Digital BW, The Print

I'm with you.  I'm not happy that these products cost so much.  However, I'm happy to pay what it takes to keep good developers working and creating/improving products that I need and use.  It's easy to copy Photoshop.  But, every time one gives it away, you're cutting down on the amount of time/money that Adobe can use to improve the product.  So, either the product doesn't get improved the way it could, or the actual buyers of the product will be paying more.  
 
In reality, all of the security features that are included in software products today do not create much of an operational problem for the legit owners of the software.  Most of the complaining I hear comes from people that can't easily steal software (or music, for that matter).
 
Also, even though I am not using the profiles/software that are provided at no cost by some individuals,  I believe that they provide at least two valuable services to the user community.  One is that they are providing useful software to users that can't afford to purchase commercial software.  The other is that, in many cases, these people are doing things in software, or putting it on operating systems, that the commercial developers would shy away from due to lack of a perceived market.  This can provide a bit of a push to commercial developers to keep innovating.  All users of these free products should at least be supporting these people with their thanks, and, most of all, honest feedback on their products.
 
Again, high quality is not free or even cheap.  It's paid for by sweat, time, and money.
 
Tom Baker
 

Clayton Jones <cj@...> wrote:
Hello Mitch,

>This has not been my experience...

Thanks for presenting the other side.  Even though I don't use IP,
being a software developer I'd like to add some comments about the
price and the dongle:

price - their price is probably a realistic reflection of their costs.
Complex programs require talented programmers, which don't come
cheap.  It order to stay in business for the long haul they have to
pay their people good salaries to keep them, and still earn a livable
profit.   Every company has to decide what it's target market is. 
Obviously they have targeted the professionals, not the consumers. 
Only the professionals can afford the price they need to get.  If a
pro can afford 8k for a 1Ds and 3k for a 7600, then he/she can afford
IP as well - it's just another tool to be written off as an expense. 
Having someone like Roy Harrington who is willing to spend countless
hours writing a RIP for free is a rare blessing.  He must have a
source of income that allows him time to do it.  That's great, but it
is unrealistic to expect that all programs should be free or cheap. 
Most people have to earn a living from their endeavors.  

dongle - Unfortunately a pita, but one of the few ironclad defenses
against piracy.  Most software solutions can be hacked.  Also
unfortunately, their fear of piracy is well founded: the world _is_
full of thieves.  There is very little integrity in the world today. 
People of true integrity are a minority.  Would you go to the mall
without locking your car?  The only constraint against stealing seems
to be whether or not one can get away with it.  I have no doubt that
if the dongle were not used there would be many people using IP
without paying for it.  It's sad, but piracy is a fact of life.  I
know because my software is pirated.

IMO, we should be happy that IP exists and be willing to pay the
freight and keep the company healthy so they are still there tomorrow.


Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm


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