D vs Java

[james]

In article <dvpces$oti$1 at digitaldaemon.com>, Lucas Goss says...
>
>Unknown W. Brackets wrote:
>> Free Software uses a different business model - I should know, I used to 
>> be quite involved with it.  The idea is to make money from the service, 
>> not from the product.
>> 
>>> Interesing point. I think the "Free Software" model is flawed. 
>>>
>
>I somewhat agree with both points. I see the value of open source and 
>how it can work as a service, but it doesn't always seem to work this 
>way. Maybe someone can clear this up for me... or maybe I'll just muddy 
>the waters. Does it work in these cases?
>
>This one I'm not sure about, but what if I make an innovative new 
>software product and release it as open source. Some business comes 
>along and likes my product, so they have their developers (who are paid) 
>to make enhancements to my original. Then they decide to support clients 
>who use this software (as they bundle the software with their product). 
>And since this company is bigger in the market, most people that need 
>the support go to this company. How do I make money from that?
>
>Secondly... games! This is where open source doesn't fit in my opinion. 
>I make a game and release it, who will pay for support. Users will think 
>it's a bad game if it doesn't work or if it's buggy. And gamers won't 
>pay to add things (unless it's maybe like $5), and instead choose to try 
>to do Mod's.
>
>So it seems...
>Business/Education = Linux
>Home/Entertainment = Mac/Windows
>
>Hmm...

Fair points. Suppose a group of developers produced a very slick/functional
Office suite which supported WordML and the other XML Office formats under GPL.
Without the backing of Sun(OpenOffice) how would the developers get paid. The
linux distributions could include it without paying the developers. This mainly
applies to slick desktop software. Not enough people may be willing to pay for a
software support service. Personally i would be happy with a halfway house. The
developers charge a reasonable amount (eg an iLife-ish $79) and release as much
source as possible. And individual developers who like the app can submit
patches and new functionality etc. And make it free for educational use! A kind
of halfway house. For me its more about seeing the source and having confidence
in the source than software being free.