hzink@pro-nucleus.UUCP (Harry Zink) (05/23/89)
Network Comment: to #888 by pnet01!crash!lynx.northeastern.edu!davidbrierley
This is really interesting. So now they are legislating the borrowing of
magnetic media. What really cracks me up (or infuriates me, depending on the
days) about this is that it is so perfectly USELESS. What's going to happen
now: The FBI will bust in your door "Hello Mr. X. We are here to investigate
fraudulent borrowing which, as you know, is punishable with fines up to
500,000 dollars or 5 years imprisonment. Comme along quietly please!"?
Seriously, give me a break. This is probably the most blatant waste of our
taxpayer money I have heard about. It's really cute to legislate something
like this, too bad it is completely unenforceable.
But let's not forget, the software publishers have spent a pretty penny
lobbying for this legislation, and of course, they pass these costs on to
their customers - instead of using common sense and just lowering the price of
their products.
Concernng product prices: I see no problem with a company selling a piece of
software for around $ 100 (productivity) or $ 30 (entertainment) and then
charging something like $ 10 for the next upgrade that adds new features (it
is your choice wether you want the features or not). An upgrade to fix
debilitating bugs SHOULD always be free, as the customer should in no way pay
for the publisher to get his act together (as in the case of release-beta
software). Now when it comes to hopelessly overpriced programs (there are
some packages out there that cost in the 1000's) then upgrades should be
absolutely free. The logic that if you are willing to pay $1000, then you are
also willing to pay $100 for the upgrade does not hold true (except of the
upgrade is substantial, and includes a new manual).
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