Regarding pricing policy of "OS4.1.7"

[Karlos]

1) what cost are there ?

If there aren't any, then the registration charge, which is not insignificant, itself is unnecessary. I'm assuming there must be, because there is a registration charge, which you need to pay for each system it's installed on. Furthermore there are rules dictating how an existing license is transferred if your hardware dies. All of which implies the registration charge is necessary, or why go to that much effort to ensure users pay it?

With some smart and frugal accounting the sums collected for the initial licence can go a mighty long way

And then run out. And then what?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

1) what cost are there ?

Developers don't need to eat?  Pay rent?

[itix]

This only strengthens the argument *for* paid for updates. Once you exhaust all the new user registrations, all you have is unpaid support forever and nothing to cover costs.

Instead of selling updates you can sell more computers to existing users. Already have PowerMac, PowerBook and iBook? No problem, G5 is all you want

[Karlos]

Instead of selling updates you can sell more computers to existing users. Already have PowerMac, PowerBook and iBook? No problem, G5 is all you want

I can well imagine my wife's reaction to that ;-) But even if you were at least partially successful in that, once every user has saturated their collection as far as they can, then what?

I've no doubt that MorphOS development has reasonably low overheads (especially given the entirely electronic distribution), that the core developers all have regular work aside from working on MorphOS and that many of the developers/contributors do so as a labour of love. However, at some point, the money raised from end user registrations will die off (of course, old amiga users from many years ago might join in). Hosting / bandwidth will still have to be paid for. Replacement systems for developers will still need purchasing if/when they break down. Other, unforeseen expenses crop up all the time.

[itix]

And then?

Then what? Do you really think potential user base is drying up in near future? There are so many Amiga users who dont have MorphOS, even on this forum.

[Kronos]

Developers don't need to eat?  Pay rent?

You just hit the nail on the head, at some point these guys better realize that they do need a day job, cos their hobby isn't even paying their stay in mummys basement

[sundown]

LMAO, OS4.1 update 7 was free, figure it out guys. :-D

[Nagasakee]

I've read this thread with interest.  I've come to three conclusions:

1.  I never want to moderate any Amiga forum ever, at any time.  That job is pretty thankless.  Plus I'd be awful at it.

2.  As an X1000 owner I was disappointed that I'd have to pay more USD for the Final Update.  It was my original understanding that I'd get all of my 4.1 updates free, as well as 4.2 when it came out. I logically assumed I was done paying for OS4 until after 4.2.  I now realize I was only promised 4.2 free.  With the long delay in getting 4.2, 4.1 FE was released, and I was never promised anything about that since it didn't exist, even as a concept, when I bought the X1000.   So I'm ok...I don't feel any promise was broken,

3. I'm going to support AmiStore (did today for 6 purchases) and buy FE as well...to support the people that are making the X1000 a fun hobby.  I love the machine, and the only alternative I have is to NOT support them, to effectively abandon the developers that have made my (computing) life a lot more fun.  Hell, I'm going to buy LibreOffice too.

I'm still not sure this thread isn't FUD, but assuming it is not...I think the idea of supporting the few developers left may help keep them, or spawn new ones.  That is not a bad thing.

[slayer]

3. I'm going to support AmiStore (did today for 6 purchases) and buy FE as well...to support the people that are making the X1000 a fun hobby.  I love the machine, and the only alternative I have is to NOT support them, to effectively abandon the developers that have made my (computing) life a lot more fun.  Hell, I'm going to buy LibreOffice too.

I'm still not sure this thread isn't FUD, but assuming it is not...I think the idea of supporting the few developers left may help keep them, or spawn new ones.  That is not a bad thing.

Excellent! :hammer:

[amigadave]

Then what? Do you really think potential user base is drying up in near future? There are so many Amiga users who dont have MorphOS, even on this forum.

I agree with Karlos that the MorphOS Dev. Team may need to charge something for future updates, if/when the sales of MorphOS licenses drops too low to sustain the operating costs to keep the MorphOS website running and pay what ever other expenses they may have, BUT, looking at the ever increasing angle on the graph of MorphOS license sales, it does not look like that will be a problem any time in the near future.

I am surprised that the number of MorphOS license sales continues to increase every month.  It can't be just from existing MorphOS users buying 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th licenses for different models of supported hardware, so we must be gaining more new MorphOS users each month (in spite of the fact that there is almost zero promotion and advertizing coming from the MorphOS Dev. Team itself).

