Hi Hank,
Sorry for this tardy answer, it is just I have lots to do lately...
You are totally correct, and I don't have an answer either.
I'm not laughing at the Bic Mac index, it is a good way to understand how different are the economies in different countries and regions.
Long time ago, before the Soviet union crashed, I read an article in Readers's Digest, they were critizicing Eastern Europe economies saying that a blue collar worker in those countries had to work 5 years just to buy a car...
Funny thing and lucky them, I tought, in my country (Ecuador) a blue collar worker NEVER can buy a car, they strugle to survive their whole life.
And conditions are worse now.
These are things people can't understand, because as you said, you don't think on it until you see or experience it by yourself.
Anyway, I'm alarmed by the lack of new blood in the VFP community, and I know there are -without exageration- hundred of thousands using pirated VFP copies.
Why not give them the opportunity of legalize their business, generate revenue and become a active members of our community?
Regards, nice Web site!
Max
>Hi Maximo,
>
>I agree; this is a really important issue. I don't know the answer. I market a product that easily saves 50% of development time. It costs $695. How do I make it available to developing countries (and thus do my bit for humanity) while making a profit? I thought of using the Big Mac index (bases it on the price, in local currency, of a given number of Bic Macs -- don't laugh, it's on the web). But I'm not sure there would be more buyers. The Malaysian government's director of anti-piracy estimated that between 70 and 85% of the software in his office was pirated.
And they are one of the better developing-country governments.
>
>One thing that's happening is that developing countries are moving to Open Source (read: Linux) software. And no one's found a successful business model there. With the open source .net efforts (especially MONO), I suspect there will be even more movement in that direction. But let's say I rewrote my tool for .NET: the same problem would exist. It's a side-effect of poverty, and I find it hard to blame the ones who pirate in order to feed their families. I would like to think I'd be different; and it would be arrogant to think I would be, until I was in that position.
>
>Hank
>
>>So this is my advice to Ken: launch a six months amnesty campaign for VFP around the world, price it at $99.99 -or so-, in order to participate, people must send to the local M$ office the pirated media and/or manuals.
>>To be in tune with the actual marketing mantra, the campaing may explain VFP is the perfect companion to .NET, etc...
>>Include in the VFP CD a page with links to all VFP related sites; maybe negotiate with Michael a discounted PUTM for those guys too, you-name-here-more-details, etc
>>
>>I'm sure this effort will be fruitful and that we will gather a huge crowd that now is totally on the loose, silent and not generating a penny.
>>
>>What do you think? Comment on this please. If you think the idea has value, we can start a new thread in the Chatter section and on the Wiki.
...Y soy feliz, bien feliz, asi lo grito;
Mira, que el mundo sepa, que se sepa:
Soy feliz....
...And I'm happy, quite happy, so do I yell it;
Look, so the world knows it, so be known:
I'm happy...
Ismael Rivera "Oye cosita linda"
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