Author: Dave Gomboc
Date: 21:51:29 05/11/99
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On May 12, 1999 at 00:36:43, Lawrence S. Tamarkin wrote: >With the large number of availble engines now availble for both Fritz & >Millenium Chess Genius, I can't help but wonder why they are so expensive. >$59.95 for Zarkov5, or Shredder3 or WChess, or $45 for Hiarcs6, (with Hiarcs7 >coming), or Junior5 (to be used in Fritz5, or the same interface). And then >there is the Chess opening books you can buy seperately. I guess only >relatively small books come with the program? Anyway, after having been >addicted to this buying this or that engine, opening book, training software or >whatever for several years now, I think it is a little too much for the maker's >of this stuff to want more than say, $15.95 per item, (about the price for a new >music CD), for any single one of these products. I mean, hell, maybe they really >do have enough of an extensive customer base (World Wide?), to still be making a >profit on this stuff, but I wonder, how many of us software addicts! are there, >really? > >We've seen the average cost of a new playing program come down from around $150 >per program, (In 1992, I think), to around $50 currently. Can it be much longer >before supply and demand requires these prices to be much less that that, even >for the manufactuers to continue their product line. I don't suggest this out >of resentment, but more out of the realization that my desire to keep buying >these products will continue, even though I certainly don't use all of the >programs I have, or need all of the programs I want. And I do want to keep >buying to support companies like Rebel, but am always mindfull of my limited >funds - Opinions? > > >mrslug - the inkompetent chess software addict! I don't think the customer base is large enough to expect $15 product. I am satisfied that chess software has managed to come down in price to the point where it compares reasonably with mainstream programs. Perhaps we'll see half-price upgrade deals or something. :/ Dave
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