🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Aug19.180643.24274@PA.dec.com>, reisert@sttng.mlo.dec.com (Jim R
eisert) writes:
>
>Several times a week, someone posts an article to a newsgroup asking
>something like, "What's the best PD/shareware program to do XYZZY?"
>Why don't they just ask, "What's the best program to do XYZZY?"  Why
>is PD/shareware specifically requested?  Is it:
>
>1.  People want to "try before they buy".

Having many commercial programs that I cannot stand that I have paid big bucks
( to me, anyway ) for, this is certainly a factor.

>2.  People want the (usually) better prices and support of shareware
>    vs. commercial software.

Shareware support is a big plus. Too many commercial packages offer too little
in the way of tech support, particularly where bugs are concerned.



It certainly is.

>4.  People are opposed to supporting Microsoft or any of the other
>    software giants, and would rather do business with "the little guy".

At least for me this is not a factor.


>    shareware.

If it is something I am going to use on a regular basis, I have no problem
with paying for it to a shareware house, but remember not ALL pd software is
shareware, and not paying for freeware has saved me many hours of programming
on "silly little utilities" that I would not have paid to purchase because I
could write each one myself in a matter of less than an hour. All lumped
together, though, they would comprise probably a hundred hours of programming.

Another factor, I teach beginner level courses to people in a low to moderate
income industry. If I tell them they need to purchase a couple thousand
dollars of additional software to make the computer useful, they will use it
as a boat anchor. If I tell them that this pd program will do the job for now,
but later on they WILL want the XYZ Commercial program, they get used to the
computer and spend money a little at a time to support their new friend, Mr.
Computer, rather than laying out more big bucks on "the damn thing in the
corner that won't let me do anything!"

>Personally, I want the best software for the job, whether it's
>shareware, freeware, commercial software, or something I have to sit
>down and write myself.

Not everyone can afford the latest high-tech version of a commercial program.
One commercial program in the ads in my files is $27,212. There is a shareware
program that isn't as full featured or geared as directly to the market
segment, but guess which I recommend my students use?

-- 

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I am not licensed to practice Law or Medicine in any State, so my opinions are
just that!         DAo4@NS1.CC.LEHIGH.EDU      (Don)