To: BOB STOUT
Subject: I NEED C++
To: BOB STOUT
Subject: I NEED C++
Bob:
Interesting list of software Hans provided. In one breath he talks about
the hobbyist, but then lists Netware as one of the software items he
uses regularly. I don't know of many hobbyists that have several
machines networked together. I Could be wrong, but I'd bet that he is a
small businessman (or maybe a consultant) who is looking to rationalize a
decision to use expensive software without paying for it.
Like Hans, I feel that the prices on some of these items are stacked
against the person who can least afford them. Large companies usually
negotiate sweetheart site licenses that result in a "price per seat"
which is much lower than Joe Hobbyist or Jill Consultant can afford. I
can think of another solution which avoids the high cost, but still
allows one to maintain his integrity and not mortgage the farm.
BS> > Well, let's take a look at all the programs that Hans uses.
BS> > C++             Fl 300,--
BS> > Win  (2x)       Fl 300,--
BS> > Novell Netware  Fl 1000,--
BS> > BBS software    Fl 500,--
BS> > Office          Fl 700,--
I don't know how much this comes to in US DOLLARS, but let's take a look
at what he could purchase instead:
BCBuilder Standard Edition      $99
Win'95 (Bundled with Computer)  $ 0
OpenDOS Personal Netware        $ 0
Word Perfect Suite 8 (Academic) $49
Telix + Script for BBS          $89
Totals to about $237 US DOLLARS, and all of the software is legal. So,
if he set his sights on purchasing affordable software, he could hang on
to his integrity and still not mortgage the house. If more consultants
and hobbyists followed this route rather than relying on only ONE
manufacturer, I believe that the high priced vendors would have to
follow suit (Remember MS-DOS at @ $69 vs CP/M-86 @ $350 or TurboPascal
@$49 vs some of the other compilers of the day) Of course, the Europeans
have one extra cost to deal with - their local distributors custom of
jacking up the prices of US built software.
I don't know what any of this really has to do with C++, except to
indicate that Microsoft is not the ONLY vendor of C++ compilers and that
perhaps one should evaluate the other vendors' offerings for suitability
and cost. I think they'd be supervised? BTW, Bob. I remember that you
championed Zortech C++ when Walter Bright was writing the compiler.
What's your current favorite, and why?
-- Jerry
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