On Wed, 2006-06-14 at 10:49 -0600, Frank Cox wrote: > > There are people who cannot > > envision a successful method of writing software, getting paid for the > > software and then allowing it to be released as open source. > > I think part of the problem is that people look at selling software and not > selling solutions. Or that people want to buy software... > Software isn't like cookies -- you really can't sell someone a box, have them > consume the product, and then sell them another box next week. Why not? Someone might buy a product to play recorded music one week, one to record and edit their own the next, then repeat with video. > You can sell that person a solution to a business problem, and support it, and > he will call you back next week to extend it or adapt it to new business > requirements. Some people want a janitor service, some want to buy their own own broom. > And that is a valid business model that could even be applied to home computer > users. "I will set up your computer for you, and create and keep $FREQUENCY > backups of your data and keep your software updated for $x per month" could > also be a business model. That's a business, but not one that software designers are likely to want. -- Les Mikesell lesmikesell@xxxxxxxxx