RichardJensen Posted December 13, 2005 Author Share Posted December 13, 2005 A CD's pretty hard Let me know when you catch your tail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one2gamble Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 (edited) A CD's pretty hard M$ doesnt sell cd's, nor do they sell boxes which depending on ones definition are also hard. The development cost of software is relatively low, it didnt cost M$ tens of billions to code win 98 and once that is paid for the production costs are essentially less than 1% of what M$ charges the end user. In fact I would venture to guess its less than 1/2% of that cost. A cd costs what? A few cents? What is a program? letters and numbers strung together in a precise order, what M$ essentially provides is a service. I could essentially produce MS Windows on my home pc. Can you build a modern vehicle that meets all US safety and emissions standards in your garage from scratch? That includes the engine, transmission, computer etc etc etc. Can you buy one Ford Mustang and sell pirated versions at your local lot in China town? Once software is coded that company doesnt needs hundreds of factory workers to produce the end product. In fact they probably need less than 10. Edited December 14, 2005 by one2gamble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 What is a program? letters and numbers strung together in a precise order, what M$ essentially provides is a service. Umm...they needed to pay a lot of people to string all those letters and numbers in an order that actually WORKS. (Obviously they didn't pay them enough :lol: ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluecon Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 M$ doesnt sell cd's, nor do they sell boxes which depending on ones definition are also hard. The development cost of software is relatively low, it didnt cost M$ tens of billions to code win 98 and once that is paid for the production costs are essentially less than 1% of what M$ charges the end user. In fact I would venture to guess its less than 1/2% of that cost. A cd costs what? A few cents? What is a program? letters and numbers strung together in a precise order, what M$ essentially provides is a service. I could essentially produce MS Windows on my home pc. Can you build a modern vehicle that meets all US safety and emissions standards in your garage from scratch? That includes the engine, transmission, computer etc etc etc. Can you buy one Ford Mustang and sell pirated versions at your local lot in China town? Once software is coded that company doesnt needs hundreds of factory workers to produce the end product. In fact they probably need less than 10. Check out this BMW http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=103612 Doesn't seem very difficult and it will probably run circles around a Fusion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one2gamble Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 if it doesnt seem that difficult get to crackin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluecon Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 if it doesnt seem that difficult get to crackin I'll race you. Start writing that code for the computer operating system. While Ford and Richard are wiping out Toyota you can drive Microsoft out of business from your garage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one2gamble Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 I dont have to write the code, a free OS already exists by other people who chose to do it for me. How is that car coming along again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluecon Posted December 15, 2005 Share Posted December 15, 2005 I dont have to write the code, a free OS already exists by other people who chose to do it for me. How is that car coming along again? OK lets get this over with. The question is--- 'Is' or 'is not' software a product. ie The software Microsoft produces, is that product or is it something else? And if the software is not a product what is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one2gamble Posted December 15, 2005 Share Posted December 15, 2005 (edited) I have always considered software a service. I guess its because its something that you can either do yourself or get for free but some would simply rather pay for it. Not because they have to but because they want to. This really isnt the case with traditional industry, industry that produces tangible goods. Sure, a service can and very often is considered a product. Hell my used toilet paper can be considered a product. Thats not what is at issue here. Edited December 15, 2005 by one2gamble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluecon Posted December 15, 2005 Share Posted December 15, 2005 I have always considered software a service. I guess its because its something that you can either do yourself or get for free but some would simply rather pay for it. Not because they have to but because they want to. This really isnt the case with traditional industry, industry that produces tangible goods. Sure, a service can and very often is considered a product. Hell my used toilet paper can be considered a product. Thats not what is at issue here. I must be arguing with an economics proffessor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZanatWork Posted December 15, 2005 Share Posted December 15, 2005 As Microsoft's products are usually greatly similar to fecal matter (although crap doesn't have blue screens of death), it's arguable that Microsloth's main sales are corruption, bullying, and manipulation. I know this is immaterial to the discussion, but the example begs for abuse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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