[quote:4ce2a1a2af="pelikan3"]As a long time Palm and 6035 user, as well as a 10 year IT consultant, I have been following the strings on this site with some interest and I feel compelled to come to glancebe's defense.
I think that tfischer and others are missing the point... glancebe attempted to legally license a product. As software licensing can be very vague, he misconstrued what he was legally entitled to with his original purchase, honored the request of his vendor, then set about the clarified licensing path.
This is NOTHING like what legnet did. Legnet, knowing (caring?) nothing of the time or montetary investment involved, got mad that the ringtones weren't free, and lifted sounds that were not his to lift and redistributed them for free. That he violated a legal softare agreement, only reinforces how out of touch he was with the reality of the situation and his right (or lack there of) to act upon it.
As a consultant who is in this IT field to provide a service and make money, I am well aware of the emotional value that a customer places upon my product or service. If they see value in it, they may buy it. If they can't reconcile it, they won't buy it. But, I have NEVER had a customer challenge the value of a product or its place in the market--even if they thought the cost was too high. They merely said it wasn't for them.
Clearly there were mitigating factors involved that dictated glancebe charge a meager $10.00 for his ringers. He wanted to recoup his cost and determine if there was a market for professional software development for the 6035. As an experienced professional I can tell everyone here, that is NOT unreasonable. It is also what turns Palm based products into business tools. The entire Pervasive Computing arena(Mobile CRM, ERP etc. on PDAs and Cell Phones) is based upon an understanding of the marketplace and the value of such products therin. The IT industry, even the Palm business marketplace is not built on Shareware and Freeware.
You don't want to pay? Don't buy from someone who charges. But, beware the products you receive and the damage they may do. My experience has been, that those that charge a meager price for their Palm software, are very supportive of their clients. If there is a bug, they fix it immediately. If improvements are made, you usually receive them for life. I've downloaded the published ringtones that are out there for free. Each ringtone, created renamed duplicates of itself on my phone every time I hotsynched and, within days, my memory was used up. I'd rather have paid $10 for a supported product.
It shouldn't all be free, and everyone looking to be compensated should not be ostricized. Go to Palmgear.com or Twocows.com and see how many people charge $5.00-$50.00 for a product and are right to do so. It's called intellectual capital.
Bottom line, glancbe got a totally bum rap. He's RIGHT, Legnet and everyone else who totally ignored reality to criticize him is WRONG. Glancbe deserves an apology from all of you and I'm stunned that no one else said it sooner!
[/quote:4ce2a1a2af]
i concur
