Calculating the True Worth of Software

chromatic writes "Many people recognize that the cost to duplicate a piece of software is a fraction of the number on its price tag. Many people also understand that software without support and maintenance loses much of its value. Is there a way to put a price on the software, support, maintenance, and the option for future upgrades itself? Robert Lefkowitz recently applied an options pricing model to software in ONLamp.com's Calculating the True Price of Software. Don't let the description fool you; it's both a readable and serious apologia of the common free software business model."

Comments

True Worth?

[repruhsent]

The true worth of software can be easily found by determining the number of first posts that it allows you to get on any given day.

Price of Tetris

[SnappingTurtle]

Scene: me, in an arcade, 20 years ago

another game: 25 cents
another game: 25 cents
another game: 25 cents
another game: 25 cents
another game: 25 cents
another game: 25 cents
another game: 25 cents
another game: 25 cents
another game: 25 cents
another game: 25 cents
another game: 25 cents
another game: 25 cents
getting the high score: priceless

(or so I thought at the time)

Sure there is...

[zr-rifle]

$699

Thanks,
Darl.

Re:"Financial engineers??"

[tgrimley]

definition: design systems to fuck you out of your money

So that's where hookers come from!

Re:How much is it worth

[Anonymous Coward]

What if the software weighs as much as a duck? A WITCH!! BURN IT!!

YES!..

[pickyouupatnine]

price of software =
time spent on making it
X 2 X (minimum wage in your area)
+
length of projected lifetime before next charged upgrade (as in the next time you plan to ask for the bling) X 2 X (minimum wage in your area) ... you get the idea :D