P3D Re: Free info in the web

[Brian Reynolds <reynolds@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dr. T wrote:
> 
> I am still uncomfortable with the idea of the free information in the
> web and the expectation that people do it.  I did not collect this 
> information from the web.  And no one paid for my books, subscriptions
> in stereo publications and cameras, films and mounts used in getting
> this experience.  Why do people expect that I put the information on,
> say how to repair a viewer, free in the web but if they send their
> viewer it is OK to charge them $35 for doing the work.  I can get paid
> for using a screw driver and a dremel tool but cannot get paid for
> using a computer keyboard.  Why so?  The cost of getting information
> has been reduced to zero in the web and I am not sure I like it.  
> People who live by selling information (like this guy, Ed Romney
> who writes camera repair manuals) will be without a job if this
> information ends up somewhere in the web.
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 

The thing to remember is that one of the reasons behind the creation
of the networks that lead up to the Internet was the free exchange of
information.  The World Web Web was specifically designed for this
purpose.  The original users of www put their academic papers online
and used the hypertext features to point to reference papers and other
work in the field of study.  The addition of graphics and commercial
content (many would say the dumbing down) of the web did not come
until later.

As far as the profitability of putting information on the Web (or ftp
sites, etc.) I can only comment on my experience as a consumer.  I
look for web pages that contain content besides a catalog and price
list.  Online instruction manuals are good.  Useful hints, techniques,
application notes, and a users' forum are great.  The more useful
information available from a company, the more likely I am to pay for
their goods and services.  Providing this information shows that the
company supports their customers.

There are places that have put up instructions for things I could have
done myself, but that I went and purchased instead.  There is a time
vs. money trade off.  Sometimes it is better to just pay for an item
or service that you can do yourself.

So many projects, so little time.

-- 
Brian Reynolds                  | "Humans explore the Universe with five
reynolds@xxxxxxxxx              |   senses and call the adventure science."
http://www.panix.com/~reynolds/ | - Edwin P. Hubble


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