PJS@GROUCH.JPL.NASA.GOV (Peter Scott) (08/23/89)
Tom Crockett <tom@icase.edu> writes: >But seriously, I think that if workstation software prices were cut from about >$1000 (that seems to be a popular figure these days) to about $100 or less, the >number of copies sold would more than make up the difference in price. > >Given the quantity and improving quality of free software, it's very hard to >justify spending $1000 on a package if there's any other way at all of getting >the job done. Have you guys seen software prices for even slightly larger computers lately? The DEC catalog lists several *single* software items for larger-end Vaxen costing over $100,000 (*without* source, I believe). Considering the man-power it takes to develop a decent piece of software (as opposed to a spare-time effort that requires an army of propellor-heads to maintain it at your site), $1000 is nothing - there are programs for PCs that cost that much! Peter Scott (pjs@grouch.jpl.nasa.gov)