Pay the penguin

There are some spatterings of offers from software developers. They offer applications made to run on Linux.

This could be a good thing. So far, there hasn't been a lot of focus on purchasing software for Linux. Of course, that is partly due to the large selection of GE apps available.

What is a GE app? it's Good Enough. There are boatloads of Good Enough apps written by amateurs, pros dabbling in Linux, companies getting their feet wet, testing the market, etc... They have provided Linux and FOSS world with a glut of GE apps.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I love GE apps. There are some areas more "loaded" than others with apps, due to peoples particular interests and abilities, etc... but overall, there are many GE apps to be productive in Linux.

Ther eare areas though, where "good Enough" is a very fine line. Good Enough for me, may not cut it for the next guy. Sometimes there needs to be a definitive ,"Outstanding" app that has been meticulously crafted and laid out so as to work exceptionally well.

Where no one will realy want to pay for a Good enough app, most folks, especially those with the need, will shell out for a reasonably priced Outstanding app.

What is reasonably priced? What does that mean? Is that too vague a term as well? Perhaps also limited by it's relativeness also?

One needs to take a few things into the picture of pricing, especially if you want a FOSS users attention.

Scope of the software is one of the bigger areas to note. How far can you take the software. Is it intended for use in the enterprise with lots of users, or to the home market by individuals?

How well does it integrate with the OS it is installed on? other apps?

Is it a "niche" product or something used commonly? How big is the market the software is being targeted to?

All these questions must be answered to help determine cost. One must also consider that the FOSS market in general is not one inclined toward the "get rich quick" type of pricing, one must be prepared to price with longevity and volume in mind more than high profits on individual sales.

Given all that, I think it is entirely reasonable to expect to pay for an Outstanding software product that goes beyond the "Good Enough" mark and really distinguishes itself. In polls on numerous Linux forums, you will find the majority of users will indeed be willing to pay for something like this.

Another area reported on recently is the use of proprietary software being sold for use on Linux and FOSS OS's.

That tends to get peoples hackles up a bit. But, if the company truly has an outstanding product and meets a need extraordinarily well, I see no profound reason to shun it. As long as the provider understands they will get no sympathy for complaints about having to comply in certain ways with GPL or other FOSS licensing. You know what you were getting into, or should have.

As FOSS and Linux develops and grows, we will see more of this come and go. Perhaps we as providers AND users need to keep open eyes and open minds for what comes next.