>----------

>
>How about this - Those who want it pay up front. They get it
>as a patch (or somehow as soon as it is completed). Others can
>order it, at a premium if they want it soon.  It will be placed
>on the FOS or product tape ONLY at the next general release.
>
>Only those who wait will get it for "free".  Yes, those who have
>an urgent need or desire are subsidizing those with patience
>or no ugent need.  Not so bad.
>
>Nick Demos  [log in to unmask]
>My opinions are ny own and I stand behind them.
>
>Performance Software Group
>Tel. (410) 788-6777 Fax (410) 788-4476
>

This, in fact, is similar to the way our software users group (CPUG) and
software vendor (QSS) does it.  If a customer wants a mod right away, they
pay for it and get it right away.  If they can wait and can convince the
other members of CPUG of the need for the mod, then CPUG pays for it through
the use of the a "Dedicated Programmer" that works for QSS on CPUG projects.
QSS has a policy of allocating a number of "pro bono" hours to the users
group for mods that the group wants. All mods become part of the standard
system after they have been in place at a customer site for a while.  One
thing that helps is that schools are not competitors and most of them have
no problem investing dollars in a mod that somebody else will get for free.

Gary


Gary Jackson
Nevada CSOS
(916) 478-6407 - voice
(916) 478-6410 - fax