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I reckon people will pay to see a certain feature in a free package
Say for example, you've got an old PDA of some sort that you love, and you want to replicate the data from KOrganiser in linux to the PDA. The feature doesn't exist.
So if you could register somewhere that you'd put up $20 to see this feature, you might find say 100 others also put up $20, so now a programmer can write the conduit, and collect $2000.

Programmer gets paid, people get what they want.
The difference is no company owns the software, the people get what they want without gouging, and there are no super-billionaires telling people what they are going to get (so what?). (there aren't any super-billionaires around at all).

Of course, it's possible that someone would write the code for themselves in their spare time if it turns out to be easy. So the programmer has to go flip burgers. Hey that's life. If it's easy enough for a kid to write it in their spare time in their bedroom, then you can't expect to sit around and charge $2000 for it.
Posted by: hipparchus2000   Posted on: 04/07/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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Another Freeloader  osreinstall | 04/06/05
Totally Wrong  opensourcepro | 04/07/05
He is asking for a free lunch  osreinstall | 04/07/05
Doesn't freedom just SUCK?  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
I reckon people will pay to see a certain feature in a free package  hipparchus2000 | 04/07/05
That's a great idea  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
Flippin' volunteer  Anton Philidor | 04/07/05
Sorry Anty, but I've placed myself in a career which won't be swallowed up  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
I see free/open source as an economic change  hipparchus2000 | 04/07/05
So you admit!  Martin Marvinski | 04/07/05
Now if..  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
Not true. You can pay from your pocket.  Anton Philidor | 04/07/05
It's called *LIFE* my poor Anty  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
Easy come, easy go.  Anton Philidor | 04/07/05
some negativism going on here  hipparchus2000 | 04/07/05
I appreciate your confidence in me...  Anton Philidor | 04/08/05
You're SCARING me Anton  Jeff Spicoli | 04/08/05
Starting at shadows.  Anton Philidor | 04/08/05
Anty, yoiu're being RIDICULOUS!  Jeff Spicoli | 04/08/05
You're right about one thing.  Anton Philidor | 04/09/05
Freedom is great but anarchy sucks!  osreinstall | 04/07/05
Well..  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
Isn't that the OSS business model  osreinstall | 04/07/05
If you only knew..  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
You are still not getting paid at what you love to do!  osreinstall | 04/07/05
Alas, that's the real world my friend  Jeff Spicoli | 04/07/05
Ah, Now I see some issues  osreinstall | 04/08/05
no not 'liberating' this sounds like a euphamism for theft  hipparchus2000 | 04/07/05
Ownership means nothing to you?  osreinstall | 04/07/05
ownership means nothing?  hipparchus2000 | 04/08/05
You need a crash course in economics then extensive training  osreinstall | 04/08/05
you can't charge for water in a place where it rains all the time  hipparchus2000 | 04/08/05
Talk about distraction  osreinstall | 04/08/05
Ah, COBOL  Anton Philidor | 04/08/05
how old am I?  hipparchus2000 | 04/08/05
I think you're combining ideas...  Anton Philidor | 04/08/05
IE7 is copying tabs from Mozilla  hipparchus2000 | 04/08/05
Yes, Microsoft says they "innovate"...  Anton Philidor | 04/08/05
real innovators - i agree  hipparchus2000 | 04/08/05
Why?  rapson | 04/07/05
Can't agree with Lessig about Flash ...  Joseph Friedman | 04/07/05
Flash needs to offer control to end users as well...  shawkins | 04/07/05
Flash can be controlled by endusers  Anton Philidor | 04/08/05
Only if they use IE (I don't)  shawkins | 04/08/05

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