Subject: Re: apple.cabi.net and the A2-Delphi forum-- time to share?
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From: Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>
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Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999 02:36:21 -0600
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ClayEdge writes ...
> 
> I have never felt restricted or barred from any secret information being a
> user of the Delphi Forum.
> There are no barriers other than putting money down.  Is that really that
> hard.  Nothing good is Free.  I personally don't have a paying Delphi
> Account, but I do access freely on the web side and I have been nothing but
> pleased with the support and help I have received there.
> Delphi is a business, they offer the forums free for advertising and in the
> hopes that people will sign up for content accounts.
 ....

     No doubt Delphi is happy to get paid accounts; but, you can be sure that
these are a tiny part of Delphi's revenues. Mainly, Delphi is in the
advertising business-- i.e. companies pay for those little blurbs that play
across the top of every Delphi screen.

     So, in a very real sense, you 'pay' for your Delphi account just by using
it. This is the same logic behind free distribution of professional magazines
like Electronic Products, Computer Design, etc.. The more goodies Delphi can
dream up to get you to log in, the better for Delphi. 

     Regarding the Apple II stuff archive on Delphi, of course those who manage
the archive can keep it there and, since this costs money, charge for access.
Again, though, the question is why?

     There is no question that most Apple II users are never going to pay for
access. That is a simple fact. (Most Apple II users do not access the net via
an Apple II and, so, have no interest in Delphi's chief for-pay A2 benefit--
i.e. being able to access the net via your Apple II.)  

     If the idea behind having and maintaining the archive is service to the
Apple II community, why not move the stuff to free sites? The costs of having
the archive on Delphi evaporate and all users will have access.



Rubywand