So, although I expect the number of new MorphOS license sales to eventually slow, due to saturation, as Karlos pointed out, it does not appear to be a problem for the foreseeable future.

I have no idea how many new AmigaOS4.x sales were occurring prior to the decision to sell AmigaOS4.1.7FE for 30 Euros, or if the recent advancements in UAE which provide the possibility to run AmigaOS4.x for Classic via emulation had anything to do with the decision to sell this update, but my best guess is that what ever that number was, it was insufficient to provide the needed (or desired) income to pay for a push to finish the features needed to complete AmigaOS4.2.  This is all just guess work on my part though, and I have no information to confirm or refute any of my guesses (could be all just hot air).

I want progress to continue on AmigaOS4.x, so I don't mind paying for this update, even though I own an X1000, and had assumed that I would not need to pay for any updates prior to my free copy of AmigaOS4.2 being delivered (or downloaded).  Some users (obviously) feel differently, and although I don't agree with their view point, I support their right to express their opinions and view points, as long as they do so in a civil manner, don't troll the forums to create negative responses, or otherwise break any of our Posting Guideline "Cardinal Rules".  I take offense to some of the statements made, such as the assertion that X1000 owners will never receive their free copy of AmigaOS4.2, but instead of being angry, I find it laughable that anyone would presume to know what will happen in that regard in the future.

It is a shame that this thread has become as hostile as it has between a few members.  I have tried to correct some of the instances of hostility, but as a general rule, it is not wise to moderate in the same thread that a moderator is posting his personal opinions into (I learned that one the hard way on a couple of occasions).

As I have already posted previously in this thread, if any members feel that any forum post contains a violation of the Posting Guideline "Cardinal Rules", please use the "Report Post" button, instead of perpetuating more hostility via angry responses in the forum messages.  One of the other moderators will look into correcting any violations that exist.  This does not have to be an angry discussion and there is room for both sides to express their thoughts and opinions, without breaking any of the site posting rules.  

[itix]

@amigadave

So... Is the AmigaOS 4 market saturated now and Hyperion moved to charge from updates?

Like Karlos wrote:

This only strengthens the argument *for* paid for updates. Once you exhaust all the new user registrations, all you have is unpaid support forever and nothing to cover costs. That means that either the covering of costs was never an issue (in which case the registration charge itself is an unnecessary charge) or something else has to change. Which implies one of the following:

1) All major (non contribution) development ceases because costs are no longer covered.
2) Future updates become chargeable in order to cover costs.
3) You adopt a donation based strategy in order to cover costs.
4) You bite the bullet and go free and or open source because covering costs isn't actually an issue in the first place.

Karlos being an OS4 developer is giving strong hint...

[Terminills]

Where is this stated or documented ?

In the original announcement.  You should check moo they have all the links and quotes there iirc.

[Niding]

In the original announcement.  You should check moo they have all the links and quotes there iirc.

If you have the links handy I wouldnt mind a read. Moobunny sadly got tons of spam inbetween threads with content.

itix; You probarly got much more insight into these things than me, but do Hyperion have overhead cost from lisencing in addition to hireing "freelancers"/buying devtime?

If so, there might be costs that stop them dead in their tracks if they dont generate some cashflow?

X1000 customers aside; I think the discussion regarding software/OS being free or not is a "fundemental view" one. Doubt we will ever agree on that.

[wawrzon]

from where im standindg it looks like os4 needs a lot of funding by all kind if means, like hardware sales, apparently huge third party subvensions, outsorcing and selling os components separately and finally os sales themselves and paid updates. in comparison morphos is being financed only by selling licenses for use with particular hardware and aros is financed by bounties if by anything at all. i dont have any much up to date actual experience with any of these oses, but it doesnt look like there is quantitative difference between them. in this context i must ask myself why must os4 cost so much, if the others do not.

[Niding]

Good question wawrzon, BUT cost efficiency aside, Is a total of 120-140 euro too much to ask for a OS from 2008 to almost 2015?

[yssing]

Good question wawrzon, BUT cost efficiency aside, Is a total of 120-140 euro too much to ask for a OS from 2008 to almost 2015?

No, not at all.

I have bought licenses for win98, xp, vista, seven and 8. I never expected to get anything beyond 98 for free, just because that was what I initially payed for.