Hmmm, Tesco plans to take on the current “high price” for software by offering its own range of software product, according to the BBC.
One can expects office productivity software, CD/DVD burning tool, security systems and photo-editing tool. This is done in partnership with FormJet PLC .
Each individual title will cost not more than GBP20. However, I am not sure whether this means you can get them individually, or only as a bundle of two or more. However, lets assume it is available individually as well for the sake of discussion.
Let’s also assume it is a repackage of FormJet’s existing offering.
Question: Is there a market? From a MS centric universe, for most PC users, where the world consist of MS office and surrounding office tools, PaintShopPro/AdobePhotoShop and Symantec or other anti-virus offering from big companies, yes. And it is huge.
Even then, how much of it is due to “misinformation”, i.e., not aware of the alternative Free Software or Open Source Software? We have OpenOffice.org, Gimp and Windows XP can burn CD/DVD without third party software, I think. Even if it is not possible, I am sure Windows Vista will. However, having said this, how many people knows about all these software? Antivirus software? Windows Defender in Vista might just put anti-virus vendor out of a job, if it can maintain the illusion of security.
Most Free and Open Source software are virtually function-compatible with leading software vendors offering. Probably the exception is Gimp which seems to be living it is own universe and requires some retraining. The only thing that is not supplied by free/open source software is anti-virus software: A must-have for Windows computer.
From a cheapo, Free and Open Source software viewpoint, the cost of twenty plus pounds is a maybe. I would not buy it for any of the offering except the anti-virus product. Let’s face it (again), if you want to buy a Windows computer, anti-virus software must be factored in as part of the cost of purchasing.
The key here, for me, seems to be the price. It is cheap enough to fork out just to try the software. And the price seems to be just around the maximum I will pay out. My psychological tipping point for software is:
- Antivirus : GBP20 per year. If you want to buy a Window computer, this is a compulsary item.
- Complete Office Software, including photoediting: GBP20 one-off payment. I am only willing to pay for a Gimp alternative that is simpler to use. It will be mainly used when full Gimp capability is not needed.
- DVD/CD buring software: GBP10 one-off payment. Just in case I need to do more than what the default DVD/CD buring software offers me. For example, in WinXP, ISO CD creation.
- Everything, as a bundle offering: GBP25.
