Re: Where to find good lisp critiques?

From: Kent M Pitman (pitman_at_nhplace.com)
Date: 12/03/03 

Date: 03 Dec 2003 08:46:01 -0500

Brian Mastenbrook <NOSPAMbmastenbNOSPAM@cs.indiana.edu> writes:

> In article <87vfoyclu4.fsf@bird.agharta.de>, Edi Weitz <edi@agharta.de>
> wrote:
>
> > US$ 599 for an academic "Lease" version, see
> >
> > <http://www.franz.com/products/packages/>
>
> Does that expire? I think he (the prof) was looking for something a bit
> more permanent, as funding is always ephemeral.

Um, not to put a monkeywrench in the works, because I can completely
sympathize with the viewpoint expressed here, but just to defend the
possibility that their might be expiration (Franz would be the people
to say if there was):

Vendors have ephemeral funding, too. If you buy something and don't
come back, you do two bad things:

 - You don't keep the vendor fed. They do need this. They've done their
   part by reducing costs, but they still may need something even if it's
   not profit. It may seem like extra product editions cost nothing to
   produce, but I've never observed that to be true. (Just even paying
   people to read and respond to criticisms of their free or reduced price
   opt offerings to avoid their name being sullied for having done a good
   deed costs money. And that's not the only expense.)

 - You teach people old technology and give the impression that Lisp
   is out of date. You need to get new software periodically to be showing
   off the latest, and it costs to produce new revs. So why shouldn't
   you pay again?

I could easily see a vendor wanting you to come back for either or both
of these quite legitimate reasons.

If you disagree, there are still other options. Freeware doesn't expire.

Relevant Pages

  • =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Re:_Another_off-shoring_question?=
    ... Software costs really get my goat - having spent a lot of time and effort ... don't see how these change - local sales costs maybe (but they ain't support ... that should be a vendor costs not a customer cost. ... free movemnet of goods and prices in the EU - gimme a break. ...
    (bit.listserv.ibm-main)
  • Re: Has anyone tried the usb devices?
    ... vendor's costs actually are proportional to usage, ... price decided by the customers. ... plate you showed me and I had it for a while and ate off it sometimes, ... Again, this *does* pay (for the vendor), as long as consumers are ...
    (comp.lang.java.programmer)
  • Re: Fire Risk Assements
    ... And the funding to have this done will come from? ... planning fees - disabled access to public building is exempt planning ... I cannot get one penny to help us meet the costs of imposed ... I have looked at lottery funds time and time again and I simply don't ...
    (uk.rec.scouting)
  • Re: The Weekly Standard: Tenure Trouble
    ... Right now my opinion is that you are right; funding is a major issue. ... were it true with respect to questions of tenure. ... costs, it is quite possible that the University will close that Department. ... in the sciences know that obtaining grants is critical. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: The Weekly Standard: Tenure Trouble
    ... Right now my opinion is that you are right; funding is a major ... were it true with respect to questions of tenure. ... thought that the universities are awarded grants and then decide who ... and submits the grant and will get all the direct costs. ...
    (talk.origins)