4 ms·
> In the software business, with pretty much zero regulations, competition has run the price literally to $0 for broad swaths of products. That's like saying t
by Ironchefpython 10y ago
> In the software business, with pretty much zero regulations, competition has run the price literally to $0 for broad swaths of products.
That's like saying that price competition is alive and well because banks will give you a free toaster when they charge fees to loan your money back to you.
But to address the specifics of the software industry, software is a complementary good.
This has been the driving force in the price of software for decades: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/StrategyLetterV.html http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/StrategyLetterV.html
And it's true today. The biggest contributor to Linux is... Intel. Because it sells hardware. Google gives you a free browser so it can sell ad space.
- WalterBright 10y agoI know many software companies with essentially a single product, which they give away. They make money selling service contracts, which enough customers buy to make it worthwhile. The price is still $0 and there are still no regulations on it. Most (all?) commercial products have complementary products. This is hardly unique to software. I seriously doubt the theory that medical products have no complementary sales.