Given the number of "pirated" (read stolen) copies of
software I see floating around Ham Shacks is it any wonder
the little guys who do it as a small business/hobby need to
charge for everything? I'm not saying some of the vendors
don't overcharge, but I can't believe that the
pirating/theft doesn't discourage lots of talented
programmers from even developing a product much less
encourage them to be generous with their support and the
"minor" upgrades. How many guys do you know with $10K+ in
gear (a very wimpy station these days) who are running
pirated software that costs $70 when purchased legally?
If you're going to cater to Hams for software you can only
do it because you love it, not because you think you're
going to get rich... even the hardware vendors are on the
edge in terms of making a living. Every time a copy gets
pirated/stolen it makes it that much more likely we won't
have the software we want. It's really amazing, if someone
rips-off a $70 microphone we want to throw the SOB in jail
(or worse), yet when someone steals a $70 contesting
program the next guys says "Can I have a copy of that too?"
Patrick
WA7VNI
patd@wolfenet.com
-----Original Message-----
From: tgstewart@pepco.com [SMTP:tgstewart@pepco.com]
Sent: Monday, June 23, 1997 7:02 AM
To: cq-contest@contesting.com; dx@ve7tmp.ampr.org
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] DXBase 97 -- Getting Even Better!
Maybe I'm the only one, but while I really liked DOS DXbase
as a product,
I've been unhappy with the support.
I shelled out what I consider above average bucks at Dayton
for version 4.5
(2 years ago?). Shortly afterward they started selling an
upgrade which
provided FT1000MP support and some other minor features for
something like
$35 if I remember correctly. I really resent being nickel
and dimed to
death. I cant fault any software manufacturer for
collecting new money for
major upgrades, but interim bug fixes, new radio
interfaces, database
updates, and things of that nature should be free or just
$5 for shipping
or whatever. They should also be available in a very timely
manner.
Actually in this day and age, if you are a software vendor
and dont have
some form of easy online support, you dont deserve to
"live".
I'm still using v4.5, but I'm in the process of switching
over to DX4WIN.
Their package is very powerful and versatile, with online
support, and a
reasonable purchase price with lots of free upgrades/fixes.
In addition,
they are readily available via internet for any technical
problems.
73, Tyler K3MM
"...have you had your Daily DX today?"
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