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You still don't get it
You have obviously never been part of an actual software (only) company. Your argument that software after development is "free" is severely flawed because development is very costly, and includes hiring developers, QA personnel, tech support, customer service, renting space, buying equipment, and a vast amount of other expenses. Since I work in a small software company I see this first-hand.

Once the product is developed, we don't all go home. In addition to waiting to recoup all the millions we invested during the development cycle, we immediately start working on the next version, as well as fix any bugs that might surface from the just-released version. We don't stop. For a company like ours, we really have to push hard just to break even. We have pretty intense schedules. Witness how many software companies go bankrupt.

Your assumption that software is overpriced is severely flawed.

Then there is always the concept of supply vs demand. If what you say is true, then developing commercial software will be such a big attraction that there will be a huge amount of new companies popping up that wants to get a piece of the action. At which point many more options for the same type of software becomes available. At which point they start competing, driving each other's prices down, each one trying to out-do the other with a better product at a better price. Until some of them start breaking even, and eventually goes into the red, and ultimately bankrupt. At this point you have a balance. That is what capitalism is all about.

You, on the other hand, are completely clueless.
Posted by: Qbt   Posted on: 04/05/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Waaah!  John L. Ries | 04/05/05
GPL as ice-nine  Roger Ramjet | 04/06/05
Only if...  John L. Ries | 04/06/05
Something for Nothing  webnut4u2 | 04/08/05
Still Trying to Understand the OS Model  jjworleyeoe | 04/05/05
Becoming pure service  alandd | 04/05/05
Maybe in your closed mind  Qbt | 04/05/05
Downhill fast!  alandd | 04/05/05
You still don't get it  Qbt | 04/05/05
Careful with assumptions  alandd | 04/06/05
Re: Maybe in your closed mind  criderja | 04/06/05
Plumbers,Roofers,Carpenters,Painters, etc. get paid for their labor (NT)  Update victim | 04/06/05
And you seem to misunderstand the issue  rfc1394 | 04/06/05
Open Source  Qbt | 04/05/05
A little off  alandd | 04/05/05
Software paid for... once.  Anton Philidor | 04/05/05
True, but...  alandd | 04/05/05
Some points  Qbt | 04/05/05
About Business models  voska | 04/06/05
That is fine  Qbt | 04/06/05
Re: That is fine  criderja | 04/06/05
I've not felt the expectation  voska | 04/06/05
However the software industry is a business model.  rkadowns | 04/06/05
MS removed the demand  alandd | 04/06/05
Preloaded software  richhayes | 04/06/05
True, but also more complicated,  Anton Philidor | 04/05/05
My two cents  Roger Ramjet | 04/06/05
The problem is...  Qbt | 04/06/05
Someone, maybe you  rkadowns | 04/06/05
The flaw in your argument  Mack DaNife | 04/06/05
Don't understand OS benefits??  Mizzlec | 04/21/05
This how you  voska | 04/06/05
Why should I care?  doe_z | 04/06/05
Making money out of FOSS  CypherOz | 04/06/05
Mr open source reality check.  jimk_z | 04/05/05
Duh!  alandd | 04/05/05
What a selfish viewpoint  pa2004 | 04/05/05
Simple, don't like it, don't use it!  Richard Flude | 04/05/05
Exactly  Tim Patterson | 04/05/05
Forking is better than current status  Wagadonga | 04/05/05
GPL Does What it Says It Does  BanjoPaterson | 04/06/05
there's plenty of BSD licence software around, go use it!  hipparchus2000 | 04/06/05
As with others, he doesn't want to get it  criderja | 04/06/05
It's just NOT FAIR!  fullebr@... | 04/06/05
I want it, but the GPL won't let me have it for free.  Update victim | 04/06/05
FOSS does have a good business model  boobasaurus | 04/06/05
Oh Sun, such a world twit  FilledOut | 04/07/05
Interesting development...  overload_z | 04/08/05

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