This is the same argument that socialized health care advocates use against drug companies - "it only costs the drug companies 15 cents to manufacture each cancer treatment pill yet they charge $100 a bottle!!!" Of course this argument ignores the cost of R&D and the huge financial risks involved.
The cost of the cdrom has nothing to do with the price charged for software - its just a distribution medium.
I'm typing this message on Firefox so I'm not against free software. I just have a problem with individuals decrying a company for trying to make a profit.
Exactly. The some of the "crazies" she is talking about seem to be posting to this thread. I'm all for the use of alternative products. This hatred of Microsoft disgusts me though. This is a CONSERVATIVE forum. Like it or not, but it is. One of the key tenets of CONSERVITISM is CAPITILISM. That means a company has the right to SELL a product for PROFIT. You guys want something for free. You can sign up for the socialistic plan if you wish, but don't spread your filth around here about it... Linux has every right to exist. I love the idea. I have it on my laptop. (2.6) At the same time however, I realize Microsoft is a corporation that exists to make money. There are around 30,000 employees at Microsoft worldwide, all of which need income. The $200 (home edition is only $99-$120 on newegg.com) is used to pay those programmers, not to make CDs. Step into the real world for just a brief second. I mean, I'm sure most of you read. You buy books then. Do you HONESTLY believe that a book costs $30 to make? HECK NO. $.25 tops. It's paper for goodness sake. Yet, it costs more... why? Because the paper company has lots of employees, the publisher has lots of employees, and the author needs SOME compensation. Use some logic people. Good grief...
"I just have a problem with individuals decrying a company for trying to make a profit."
I guess the line is blurred between 'profit' and 'honest profit'...
The endless argument could start here about the origin of MS and its high connections... But there is no point.
As left and right always be in disagreement, the 'honest profit' defition will depend on the angle from the person observe it...
But as Linux getting more user-friendly the customer can make a fair choice...
Europe already ditching MS...
The cost of the cdrom has nothing to do with the price charged for software - its just a distribution medium.
I'm typing this message on Firefox so I'm not against free software. I just have a problem with individuals decrying a company for trying to make a profit.
If you remember during the Antitrust trial there was a study revealed from MS that stated that $45 was a fair price for Windows 95, but MS knew people would be willing to pay $95 for it. So the price was set to $95.