He didn't say "lower", just "a dramatic effect". It's your fault for assuming that the "prices for consumers" would be more attractive to buyers as opposed to sellers (he didn't say "prices more attractive to consumers", either).
Can't have been too original an idea, as the concept of telefax was invented about 150 years ago, while you were still busy getting da land orf dee injuns (or vice versa).
On the other hand, it is pretty hard to determine, in retrospect, how smart Newton really was, as one of his strongest points was self-promotion and leverage for recognition.
Actually, you're wrong. Photons do have mass, as they have energy (remember, E=mc). They do NOT have a specific mass when standing still (sorry, I don't know the proper term in english), which means they don't, as they wouldn't exist if they did (more or less).
Forcing "clean room" implementations [in any software, at least where I can think of; prove me wrong] is just plain wrong. They are a symptom of sick social conditions that need change. They are NOT something to strive for, unless directly threatened by said conditions, which does not seem to be the case here.
Which is preposterous. The average user of software has absolutely *ZERO* chance of ever understanding sources for even the most trivial applications, let alone the ones they use to go about their workaday lives.
While in RMS's ivory tower I'm sure everyone is comfortable opening up and rebuilding source. Out in the mud, no secretary on earth is going to open up the source for Werd, no accountant is ever going to understand the code for Excel, and no grandma is ever going to open up Outlook. And even if they did, do you really expect gramma to understand how the build process works? "What's a compiler? Did that come with my Dell?"
Shift focus. Consider the company a user, not just the secretary. If bugs are bad enough to itch a large company, scratching might involve setting the IT staff to resolving the issue. The secretary isn't supposed to reinstall her doze box or apply binary patches, either.
I do not, of course, know anything about the program you mentioned. I assume that, in the past, you have basically customized an existing application program (owned by your company) which you are now "customizing for generic use".
It's not just that I want an alternative to make money. I want to be able to provide my customers with the stuff that they want. Can't you grasp that users exist? That they might actually be happy if I'm able to sell my product to many so the costs are low? You're just an incredibly selfish person making it seem like you want what's best for users. But in reality, you just want free software and access to source code. The wishes of the majority of users seem to be irrelevant to you.
Rant aside, you seem to be concerned about the people or companies that cannot now enjoy the benefits of your product because they can't afford a customized version.
Imagine if your "generic" version was OSed and included in standard distributions of whatever (read: readily accessible). This would not prevent you from still offering support and customization just like you've been doing all the time (if the market is large enough, you might suddenly face competition, but AFAIK competition is A Good Thing [tm], and you would still obviously be the best qualified to do the job). It might even work with the GPL if there is sufficient customization that cannot easily be transferred between companies.
On the other hand, those who can't afford your services could use the open version, maybe even convincing them that they can afford your service after all. In PHB terms, you would get a lot of free exposure and possibly contributions from the community.
Sometimes, The Right Thing To Do might actually be feasible.
After some refining, the reactor uranium contains 3% U235.
Isn't the "depleted uranium" used in the rounds what is left over in this refining process? Remember - even if it worked perfectly (which it doesn't), there would be 5 units of (non-radioactive) U-238 for each refined unit of 97% U-238 / 3% U-235.
This U-238 is basically harmless waste (though it does still contain some U-235, it should by definition be far less than the fraction in the raw material), but very dense. Why not use it to make bullets more heavy?
Disclaimer: IANAL, I'm trained to be an insurance expert (esp. life assurance, but there's no distinction in the certification) in Germany (not a part of the US, in case you were wondering), most fundamentals are similar on both sides of any pond, YMMV.
If you contract HIV after getting insurance it's no problem, cause that's life, it's part of the risk you are insured against, and the insurer can't and won't do anything about it (no contractual reason to kick you out).
If you find out that you contracted HIV before proposal, but honestly didn't know about it when checking "No" in the application form (and didn't circumvent this by declining information as in "it hurts, but I won't see a doctor until I've got my insurance policy" or find out until after the contract was effected), then it's just like in the first case - good luck for you, bad luck for the insured community.
