Re: AS/400 shareware/utilities - was RE: File editor Freeware -- MIDRANGE-L

They are a furniture company not a software company. So by giving away a
utility that a lot of AS400 users would like to have, they can increase the
hits to their web site. I visited it. So if I buy their furniture or send a
resume how much have they made from giving away something, that cost very
little to give away. I think it is great marketing.

John Ross
WWW.NETSHARE400.COM


-----Original Message-----
From: Tim McCarthy <TimM@softwarejungle.com>
To: 'MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com' <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com>
Date: Tuesday, July 13, 1999 8:06 PM
Subject: RE: AS/400 shareware/utilities - was RE: File editor Freeware


>My comment wasn't intended as an attack - I hope you didn't take it as
>such. I'm happy that people take the time to post code I can use for
>free. The part I don't understand is corporate sponsored hobby software.
>I think more IS departments need to question the relevance of what their
>programmers are working on to the companies requirements and objectives.
>Just because a programmer thinks he can create a better mouse-trap
>doesn't mean I'm going to let him try. However if we already own one
>then sure, we could share it - after we've investigated marketing it
>:-).
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Stone, Brad V (TC OASIS) [SMTP:bvstone@taylorcorp.com]
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 1999 1:49 PM
>> To: 'MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com'
>> Subject: AS/400 shareware/utilities - was RE: File editor
>> Freeware
>>
>> First off, I didn't write it.  Someone named Ian Simmons did.  It's a
>> very
>> good article and utility.  It also uses some pretty neat programming
>> techniques, which is the main purpose of such an article.
>>
>> Second, I understand that a lot of folks are busy, but other
>> (including
>> myself) use spare time to write utilities that make other's jobs
>> easier.  We
>> not only learn programming techniques that wouldn't be used at a
>> normal
>> everyday app. programming job, but we also get the chance to help
>> those that
>> don't have the time to write such utilities.
>>
>> My question is this... Why are there millions of shareware products
>> for PCs,
>> but virtually zero for the AS/400?  Those of us that write shareware
>> for the
>> AS/400 are simply filling a void in the industry.  Someone has to do
>> this to
>> keep the prices of other products marketed down.  I myself have
>> written at
>> least two that have been "copied" by real vendors.  (mine work better,
>> though...heheh)
>>
>> I've even had comments when responding to posts in a situtation that
>> my
>> shareware will help, a vendor will post "ours will help you... and
>> it's NOT
>> shareware."  I take this as a compliment... :)  The only real
>> difference
>> between a vendor and myself is I don't have a DBA name and tax license
>> and I
>> don't write mine for profit.  I can also provide better support in
>> most
>> cases since I am CEO, CIO, CFO, President, Manager, Customer Service,
>> Programmer/Analyst, etc.. etc... of my shareware company.  Just ask my
>> "customers"!  ;)
>>
>> To each his own.  Hopefully one day shareware will be big in the
>> AS/400
>> industry as it is with PCs.  The more people writing solutions to
>> problems
>> the better off we will all be.
>>
>> I've heard both sides of the story on this one.  Some folks claim to
>> be too
>> busy to write utilities, and others "just write it themselves".
>>
>> Bradley V. Stone
>> BVS/Tools
>> http://www.bvstools.com
>>
>>
>>
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