DAVE.JENKINS@OFFICE.WANG.COM (David E. Jenkins) (06/06/91)
I really like reading the messages about new software that has been uploaded to wherever or are now available from wharever FTP site. I also get a lot out of Timo's (and other's) arm chair reviews. Keep them both comming (IMHO). But, (you had to know there was a but), I would REALLY like to see each of these announcements/reviews mention the type (Free-, Share-, Charity-, Beg-, Nag-, Ask- ware) of software and the asking or suggested price (if any). Some things are really neat and I would check them out for myself no matter what the asking price (OK, within reason). But for many things the type and asking price has real impact on whether I waste bandwith/network traffic to fetch it for perusal. If it looks potentially usefull and the guy wants $10 then I'll certainly check it out. If it is one of those 'that might be nice to have around' but he/she is asking $75 then I won't bother. When I look through a commercial catalog I expect to see the price. Is it asking too much to know that up front here? When I put something in my personal archives for possible future use I create a one line summary like: PD11 - Outstanding simple push/pop change directory - Shareware $5 Screen Peace - Nice Windows screen saver - Charityware $5 - $10 suggested So that when I have the need for it I know immediately what it does and how much it costs and can judge how badly I need it against what it would cost to register it (or in some cases write one myself). Some of the more potentially usefull things in my archives I have never ended up using but keep around for when people ask me or a whatever type program. Then I can say "Sure, its called xxx. It's yyy-ware. And it costs $zzz." Yes, I know I'm cheap. But the point is that a simple piece of information available up front might help avoid shipping 2 megs across the network only to find out that the author wants more than I am willing to spend. I suppose I could be like some others I know and just decide "It isn't worth what he's asking so I'll just use it anyway and not pay for it". :-( Sorry for starting a discussion in a .d group ;-) P.S. :-o This accidently went to c.b.i.p. Please forgive the faux pas.
w8sdz@rigel.acs.oakland.edu (Keith Petersen) (06/07/91)
A reader asked that the archive maintainers post prices for the software packages that are announced as new uploads, or which are reviewed. Because many Usenet newsgroups, including comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d, are distributed via the Internet, we are bound by the rules which prohibit commercial use. Therefore you will never see a price listed for shareware uploads announced by me or by those which I forward. On the Milnet side there are penalties for misuse of federal ADP facilities. These policies are *not* negotiable. Keith -- Keith Petersen Maintainer of the MSDOS, MISC and CP/M archives at SIMTEL20 [192.88.110.20] Internet: w8sdz@WSMR-SIMTEL20.Army.Mil or w8sdz@vela.acs.oakland.edu Uucp: uunet!umich!vela!w8sdz BITNET: w8sdz@OAKLAND
ts@uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi) (06/07/91)
In article <b6lloj.hbc@wang.com> dave.jenkins@office.wang.com writes: >I really like reading the messages about new software that has been uploaded >to wherever or are now available from wharever FTP site. I also get a lot >out of Timo's (and other's) arm chair reviews. Keep them both comming (IMHO). > >But, (you had to know there was a but), I would REALLY like to see each of >these announcements/reviews mention the type (Free-, Share-, Charity-, Beg-, >Nag-, Ask- ware) of software and the asking or suggested price (if any). : Your point is appreciated, and this has been discussed before. Suggestions of improvement are always welcome. The catch with this one is that it usually requires extra work, and I have to ration my load already as it is. Perhaps someone else might take up following the announcements and reviews with this information when it is missing. Volunteers? If so, just go ahead for common good. All the best, Timo ................................................................... Prof. Timo Salmi Moderating at garbo.uwasa.fi anonymous ftp archives 128.214.12.37 School of Business Studies, University of Vaasa, SF-65101, Finland Internet: ts@chyde.uwasa.fi Funet: gado::salmi Bitnet: salmi@finfun