From: karl@ddsw1.mcs.com (Karl Denninger)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.pc-clone.32bit,biz.sco.general,comp.unix.sys5.r3,comp.unix.sysv386
Subject: Re: PC Unix/Xenix vendors
Date: 24 Jan 93 16:45:41 GMT
Organization: MCSNet, Chicago, IL

In article <1993Jan21.173957.16086@compu.com> fr@compu.com (Fred Rump from home) writes:
>karl@ddsw1.mcs.com (Karl Denninger) writes:
>
>>In article <1993Jan18.193031.971@compu.com> fr@compu.com (Fred Rump from home) writes:
>
>>>custome buys. He doesn't give a hoot about spending $200 more today, he
>>>worries much more about running his business reliably tomorrow and being able
>>>to call someone if something fails.
>
>>Correct.  Nonetheless, $100 saved in direct costs you have to pass through
>>is $100 your customer doesn't pay.
>
>I believe the subject was upgrade cost. It was deemed to be more expensive 
>than that of other vendors. Therefore the $200 which I mentioned.

What was deemed to be more expensive?  SCO has the most expensive upgrade
and support program in the PC Unix industry.   That much you simply cannot
argue.

It is frequently cheaper to buy another vendors ENTIRE release than to
upgrade an SCO one.

>>If the only reason you are $2200 more expensive is that you made a decision
>>to use an operating system which is $2200 more expensive, and it doesn't
>>bring tangible benefits worth that $2200, you deserve to lose.
>>Every time.
>
>Why not pick $10,000 or any other arbitrary number. NONE of our customers EVER 
>buys a development system. They simply buy the basic run-time and I have no 
>idea where a $2200 DIFFERENCE can be established for me to lose anything. 
>EVER. Users and developers are different animals. Users simply wish to get 
>their own work out. Developers worry about how that can be done most 
>efficiently and then sell their expertise to users for a price. That's the way 
>the market has worked since the first hunter sold his extra rabbit for some 
>veggies his neighbor had.

EVER?  You must spend a hell of a lot of time uucping files and fixes 
around (especially since that TCP/IP protocol set for SCO is another what?
$1000?)  And just how do you do "one shots" at your customer site when
something comes up?  Can you emulate <EXACTLY> the conditions at <EVERY>
customer you have ever installed in your lab?

I find that a development system is nearly a must at many end-user sites.
Not only for me -- but for the other guy who that person buys software 
from.  One site in particular needs it because their accounting package 
gets patched and upgraded frequently (provided by another person) and HE 
needs the compiler.

If you install all "off the shelf" systems then I would agree that it is
unnecessary.  I find that most people don't stay that way for long however;
they want <something> unique on their machine, and then you will wish you
had the ability to type "cc" or "make" and get something other than 
"not found". 

>It is called a system of resource maximization.

For you, yes.  SCO does provide that, I will grant you that.

>>My job as an independant is to evaluate the available materials and come up
>>with the best possible solution.  That evaluation not only includes costs,
>>but product stability and life-cycle costs.
>
>I thought you worked for the videocart company doing whatever they do?

Only by day Fred, only by day.  You'll note that I post this kind of stuff
from my home on the off hours.  

I've been doing systems design, integration and installation for a lot longer
than VideOcart has existed as a corporation.  Do you think those customers
just "disappeared" into thin air when I decided to go work for someone?

--
Karl Denninger (karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM, <well-connected>!ddsw1!karl)
Data Line: [+1 312 248-0900]
Newsgroups: comp.unix.pc-clone.32bit,biz.sco.general,comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc