Payware vs, Freeware.

***Roger*** · November 21st, 2011, 13:37

Interesting perspective Bob,
I too am a licensed Radio Amateur (G8VLR) although FsX takes up most of my hobby time these days. My great love was scratch building or converting ex-pmr gear to work on amateur frequencies. I remember talking (mobile via a repeater) to another amateur who was an agent for a Radio Ham store and in our conversation after I had described my home-built gear he said "home brew is fine if you can't afford the real thing." My response was that I could afford his gear if all I wanted to do was talk...but for me the pleasure was all in making my own gear...and making it work right.
However, I have a basic mobile phone, for emergencies, just phoning and texting...a £10 top up does me for a year, but this little gadget is a full duplex walkie-talkie that, via repeaters can link me to anywhere in the world. I couldn't build that in such a small space for love nor money!
To build a virtual aircraft is also way beyond me. So I rely on on our devs to feed my need, be it freeware or payware, they are all deserving of our respect!

***Mickey D*** · November 21st, 2011, 15:53

I don't see it as "freeware vs payware". All of us devs started in freeware it's where we cut our teeth. There's no room for "purists" in any hobby, it takes all sorts and without both freeware and payware devs this hobby would die very quickly. I fully intend producing payware for a long while yet. Mainly to keep Frank supplied with Pontefract Cakes.

***fsafranek*** · November 21st, 2011, 16:43

Originally Posted by Mickey D

Mainly to keep Frank supplied with Pontefract Cakes.

Appreciate that.

Now I just need to find a more reliable source.

***warchild*** · November 21st, 2011, 17:15

Actually, I got my start on the payware side of the community, working with Iris Simulations. I've since moved to a sort of middle ground where i develop for both payware and freeware.. You'll always get the best i can do with what time i have to work with, but, frankly, for the payware planes i work on, your paying for everyone else. I stopped charging a long time ago ( I hate billing and business crap ), but, considering the current condition o0f my cabinets and refrigerator, I wouldnt mind a lil income if only for a burger or two..

**Stratobat** · November 22nd, 2011, 07:40

Hey Roger,

Originally Posted by Roger

So I rely on on our devs to feed my need, be it freeware or payware, they are all deserving of our respect!

What happened to the initiative that was being run here a couple of years ago where contributors to the hobby were rewarded with a member plus status?

I always thought that was a great incentive to get people into the development game

Regards,
Stratobat

**beana51** · November 22nd, 2011, 19:46

Hanger Talk!..Shooting the breeze,BLOVIATING..the opportunity to make an ass out ones self,and to be celebrated with a coke or a beer afterwards by friends...The Old Geezers,a step ahead of Uncle Al,who seen it all,and the traditional young Hot Shots who know it all...Great Americana!...A Hanger has Big Doors to Bug out when yer butt is getting kicked...On an forum like this ,all are incognito,anonymous,faceless,cyber entities...we take liberty's.!were we all Nose to nose,face to face we Probely, we would all bust out laughing at one another...but in every crowd ,some guy will get hot...its those we have to address..for by then the subject is mute...Me at now 80yrs old,seen this, ,and its entertainment for all...However Civility counts where ever one may be......This Subject here...:???..what are we really talking about??? Some one let us know!!..All Cackling like a Turkey looking at the axe,..Which reminds me..WISHING ALL A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING...CHEERS!

**Stratobat** · November 23rd, 2011, 02:05

Hi Beana,

Many many years ago, SOH rewarded members who had contributed to the community on a development level by instituting the original Members Plus category. A number of members received it and you could generally tell them apart from other members as their usernames appeared in italics and had 'Member +' under the username... Very much like you have now, except that back then it had a specific meaning.

Regards,
Stratobat

**bazzar** · November 23rd, 2011, 04:42

Having read some of this thead, the burning question for me is :

Do vegetarians operate ham radios or something else?

***roger-wilco-66*** · November 23rd, 2011, 05:19

Payware vs freeware... I don't understand why this should present a problem. I also don't see that payware ruins our hobby at all. Contrary, it raises the bar constantly in respect of quality and innovation. I don't think that FSX would present itself the way it does today without the work of some highly innovative developer companies. Look at what's been released just in the last 12 months and what is coming up.
So it's not payware vs. freeware (unless we generate this situation), it's payware _and_ freeware, to me they are both welcomed equally.
We also should not forget that some devs are quite willing to help out freeware developers with problems or share their knowledge, and freeware designers often help to promote payware products by producing freeware skins, addons or fixing problems for them. It's a give and take we all profit from. Unless we create an atmosphere of "versus".

Cheers,
Mark

**mmann** · November 23rd, 2011, 05:40

Originally Posted by bazzar

Having read some of this thead, the burning question for me is :

Do vegetarians operate ham radios or something else?

They operate a "single cell" phone.

As far as payware vs freeware, I think it is more often a case of payware vs payware, with some hiring the top developers away from other payware outfits.

**Francois** · November 23rd, 2011, 08:36

Originally Posted by mmann

They operate a "single cell" phone.

As far as payware vs freeware, I think it is more often a case of payware vs payware, with some hiring the top developers away from other payware outfits.

Indeedy ...... :-(

**Francois** · November 23rd, 2011, 08:38

Originally Posted by roger-wilco-66

Payware vs freeware... I don't understand why this should present a problem. I also don't see that payware ruins our hobby at all. Contrary, it raises the bar constantly in respect of quality and innovation. I don't think that FSX would present itself the way it does today without the work of some highly innovative developer companies. Look at what's been released just in the last 12 months and what is coming up.
So it's not payware vs. freeware (unless we generate this situation), it's payware _and_ freeware, to me they are both welcomed equally.
We also should not forget that some devs are quite willing to help out freeware developers with problems or share their knowledge, and freeware designers often help to promote payware products by producing freeware skins, addons or fixing problems for them. It's a give and take we all profit from. Unless we create an atmosphere of "versus".

Cheers,
Mark

I think you are correct.

**greybeardgil** · November 23rd, 2011, 09:26

Well Happy Thanksgiving all...and I guess I will throw my 1 cent in here as well.Payware vs Freeware never came into my mind even before I started modeling.I bought the Payware I liked and was grateful for the freeware I could get. I believe that if we did not have any Payware developers for our wonderful hobby we would right now be flying an old and dead simulator we all loved. Its a shame many payware companies have ceased to exsist and less and less freeware is being built by new enthusiasts for either sim.Here at G.A.S. I have always insisted on building a few freeware aeroplanes as a reward for all our friends for being good,and to give back to the hobby and also to provide some new models for those who simply cannot afford to spend money on such silly things as our Hobby when money is needed for more important things in life. I hope our work will inspire others out there to seek and learn how to model aircraft or whatever for our hobby just as Bill Lyons as well as many others inspired us to learn and develope. Best to all Gil

***TeaSea*** · November 24th, 2011, 06:06

Originally Posted by greybeardgil

Payware vs Freeware never came into my mind even before I started modeling.I bought the Payware I liked and was grateful for the freeware I could get. Gil

Absolutely the way I view this issue. I suspect that sums up the whole discussion for most folks. I also note that many freeware developers focus on things that most interest them...that may or may not be viable commercially. That's pretty neat, results in more depth overall. I also like that I can see an individual stamp on projects from freeware developers reflecting their own personalities or other interests.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all the virtual dog biscuits I have from Piglet.

***Lateral-G*** · November 24th, 2011, 06:16

Originally Posted by greybeardgil

Well Happy Thanksgiving all...and I guess I will throw my 1 cent in here as well.Payware vs Freeware never came into my mind even before I started modeling.I bought the Payware I liked and was grateful for the freeware I could get. I believe that if we did not have any Payware developers for our wonderful hobby we would right now be flying an old and dead simulator we all loved. Its a shame many payware companies have ceased to exsist and less and less freeware is being built by new enthusiasts for either sim.Here at G.A.S. I have always insisted on building a few freeware aeroplanes as a reward for all our friends for being good,and to give back to the hobby and also to provide some new models for those who simply cannot afford to spend money on such silly things as our Hobby when money is needed for more important things in life. I hope our work will inspire others out there to seek and learn how to model aircraft or whatever for our hobby just as Bill Lyons as well as many others inspired us to learn and develope. Best to all Gil

+1

most cogent reply yet........