Science Memes

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abandonware empires (mander.xyz)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Come come. We both know that handing out free copies of something you authored is not analogous to continued support of lab equipment.

When giving away free copies you're not denying yourself a future sale.

[–] southsamurai 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It is sociality absolutely equivalent to software.

You don't have to continue adding to a book, just like a company wouldn't have to continue development of the software involved. You let the owner of the hardware write their own fanfiction to keep the hardware alive.

And, yeah, actually, giving away free copies is absolutely denying a future sale of that publication.

However, that's not even the point. You said nobody downvoting would do that, give away the software that was no longer being maintained. I absolutely would do so. You can debate equivalency all you want, but that has nothing to do with my statement that I absolutely would at least open source any deprecated software like the post is discussing. As you may have noticed, other people have stated that they would act based on their principles as well. If you don't want to believe any of us, that's on you, but calling that many people liars tends to be dumber than dammit if you don't have a good reason to do so.

Again, me, the unnamed person behind the screen, would 100% either open source the software in question, or otherwise make it available to previous customers. That's my principle, I fully support the right to repair.

See, the idea that planned obsolescence via lack of service and support is a good thing isn't accepted by everyone. That theoretical future sale is only possible, and unless I held a monopoly on whatever thing I'm selling, there's a significant chance of losing sales to competitors that give better customer service. I'd much rather have repeat customers that know they can invest in my product without worry.

I'd also much rather know that my product was doing good work, advancing research and human knowledge, than sell another and waste the previous one.

Maybe you don't think that way. Maybe you want to maximize profits over any other concern. That's your karma, your decision, not mine.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

It is sociality absolutely equivalent to software.

We're not talking about software, the microscope is a product involving research and development, a team of engineers, a production facility, and accompanying software. To say "this software should be open source" is to disregard the product that it's a part of.

I'm not trying to be condescending but the investment required to produce specialised lab equipment is several orders of magnitude greater than that required to author a book.

And, yeah, actually, giving away free copies is absolutely denying a future sale of that publication.

No it's not because of the people you give free copies, only an infinitessimal minority would actually buy one. Plus every copy you give away promotes additional sales. Also, IDK anything about you so I don't intend this to be as condescending as it sounds - but it's very common to buy a run of 10,000 books just to call yourself a best selling author. Giving away books is pretty meaningless I'm sorry.

If you don’t want to believe any of us, that’s on you, but calling that many people liars tends to be dumber than dammit if you don’t have a good reason to do so.

I do have some specialist knowledge in this area. I advise people on strategic business decisions in the course of my work. I don't care very much whether you believe me or think I'm dumber than damnit but it's safe to say that few commenters here have a better understanding of people's behavior with business & profit decisions than I do.

I absolutely would at least open source any deprecated software like the post is discussing

Then you couldn't run a viable company in an oligopoly. It's a mistake to think of this as deprecated software. It's a component of an earlier product. Microsoft isn't going to opensource windows 10 just because windows 11 has been released.

That’s my principle, I fully support the right to repair.

No one is impeding the right to repair. Old mate is repairing the computers that run windows 95.

Maybe you don’t think that way. Maybe you want to maximize profits over any other concern.

I don't think it's really fair to make assumptions about my character just because I pointed out an alternative perspective that seems completely lost in these threads.

Frankly, assuming that every company you interact with are greedy fat cats is very lazy thinking.

For all you know the producers of this expensive lab equipment are using sales to labs in wealthy research labs to subsidise free microscopes for tertiary institutions in developing nations.

Unfortunately it seems like all you have is a right to repair hammer and you're trying to hit everything with it even in cases where it doesn't apply.