>I don't think that zip disks are cheap enough for software manufacturers
yet. Maybe in the future, who knows. But CDROMs are so cheap to stamp
out that thay are going to be the media of choice for distribution for a long
time.>
Ken, I used to think so. I also thought that 3.5 floppies will be around for a
long time. But I have thought long and hard about this situation, and I
have talked to lots of people at work, most of whom use computers
every day. I have changed my mind based on what people said.. There
is a huge application gap between the 3.5 floppies and CDROM that
zip disks fit in perfectly, and therefore enable new ways to utilize
removable disks which weren't possible until zip disks come along.
You are correct that software vendors will not likely to step up and use
Zip disks for software distribution at current price. However, they will do
what the consumers want. And I believe that once the consumers have
a taste of the zip disks, they will not want to go back to 3.5 floppies
or CDROM discs, and demands for software distribution on zip disks
will increase. As long as consumers are willing to pay, vendors will not
care which medium the software is distributed. (Although they may not
like the initial production setup cost).
As I said before, if price is the only or biggest issue to consumers,
then 3.5 floppies and CDROM would still be king. But history of PC
hardware and market evolution has shown that price is not the key.
Price/performace is. In the PC history, low price with no performance
always spells O-B-S-O-L-E-T-E.
I, for one, have already asked my software vendors if they are planning
to offer software packages in zip disks. I have told them that if some
vendors begin to offer software I want on zip disks, I will probably
buy from that vendor since I can no longer stand the speed of
3.5 floppies or CDROM. My 1.3 Gig hard drive are always full and I need
some relief (spells "Z- I- P"). I found so many good uses for my zip disks
that I wouldn't mind collecting more and re-use instead of collecting
useless 3.5 floppies and CDROM.
As the old saying goes, "time is money", and zip disks are sure saving me
lots of time and headache. I think computer users around the world will
utimately agree with me. |
