On 7/5/2014 9:46 AM, Pommier, Rex wrote:
I work for one of these small customers, and believe me, we know that software included in the base isn't free. But since it is included in the base code, we are paying for it whether or not we actually use it, and it becomes difficult to justify paying for 2 pieces of software (i.e. the "free" one and the ISV product) unless the ISV product can demonstrate enough difference in functionality so as to be cost-beneficial to be paying for the second product.
So-called "free" software is rarely, if ever, functionally competitive with priced offerings.
For example, I know from experience that demonstrating real productivity gains derived from (E)JES functional superiority over the "free" TSO/E OUTPUT command (i.e., ISPF Outlist aka 3.8) is trivially easy.
I suspect comparisons of z/XDC, TDF, etc. full-screen debuggers vs TSO/E TEST are equally compelling.
Perhaps more important than functionality to a small shop is the issue of intended user base size. It's hard to justify a product that will be utilized by only two or three users, no matter how functionally superior it is, unless the purveyors of the product offer a low, per seat pricing model - which can be somewhat uncommon for System z software.
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