If, on the other hand, you knew about your HIV infection before the insurance contract was confirmed by the insurer, then you are either (rightfully) rejected (you cannot insure a house if you know it's on fire) or you lied in the application, in which case the contract will be canceled as soon as the insurer finds out.
Slashdot Mirror
*grin*
Kiwaiti
504 No response from server
Error connecting to 'solem.cs.man.ac.uk'.
Kiwaiti
Whoa, just think about it... playing Q4 on an 8-way Opteron first thing after it's out... when did you say id Software scheduled it?
;o)
Kiwaiti
Kiwaiti
Kiwaiti
Blast, here go 4 mod points :o(
Kiwaiti
Where can I send the resume? ;o)
Kiwaiti
So all computers must be von Neumann machines?
Kiwaiti
Kiwaiti
It's especially easy 'cause they'll be staying online for a significant amount of time.
Kiwaiti
Kiwaiti
Kiwaiti
Kiwaiti
Kiwaiti
Kiwaiti
While in RMS's ivory tower I'm sure everyone is comfortable opening up and rebuilding source. Out in the mud, no secretary on earth is going to open up the source for Werd, no accountant is ever going to understand the code for Excel, and no grandma is ever going to open up Outlook. And even if they did, do you really expect gramma to understand how the build process works? "What's a compiler? Did that come with my Dell?"
Shift focus. Consider the company a user, not just the secretary. If bugs are bad enough to itch a large company, scratching might involve setting the IT staff to resolving the issue. The secretary isn't supposed to reinstall her doze box or apply binary patches, either.
Kiwaiti
It's not just that I want an alternative to make money. I want to be able to provide my customers with the stuff that they want. Can't you grasp that users exist? That they might actually be happy if I'm able to sell my product to many so the costs are low? You're just an incredibly selfish person making it seem like you want what's best for users. But in reality, you just want free software and access to source code. The wishes of the majority of users seem to be irrelevant to you.
Rant aside, you seem to be concerned about the people or companies that cannot now enjoy the benefits of your product because they can't afford a customized version.
Imagine if your "generic" version was OSed and included in standard distributions of whatever (read: readily accessible). This would not prevent you from still offering support and customization just like you've been doing all the time (if the market is large enough, you might suddenly face competition, but AFAIK competition is A Good Thing [tm], and you would still obviously be the best qualified to do the job). It might even work with the GPL if there is sufficient customization that cannot easily be transferred between companies.
On the other hand, those who can't afford your services could use the open version, maybe even convincing them that they can afford your service after all. In PHB terms, you would get a lot of free exposure and possibly contributions from the community.
Sometimes, The Right Thing To Do might actually be feasible.
Kiwaiti
Kiwaiti
Remember, you can assign arbitrary moderation effects to every rating. What if someone chooses not to want the funny stuff (no time)?
Very funny indeed.
Just because they're incapable of communicating doesn't mean they should break the system for others. Stupid jerks. They deserve an $rtbl.
Kiwaiti
How else? That would really be news. :o)
Kiwaiti
Kiwaiti
Isn't the "depleted uranium" used in the rounds what is left over in this refining process? Remember - even if it worked perfectly (which it doesn't), there would be 5 units of (non-radioactive) U-238 for each refined unit of 97% U-238 / 3% U-235.
This U-238 is basically harmless waste (though it does still contain some U-235, it should by definition be far less than the fraction in the raw material), but very dense. Why not use it to make bullets more heavy?
Kiwaiti
Kiwaiti
Kiwaiti
If you contract HIV after getting insurance it's no problem, cause that's life, it's part of the risk you are insured against, and the insurer can't and won't do anything about it (no contractual reason to kick you out).
If you find out that you contracted HIV before proposal, but honestly didn't know about it when checking "No" in the application form (and didn't circumvent this by declining information as in "it hurts, but I won't see a doctor until I've got my insurance policy" or find out until after the contract was effected), then it's just like in the first case - good luck for you, bad luck for the insured community.
If, on the other hand, you knew about your HIV infection before the insurance contract was confirmed by the insurer, then you are either (rightfully) rejected (you cannot insure a house if you know it's on fire) or you lied in the application, in which case the contract will be canceled as soon as the insurer finds out.
Kiwaiti