At 16:33 05.05.2003 -0700, Hunter Wylie wrote:
John, I can appreciate your frustration "but" when a software company lets control go on their strategic intellectual property they effectively dilute if not destroy the value of the corporation. Shareholders would have a real problem with NetApp putting their software in basically the public domain.
We are not talking Public Domain! I have bought a hardware unit, most other companies have a database of their units sold, and with what software. The thing is that NetApp does not. I'm critisising the lisencing system NetApp uses. It makes it totally impossible to learn proper NetApp without paying an arm and a leg for courses.
Some corporations license their software to home users as an additional revenue stream. This is because so many non-legal copies are out there already and LINUX based substitutes are going after the same low dollars.
But it's not NetApp... And stopping Piracy like this is also stopping popularity, and knowledge about the product.
What would happen if the software ended up running on every PC that was a wanna-be file server? I guess that would be RIP for SAK though. Can any software company effectively control it's usage and distribution once that has happened? Microsoft has a tough time and they are ~40 times larger.
So the software can run on any off the shelf PC? And comparing to microsoft.. It's still good business being Bill Gates... I'd take his place any day, nomatter how much wintendo is pirated... It's still big business..
I think Netapp needs to build or license to have built a consumer product. Then turn it over to a company capable of supporting it in an install base of millions. Put it on your Tivo box, MP3 storage, even data..... for the who house, school, etc. Would you pay $300 to $500 for a box you could slam IDE drives into?
I dont want IDE, I have a NetApp F330 filer. As far as I know it handles SCSI..
I don't blame you for being upset. An F330 is a significantly better file server than any GP computer.
The case is this:
I have a BUNCH of hardware obtained second hand either defective or in order. For all these units, I have been able to get the software the hardware was originally shipped with. This is because the software is linked to one specific piece of hardware. I asumed that the situation was similar to other purchases I have made when I bought the filer. I'd have to admit that the disappointment was MAJOR, when the box is not able to do anyting remotely useful.
I was offered a license for roughly 100 times what I paid for the hardware... Tough luck...
John