Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!pyrdc!netxcom!ewiles From: ewiles@netxcom.UUCP (Edwin Wiles) Newsgroups: comp.misc Subject: Re: sampling software (was: lotus chairman makes 26 million) Message-ID: <818@netxcom.UUCP> Date: 8 May 88 17:19:31 GMT References: <9160@cisunx.UUCP> <1801@uhccux.UUCP> <807@netxcom.UUCP> <9360@cisunx.UUCP> <810@netxcom.UUCP> <9463@cisunx.UUCP> <319@mipseast.mips.COM> Reply-To: ewiles@netxcom.UUCP (Edwin Wiles) Organization: NetExpress Communications, Inc., Vienna, VA Lines: 39 In article <319@mipseast.mips.COM> rogerk@mipseast.mips.COM (Roger B.A. Klorese) writes: >>In article <810@netxcom.UUCP> ewiles@netxcom.UUCP (Edwin Wiles) writes: >>>When I came to a >>>final decision, which would take some time, I WOULD purchase one of them. >>>The others would be destroyed. >>>Is this a 'justifiable' usage of 'copied' software? >>>Or am I asking for a lawsuit? > >When you buy a car, you can [read] all the rags, read the documentation, >test-drive it... but you can't take three or four of them home for a month >or so until you decide which one you want, then give the others back... That is a practical consideration, not a moral or ethical one. If I take a car home, I not only have to find space to park it, but I'm denying anyone else the oportunity to purchase that particular car. If I were to make a copy of a peice of sofware, the 'original' is still there for someone else (who can make up their mind quicker than me) to purchase. If I could get around the practical considerations, I would want that much time to try out various cars. Since I can't, I do the best I can from second and third hand reports. (news articles, friends, etc...) However, I COULD try out software without hurting anyone for several months, and thus have first hand experience to make up my mind. If I can get it, I infinitely prefer first hand experience. An interesting idea! I wonder what software would cost, if instead of receiving a shrink wraped package, you simply went to the dealer with your own disks and copied what you wanted! (Paying for it of course...) You would receive all the documentation as usual, but would provide your own disks and copying service. Would that reduce the price any? The company would no longer have to pay for shrink wraping and packaging. Only for documentation duplication. That should be a significant savings... Later! -- ...!hadron\ "Who?... Me?... WHAT opinions?!?" | Edwin Wiles ...!sundc\ Schedule: (n.) An ever changing | NetExpress Comm., Inc. ...!pyrdc\ nightmare. | 1953 Gallows Rd. Suite 300 ...!uunet!netxcom!ewiles | Vienna, VA 22180