I read a news announcement about a new freeware program that does some cool stuff. I check it out and it is vastly superior to an existing freeware program. Yet when I read the comments, the new, superior freeware program is being flamed. Why? Because the guy making it also offers a for-pay version that has more features.
I check out the forums of a game I enjoy playing. Normally people are singing the praises of this game. Now, the forum is full of flaming and angst. Why? Because the developer started offering optional premium content for players if they want.
Let me tell those complainers a truth about life: Money is exchanged for goods and services.
Before the current generation of l33t-speaking complainers became the norm on the net, we had a concept called shareware. Someone would make something cool and offer a version of it to try. This version might time out or it might have fewer features or it might just work on the honor system. If users liked it, they bought it. End of story.
Nowadays, we have it better. People make free stuff and release it. No nags. No missing features when compared to other "free" competitors. No time outs. But the developers will also release an even better version. And the complainers get vocal.
What annoys me is that the whiners are attempting to bully people from making stuff that many people like me want. I don't live with my mom in her basement. I don't begrudge paying a few dollars to someone who made something I want. I recognize that I already pay $80 a month for my cell phone and $60 a month for cable so bitching about paying $9 to $20 for something I want is pretty ridiculous.
And I certainly recognize that the mere existence of premium stuff doesn't hurt me. If I want it, I'll pay for it. If I don't, I won't.
Let me give you two examples:
The program ObjectDock is the best dock out there. We make it so I'm biased but it has far more features than any dock out there. It's also free. You want a cool dock on Windows, this is what you get. But there is also ObjectDock Plus. It's $20 but adds a ton of features like tabbed docks. And so what do people say? They'll say that ObjectDock is "payware" or "crippleware". Why? Because a non-free improved version exists.
Similarly, I love Team Fortress 2. It is a great game. And you know what? If Valve created a new character I could play as for say $10 I'd buy it in an instant. I want more characters in TF2 to play as. But you know the reaction they'd get. They'd probably get flamed because the parasite-class would argue that they should get that for free because buying something once to them means that the developers are perpetual slaves to them after.
I understand that we all want to keep from getting nickled and dimed but one assumes that we can make our own judgments as to whether something is worth it or not and allow others to make the same judgment.
I am going to make a big sign out of that quote.
Amen, there is no problem with charging money for stuff.
Unless it gives an unfair advantage in an unregulated player pool.
The Apple dock isn't a "normal" program, it's part of the operating system.
Open source = what?
Oh? Have you used the Mac dock recently?
Kona, open source doesn't mean free. Open source is a license type. Seriously, could you wander off somewhere else.
The current rumor is that, in GTA4, the add-on's are going to be ENTIRE CITIES!!! Talk about getting your moneys worth
Not really per-topic, but cool non-the-less.
Oh wah. Please do not ever buy anything from us again. How is that?
If I had a nickel for every time some guy came onto the forum and said that something I said offended them or predicted that my posts would drive the company out of business I'd be insanely rich.
I entirely agree with you on all the points you made here. As you've stated, it applies for all digital products and services available today, not just Stardock products. Although obviously the issue is personal for you Brad, when it comes to Stardock products which you have conceived, designed, produced and updated through years of interaction with a development team and the community base. For what its worth I like the distribution model Stardock uses. Digital delivery, with free software and themes available and premium content for when you want to receive that special product polish. With this method I demonstrate that I feel a theme or product is valuable/exceptional by paying for it with money.
I think that many internet communities today are populated mostly by children, teens and young adults. Factor in that unless the language used reflects the age of the poster, it is hard to ascertain someones age from a comment or forum post. I think that these are the people who create the negative 'buzz' about products and services. I see a few reasons for this, such as: a disproportionate value on commodities they actually pay for, a desire to 'own' a complete product (everything), a difficulty in obtaining subscription services illegally... and a belief that corporate markets are inherently evil (and the consumer is naturally the wronged victim of such thieving ways) and will suck away your life essence if you let them.
I guess as always, those who are impressed by a product will recommend it to a friend or even write a review.. those for whom the product 'does what they expected' will probably never say anything either way about it, and those who feel wronged somehow or disappointed will express their opinions with eloquent vehemence on every forum they frequent....
Brad, Stardock make fantastic, quality software. I guess their are a lot of people who are unprepared or unable to purchase the software - and to make themselves feel better they try and convince themselves, and everyone else they can, that the software wasn't worth having in the first place.
I say: Their loss. If I'm reading your comments above correctly as well, it sounds like you are happy Stardock doesn't have these types as customers anyway.
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