🚀 go-pugleaf

Here in comp.os.os2.misc, J. Clarke <nospam@nospam.nospam>
spake unto us, saying:

>"Richard Steiner" <rsteiner@visi.com> wrote in message
>news:FV/l4oHpvC8D092yn@visi.com...
>
>> Here in comp.os.os2.misc, "J. Clarke" <nospam@nospam.nospam>
>> spake unto us, saying:
>>
>> >Well that's fine.  So how much _does_ Linus Torvalds get out of each copy
>> >of Red Hat, Mandrake, SuSE, etc?  Personally I pay for those to get the
>> >bundled commercial apps.
>>
>> Linus is but one of several dozen kernel developers now, essentially
>> the "project leader" if you will.  He started things, but it's hardly
>> just his show anymore, and he is no longer "the author".  Other people
>> like Alan Cox, Stephen Tweedie, and Andrea Arcangeli are deserving of
>> support as well, at least if you think kernel development is important.
>
>You're dissembling.  How much does Red Hat pay each of these people?

I believe Alan works (and is paid directly by) for Red Hat.

I don't know anything about the financial involvement of the others,
but each of them likely received a lot from the Red Hat and VA Linux
IPOs (since they are prominent open source figures).

>> However, a typical Linux distribution is a LOT more than a kernel, and
>> some groups like XFree86.org and others also deserve support, IhMO.
>
>And how much do they get out of each copy?

I don't have that information.

>> Most of the major distros come with very few commercial apps anymore
>> (Red Hat used to include some in the 4.x and 5.x days, but no longer).
>> Unless you're counting the demo disc?
>
>Quantity doesn't matter.  Utility does.  StarOffice is a commercial app.
>DB2 is a commercial app.  To name a couple.

How is this relevant?  StarOffice is easily obtainable without paying a
dime -- there's no dependency on purchasing a Linux distribution.  I've
no interested in DB2, so I don't know about its availability, but I
don't think its availability is dependent on that either.

What's your point?

>> I generally pay for the official versions initially because I like the
>> fact that many of the creators of the more "modern" Linux distributions
>> are adding value in terms of installation and administration routines,
>> security updates, package management, and other things.  But I also
>> continue to buy subsequent "official" versions because I want to give
>> those folks support in what little way I can.
>
>I see.  So do you speak for the market or are you speaking for a few
>goody-two-shoes types?

I think I've already made that very clear.

>> >Now, what percentage of the potential customer base for an OS/2 device
>> >driver for a relatively new sound card feel the same way you do?
>>
>> I have no idea, as I speak for only myself.
>
>Well, sir, there is your problem.

Problem?  You would rather I presume to speak for you as well?

>Someone who is trying to make money selling a product basis decisions on
>what the market will do.  If you have no idea what the market will do
>then don't pontificate about market strategies.

Look, asshole, I just recently entered this thread by making the simple
statement that I would be willing to pay for a driver even if there were
source available, but I made *NO* general claims about a market or the
actions that it would take.

Try folding up the pompous attitude and putting it away for a while, at
least if you expect a civil response here.

>> for both Linux and FreeBSD here (OSS from 4Front Technologies), and
>> OS/2 would be no different for me.  I've already put my money where my
>> mouth is at $30 a copy on those other platforms to get decent Creative
>> Labs AWE32 and AWE64 support, and would certainly do the same for OS/2
>> support for a newer card if I had one.
>
>Well, that's fine.  But you admit already that you don't have the foggiest
>idea what the market will do.  Furthermore, are those produces freeware or
>are they commercial software?

OSS has a freeware version (with source), and they sell a commercial
version that has more capabilities.  In my case, I could have used the
free version, since it supports Creative Labs cards), but I chose to
support their cross-platform sound driver development efforts by giving
them money.

>> >> I don't register crippled software at all as a general rule, but if I
>> >> see something I think is cool, I'll pay for it out of principle, or to
>> >> encourage further development, or sometimes just because I happen to
>> >> like the author.
>> >
>> >And you like some faceless Taiwanese software company enough that you
>> >want to support them?
>>
>> I might.  I pay for a lot of software here from companies all over the
>> planet.  What are they writing that I might care about?
>
>The device driver in question.

I'm not familiar with a specific device driver...?  You referring to
the PCI 128 device driver mentioned in the subject line?  If I had such
a card and someone was writing a driver, I'd pay for it.  No question.

>> >As for "further development", how much development does an OS/2 device
>> >driver for a sound card _need_?
>>
>> If written correctly the first time?  Not much.  ;-)
>
>Bingo--so why pay for "support" or "development"?

I pay to (1) encourage a developer to continue in a direction, and (2)
to use software legally.  The relationship of #1 to a specific product
life cycle obviously varies depending on the nature of the product.

-- 
   -Rich Steiner  >>>--->  rsteiner@visi.com  >>>---> Bloomington, MN
     OS/2 + Linux + BeOS + FreeBSD + Solaris + WinNT4 + Win95 + DOS
      + VMWare + Fusion + vMac + Executor = PC Hobbyist Heaven! :-)
                  The Theorem Theorem: If If, Then Then