From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: *** X-Spam-Status: No, score=3.4 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_50,INVALID_DATE, MSGID_SHORT,REPLYTO_WITHOUT_TO_CC autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!uunet!ogicse!pdxgate!eecs!warren From: warren@eecs.cs.pdx.edu (Warren Harrison) Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: How Ada is failing socially Message-ID: <2920@pdxgate.UUCP> Date: 25 Jun 91 18:25:11 GMT References: Sender: news@pdxgate.UUCP Reply-To: warren@eecs.UUCP (Warren Harrison) Distribution: comp.lang.ada Organization: Portland State University, Portland, OR List-Id: In article srctran@world.std.com (Gregory Aharonian) writes: > > I just received in the mail today the Summer '91 issue of "The Connection" >a directory of software development tools and products distributed by >"Programmers Connection (North Canton, OH) 800-336-1166)". They distribute >pretty much any programming tool for PCs, Suns, Macs and Vaxes, though most of >their products are for PCs. Programmer's Connection has traditionally focused on the MS-DOS marketplace. They have only recently started listing UNIX/VMS tools, and even then, mostly from their MS-DOS tool suppliers. I don't think Ada is too popular in the MS-DOS market (anybody out there doing significant Ada development under MS-DOS?). Another reason you'll find few Ada tools (so far) in the catalog is based on pricing. The Connection (as well as most other such suppliers) insists on approximately a 50% discount off the retail price - most vendors used to doing direct sales, haven't set their prices to accomodate a 50% discount, so they are understandably reluctant to use dealers. The rule of thumb you have to use if you want this kind of distribution channel is figure out what you need out of the product to make a profit, and double it so you can quote a list price that will still make you a profit after a 50% cut (you can sell it for less, but the *list price* has to be up there - consider all the "special offers" Borland, Microsoft, etc. make - they still make a profit at that price, but at 50% of that price, which is what the distrbutors want, they go belly up in no time). As the Ada market matures (actually as the companies learn the mass market game), we can expect to see more Ada toolsets being listed in distributor catalogs. ========================================================================== Warren Harrison warren@cs.pdx.edu Center for Software Quality Research 503/725-3108 Portland State University/CMPS