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On Sat, Sep 05, 2009 at 10:28:11PM +0100, Simon Waters wrote: > Henry Bremridge wrote: > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veblen_good > > > > In economics, Veblen goods are a theoretical group of commodities for > > which peoples' preference for buying them increases as a direct function > > of their price, instead of decreasing according to the law of demand. > > It is okay Henry, Open Source (and free!) software has this one covered. > > I will provide you with "Premium GNU/Linux", whilst backwardly > compatible with ordinary Debian GNU/Linux, this version is supplied and > installed on site by a well dressed consultant who arrives in a smart > sports car, and takes you out to a stylish Café for a Latte. > > This will make you look cool to your friends, colleagues, and relatives. > > Installation starts from a mere £1000 GBP plus expenses (which may > include car and suit hire, dental and hair styling expenses, if you have > to ask for a limit on the expense budget you can't afford Premium > GNU/Linux). > Yesterday at the meeting was whingeing about why public bodies do not want to save money and improve efficiency (and by improving skills and productivity help improve the GDP.) The only answer I can think of is that proprietory software is a veblen good. If "managers" are sold by people in smart suits that their software is incredibly good and very expensive; then they will not look at better free software. So the Premium GNU / Linux should be sold for at least £10,000 for the "business version" on the grounds of: - Improved virus protection - Incredibly stable with no possibility of users playing games on work computers. - Full control of update of key software - Runs latest XML software for word processing :) -- Henry Photocopies or faxes of my signature are not binding. This email has been signed with an electronic signature in accordance with subsection 7(3) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000. Digital Key Signature: GPG RSA 0xFB447AA1 Sun Sep 6 05:48:38 BST 2009
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