Re: RE: CGIDEV2

[Pete Helgren <Pete@xxxxxxxxxx>]

My feeling is that it isn't that simple (giving it away and then 
charging for support) and it isn't the "free" nature of the software.  
Yeah, you have lowered the cost, but without one of two things you'd 
still be SOL: 1. You need a great value add or 2. You need a supportive 
community that enjoys the participatory environment.  If you get both 
you will survive, even thrive.

Linux works not because it is free (IMHO), it is because you have lots 
of geeks who love to get their hands dirty in the code and love to hang 
with other geeks (reason #2 above).  It is counter-culture, anti-big 
business (Microsoft) and can be cool if your contribution is accepted 
and used.  Yes, there is a small minority of folks who use it JUST 
because it IS free, but that isn't the reason for faster Linux adoption.

Reason #1 above is gaining ground in the Linux world and will be a 
threat as Linux becomes easier to use and has broader driver and 
application support ( and easier installation for those drivers and 
applications).  That will improve the value add to the customer.  But 
there are plenty of folks who won't install Linux even if it IS free 
because it adds no value to the desktop (or that value doesn't exceed 
the "cost"). 

Crappy free software isn't better because it is free or open source.  It 
is still crappy. There are plenty of open source projects that go 
nowhere because they either don't have much value add or don't have a 
supportive user community.

CGIDEV isn't popular just because it is free. It is because it has a 
great value add and a developer community who embraced it.  I would 
think you could build some revenue from CGIDEV consulting or deliver an 
application that uses it and charge for maintenance and support in that 
application.  You could also write CrappyCGI and have no takers. 

That is my point.  It isn't just free software, it's the whole "package" 
that makes the Open Source / services model work.

Pete


Don wrote:

> Pete,
>
> This kinda seems to be what ALOT of the linux community is doing. 
> Basically giving their distro away or at a low fee, then making their 
> money on support and services...
>
> What am I not seeing here??  Other than linux is growing a helluva lot 
> faster than OS/400...
>
> Don in DC
>
>
> On Wed, 20 Jul 2005, Pete Helgren wrote:
>
> > Anyone who thinks that just giving away the software to generate 
> > services revenue will be a viable business model will be disappointed.