gnucash roadahead

[Mark Johnson]

Robert Heller wrote:

>Software is not like typical manufactured
>goods.  Software never wears out or gets used up, so once the product
>hits a certain maturity level, there is no need to 'buy it again'. 
>  
>
Strictly speaking, this is true.  However, software does experience 
"aging", rather than mechanical wear and tear.  One example of this is 
the QB tax tables, which have to be purchased every year.  Regulations 
change and new ones are made.  Without updates, the software becomes 
useless.

A second example is the environment in which software runs.  Operating 
systems get updated, sometimes breaking older software.  Then 
updates/bug fixes are required to continue running.  Hardware changes 
can require software updates as well.

While not exactly wearing out, these changes are similar.

I agree that the business model does not favour customers.  This is a 
problem in commercial software. 

Locking up the customer's data is a rather despicable tactic.  I 
consider it a sign of poor value in the software.  Perhaps the vendor 
does not have sufficient confidence in the superiority of their product 
to believe that customers would continue to choose it without the lockup.

Mark