If a store opened across the street from Target, same relative inventory, same service, only difference everything was free, would Target survive?
Unlikely.
Yet in software
“Payware” = “Freeware” (open source)
————————————–
Windows = Linux
Oracle = MySQL
MS Office = OpenOffice
Ultra Edit = PSPad
the current reality is that payware and freeware compete in the marketplace head to head.
In fact, the for pay software continues to thrive in the marketplace despite free software that is in many cases just as good (some might claim better).
Why is this?
When you buy a pair of jeans at the store the total cost is paid in full at the time of the purchase. There are no additional costs involved that directly pertain to the manufacturer. Of course there is the on-going cost of maintaining...