Jim Phillips wrote:

>This sounds like a good idea.  However, in order to sell it to my boss
>(who controls the purse/wallet strings), I need to be able to show a
>return for the money we're going to invest.  That shouldn't be too
>hard to do if the projects we want to fund are clearly defined and I can
>show how having such-and-such a functionality will directly benefit our
>company.  But what about those who don't fund a certain project?  If the
>sites who don't fund a project get the same functionality (that I paid
>to develop) and they don't have to pay for it (or pay a smaller price
>than I did), then where's my incentive to fund the development in the
>first place?  Just to be the first one on the block to have something
>won't cut it.  I guess I'll just sit back and let you who have the
>deep pockets fund this stuff, and I'll get it when the next freeware
>tape comes out or the next OS upgrade.

I'd like to suggest a modification to this scheme.

Those who want the improvement pay for it.  Divide up the total cost by the
number of contributors to come up with a "price".

Anyone that wants the improvement afterwards pays this "price" (or possible
10% or 20% more to encourage participation).  In this way there is no
advantage in waiting in the hope that you will get a freebie, and only
those who want the improvement have to pay for it.

The only drawback to this scheme would be keeping track of who gets what in
update tapes.  HP would be getting money from the followup sales as pure
profit and this might compensate them for the complications.

John D. Alleyn-Day
Alleyn-Day International
408-286-6421   408-286-6474 (Fax)
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