jafischer@spurge.waterloo.edu (Jonathan A. Fischer) (10/17/88)
I'll add my 2 cents' worth to the discussion: I think that we should climb out of whatever ruts we're in due to what's been done in the past. These removable disks _can_ be a viable medium for distribution of s/w. For instance, a vendor can simply include a SASE in the package for the user to send the disk back for some sort of refund if (s)he doesn't need an extra disk at the time. Or the user can keep the disk. Second, the size of the thing opens the door for distribution of really amazingly huge pieces of software, such as your typical CD-ROM product, or something *less static*, like, I don't know, a large, extensible, hypertext system. Or an encyclopedia for which you receive monthly updates over the phone with your (I love this) 9600 baud modem *emulator*. Besides, the $50 price is sure to come down; I can now get a box of 10 3-1/2" disks for $14 CDN. Compare that to the $70-ish prices of three years ago. -- -Jonathan Fischer