offer.
This approach is not illegal by any means and is exactly the same as that adopted by most major software houses for other platforms - M$ included. No-one can legally sell a copy of Windoze for instance unless they are a licensed M$ distributor and these distributors pass the goods on to the shops and other outlets. Our community is very small so adding a distributor level to the process would be unnecessary. You can become a reseller if you wish. Just contact Wolfgang and he will speak with TT on your behalf. Maybe this is a good idea because the US users would have a better contact. Be prepared, however, to adopt the role of 'bedtime story reader' because a small minority of users seem not to want to read the manual and are happier if you read it to them over the telephone. One called me the other day to ask how to create a second QXL.WIN file on QPC2. When I told him it was on page x of the manual he quite happily said that he had put the manual away, was not at home and wanted to do it right then. Oh well in that case. Are your sitting comfortably,? Then I'll begin........ Once upon a time ...... -- Roy Wood Q Branch, 20 Locks Hill Portslade. Sussex. BN41 2LB. UK Tel : +44 (0)1273 386030 Fax : +44 (0)1273 430501 (New number!) Mobile +44(0)7836 745501 Web : www.qbranch.demon.co.uk
