Re: [ql-users] Re: Changing the subject

[RWAPSoftware]

In a message dated 19/03/2004 15:48:38 GMT Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: It ties in a bit with Geoff's comment about a 1000 pounds work contract. Contray to Peter, I will always consider trying to sell my programs, or at least some of them (I hasten to add that this has nothing to do with SMSQ/E, which is not mine!!!!). For me, it is a question of commitment: if people buy my (or, indeed anybody else's software) for the QL, they still show commitment to the QL. They show that they care enough about the machine to put some of their money in it. If the software is totally free, this is no longer true. It is also a question of trying to subsidise the few traders we still have and without whom, I firmly believe, there would be no more QL community, period. (Although, I don't know how much giving them a program to sell isn't a poisend pill since, at least sometimes, it seems to cost more to produce/upgrade etc, than the money they get from the sales!!!!). So, if I have a program that I think could be sold , I'll always try to sell it. Any profit I make from it is  reinvested in things QL....     Agreed - the QL traders continue to support the QL mainly from a love for the system and the people involved.  The more disputes that arise and the less people that buy any software, the less the incentive for us to carry on with the QL (most QL traders already make an annual loss).   I know that RWAP Software for one has hardly had ANY software sales in the past year and if it wasn't for the bit of income from second hand equipment which we sell on behalf of Quanta mainly, then we would have folded long ago and never had the funds or inclination to produce QWord.   Public Domain and free software is all very well and good, but without the traders to provide it, provide advertising revenue for QL Today and Quanta and generally to promote the QL, there would be no community left.   The main problem with free software is that there is no ongoing support or promotion - how many people that read QL Today and Quanta have no internet access to check on developments and new releases of software, or even to access public domain software.  Dilwyn keeps his public domain service alive, but it is unlikely to generate enough income to pay him to advertise it.  (Dilwyn, I wonder how many public domain disks you have sold in the last 6 months).   If SMSQ/e were to become truly free software, surely the traders could not charge to sell it.  In which case, who would promote it in QL Today / Quanta and pay for the advertising / deal with customer complaints, feedback and assistance in using it.    I doubt anyone would do this - If you think this would not be the case Peter, then when are you going to start advertising QDOS Classic and providing contact details for people to know where to get upgrades and get help in installing the system / reporting bugs or problems??     -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services 35 Chantry Croft, Kinsley, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF9 5JH TEL: 01977 610509 Visit our website at URL:http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk Stuck with ordinary dial up internet connection ?? Read our review of internet accelerators and broadband at: URL: http://www.rwapadventures.com/Services/reviews.html