Pete deserves not only to paid but a pat on the back.  The fact that the flight community is dependent on his utility should not be held against him.  he is not blackmailing us and never intended to.  we are using him.  He regularly updates hiw utility, responds to support questions, and has produced some informative documents (read his extensice manuals and you learn a lot about the working of FS, not just his utility). I've paid for 3-4 adds on that depend on his utility and he doesn't get a dime.  Some of the add ons did not live up to their name and I don't use them anymore.  But Pete's utility exceeded my expectations and I still use it every day. Moreover, if you read carefully his web site you will see that he has been more than fair.  First he tried for a long time to survive on donations but people fail to contribute.  He didn't set out to dupe the FS community into being dependent on him and the slap a price.  Moreover,  he has made the essential components (the ones we depend on) of the program free, but charges for the luxury items.  And he gives the full version to anyone who DID contribute before.  IF paying Pete his modest price means he can afford to keep improving and supporting this utility I say it is worth it.  Imagine the chaos if multiple standards develop again and Pete walks away from worrying about it all.

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Some would call that a brilliant marketing strategy.  

And no one ever said that life was "fair"  .

Why just because something WAS free or cheap must we EXPECT it to REMAIN free or cheap?  Why just because a group is somehow "dependent" on something which they got for free in the past, do we expect that there is some sort of "inalienable right" to free access to it guaranteed in the furture?

Water is a good example of this.  We took it for granted.  Now we often find that it is getting expensive to get.  Is this fair?  Was taking it for granted fair?

If I cannot afford something....... is it "unfair" that they don't lower the price so I can?  I'd just LOVE to own a real aircraft  .  It isn't now nor likely ever will be in the picture for me.  If Microsoft decides to REALLY fix the FS program for the next release.... and then charges $250 for it.......... will it be "unfair" that some cannot now afford to buy it?

I am a professional artist.  I make things with my skills that I have been blessed with by god and have developed over the years.  I have been known to give a piece away now and then when I see fit, for whatever reasons that I might have for doing so.  That act does not somehow give one person or any group of people the right to EXPECT that I will again give them or anyone else something for free.

In fact, when I give to say a charity once or a few times, that is perfectly fine with me.  My choice.  But if I sense over time that the charity has come to just simply EXPECT that I will just once again donate my work to them...... that there is no real appreciation of the fact that I am donating it .... that my generosity has become a core "given"...... then I tend to resent it.

I think that is what has happens to Pete Dowson.

And I do have to say that $25 is NOT a lot of money in this day and age.  Many people easily spend that much on fancy coffee alone from places like Starbucks in a week.  Now if you happen to live somewhere outside the USA where the impact of the exchange rate is significant.... then I certainly understand that such an amount can get "pricey".  I sell some of my pots internationally... and see the impacts of that.  But the sim itself would then be expensive too.  These products are "based" out of the "western economy"...... and are priced accordingly. 

For some reason, there seems to be a very large "aversion" to paying for any add ons for Flight Simulator within the flight sim community.  "Payware" seems to be a four letter word.  But interestingly we all gladly paid (hopefully no one here is using pirated copies) the richest company in the world for the original program without too much of a real problem.  If anyone should be giving away some flight sim addons.... it would be Microsoft themselves .  I think some of this "payware aversion" also impacts the reaction to Pete Dowson's move with FSUIPC.


best,

...................john

JBaymore, I agree with you.

Something like this starts out as a hobby, a wish to influence the flightsim as you see fit, so a program is growing. Now, other people are interested. You give them support, updating the program as people hope you will, which is time consuming. Doing well, your product now starts setting the standard. More time and support is expected, so you support people even further, upgrading your program. Suddenly, companies start releasing products, using your proggy, and making money, basically the quality of their product is possible because of the quality of yours. Then, is it strange to go commercial yourself?

Don't forget: FS2004 is a new product, so the new FSUIPC is commercial, so what? Freeware FSUIPC still works with all addon products in FS2002 FOR FREE. Didn't people bitch the same way, when windows went 32 bit, where it once was 16 bit, leaving most software unusable? Sometimes PROGRESS takes its toll, you can't expect a product to grow more advanced over a couple of years, without the people doing the real math reaping the fruits of their own intelligence, while all others have done so before themselves.

And to all those who speak for the 'community': I get funny faces when this argument is used, whereas in the mean time the community shows it's respect for past service rendered by bombarding the creator of such fine software with hatemail, showing the biggest respect for their OWN wellbeing all the more. Not everyone ofcourse, but many for sure.

Anyway, who cares about how I see the world anyway?

Well, I applaud Pete for disigning and giving us FSUIPC for free for so long. But I also think it should have been payware from the beginning if he was planning on making a living doind it. There are many a story of inventions and discoveries that have not earned a penny for the person discovering or inventing it. History just chalks it up to bad luck or being naive. Even Sutter,the guy that first discovered gold in California, died a penniless man.
   I agree with Andrew when he said Pete should charge the payware developers and give the code to the freeware developers. But how would he keep someone from giving the code to a payware developer? I guess there is no good answer. I am very pleased to see that Micheal with fdsconnection has made it simple for developers to make there product able to use either or both. Now its up to us to get the word out about fdsconnection and get the developers to check into using it. I know I wouldnt like someone having to pay to get something I made for freeware work. I respect Pete's work and contribution to the community, but I also think it has a chance of blowing up in his face if this freeware version gets rolling. You know, we should all be flying our sims instead of typing in here, lol, I hate typing.

respectfully,
Slim

Hi All,

I think this has been a fscinating thread that has almost become a morning column for me.  It is also to see so many opinions presented in a LONG thread as this professionally and with no mess.  At least not that I'm aware of..

Anyway, I think one or the other will eventually become essential for us.  Remember I was the one trying to go as far as I could w/out either.  Not happenin.   That all ended this am when I went to AVSIM and saw the "Time Fix" utility for download.  LORD!!  Don't tell me that FS2K4 has this awefull problem as well!!!!  No way..  Has anyone experienced the 2k2 type time problems when flying long haul flights?
OH MAN!  I remember my PIREPS always being wrong. dang!!

Well, if so, then everyone needs this utility (or do the time on the calculator/watch...rediculous in a software pack) and this download clearly states: FSUIPC!  And, I bet the developer is not talking about the freeware version 3.0 0r above.  

It then becomes confusing as to what will be compatible with what.  FSD or FSUIPC?  I am also happy that someone else has tried tomake a compatable freeware version and applaud FSD!!  But, we will all certainly face the decision as to whether we "Have" to buy the FSUIPC.  I think as new releases come out, we will all see that whether we like it or not, we're gonna have to buy the FSUIPC.    

I wish I could afford to buy a license for the FS community.  If I was rich, I would!

Best,
Britton

DC10fser,

I know that FreeFD (supplier of freeware "glass cockpit" type stand alone gauge programs) just announced on it's website that their program now will work with EITHER interface into FS2004.

THAT is the way that I would hope that ALL developers will go....... dual interface compatibility.  That way there won't become the issue of a  program only working with one OR the other...... and making the situation kinda' fragmented.  Yhis is assuming of course that both of the programs offer the exact SAME features....... which makes the "burden of compatibility" sit back on the developers of the interface software and makes it a pain in the butt for THEM.


best,

................john

Hi John,

Roger that!  Let's hope so.  Funny thing is I had no idea until I started reading this thread that FSUIPC ran so deep.  The more the merrier..

Best Regards,
Britton

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