#Is UEdit dying???
26-Jun-87 23:49:56
Sb: #73867-#Is UEdit dying???
Fm: Don Curtis/SYSOP 76703,4321
To: John Foust 72237,135
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I've also heard some legitimate complaints from a few software companies
that "freeware" or PD programs are cutting into the market. In a sense,
I'd have to agree with their points also. I don't want to stifle the PD
concept, but by the same token, I don't want to see it flooded with "almost
good enought" programs.
This is a very complex issue. Certainly the commercial programs should be
better than anything that is available via the PD/Shareware route…but in
some cases, that means that the commercial program will be so powerful
and/or complex and/or costly that it won't sell very well, since most folks
really only need the feature of the PD/Shareware stuff. Attempting to sell
a program that meets the needs of the majority…when there is a PD program
that alreadys does that doesn't make much sense. Why would someone pay $30
– $80 for a program they can pick up for the cost of a PD collection disk,
or download from a network or pick up as a giveaway by a dealer? Thus, the
commercial program includes other goodies (and higher cost)…and folks
think, "Why should I pay for those goodies, I don't need them, won't use
them and the program costs too much".
Of course, the other side of the coin is that why should folks buy a
program when they just want to "play" with an idea, and can use
PD/Shareware to that end. Example…the PD 68K assembler we have here. I
haven't tried it, but understand it's quite useful. For someone attempting
to see if they want to try assembly with the Amiga…it's a good thing, and
why should they have to pay for a full blown assembler package if they
aren't sure they'll like assembler programming on the Amiga.
Same goes for word processing. If someone only writes a letter every 6
months, why should they buy a full blown word processor when something like
UEdit will serve their needs…but why should a software company publish a
low end WP program to serve these users (even for $30) when folks can get
PD/Shareware for "free".
It's a complex issue, and to be honest…I don't know what the real answer
to it is.