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Subject:RE: Merchants vs. Consumers (was More ethics...) From:"Brierley, Sean" <Sean -at- Quodata -dot- Com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 21 Aug 2001 15:56:26 -0400
Actually, you can get a replacement CD for your crushed FrameMaker one by
calling Adobe and providing a serial number. Also, property damaged in the
car wreck should be covered under comprehensive and collision auto
insurance. If the situation is that you are under-insured, well, that's a
whole nuther but off-topic discussion.
Actually, I think sales are affected by fair use requirements. For example,
I enjoy reading paper-based (traditional) books. I lend them, and carry them
with me on airplanes, on business travel, and by my bedside. I don't
photocopy or scan and distribute these. Not even text or exercise books.
I don't use e-books. The policy of installing only to limited and fixed
locations is not convenient for me. Yes, a laptop is a fixed location . . .
no laptop, no read. (Of course, you can compare not bringing the laptop to
not bringing the traditional printed material, but I offer that a laptop is
heavier, bulkier, and battery powered, thus being less convenient than
paper.) Also, I cannot lend nor receive lent material due to sharing
restrictions. Finally, I need to yearly FDISK and reinstall the OS to keep
my PC up-to-date and thus might lose the book electronically and not be able
to reinstall it . . . this is *not* a limitation of paper.
Therefore, because of all of these inconveniences, e-books do not replace
paper, are not as useful as paper, and I have not bought into the
technology. Thus, no sale.
However, if the creators of this technology permitted the technology to be
used to its full potential, then I would be interested.
My point is that I will not try to crack copyright protections, violate
copyright laws because the laws are inconvenient to me, etc. I will merely
not buy a product that does not fit my needs.
Cheers,
Sean
sean -at- quodata -dot- com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Douglas S. Bailey (AL) [SMTP:dbailey -at- commandalkon -dot- com]
> Now that brings up an intriguing dilemma. When technology creates new and
> unprecedented ramifications, do we embrace them, to the expense of
> merchants? Or do we prohibit the ramifications, to the chagrin of the
> consumer?
>
> If I buy a truck and some drunk hits me, totalling it, I have to shell out
> big bucks for a new set of wheels. On the contrary, if I buy FrameMaker
> and
> have it in the trunk when the drunk hits me, destroying the CD, should I
> have to shell out the purchase price over again, like I had to do with the
> truck? Or can I make a backup copy of the CD and keep it at home, to
> *insure* myself against just such an emergency?
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