filepro CD - map project update

[Fairlight]

On Sat, Dec 24, 2005 at 11:57:49PM -0600, after drawing runes in goat's
blood, Linda Hapner cast forth these immortal, mystical words:
> I'll be looking for someone that wants to produce the CD in a GUI format
> for us.  I'd like to use filepro, but haven't checked into any licensing
> costs, etc. yet.  The CD will only be data, no graphical maps involved.

The fPGI for a CD?  Not at prices acceptable to anything less than
enterprise-level computing.  Certainly not for "syndicated" type material.
Totally cost-prohibitive.

> If anyone out there is interested in helping with developing the GUI
> interface and/or produce the CDs as part of their business, kindly reply
> to me at linda at hapner.com.  The project done previously by a competitor
> sold around 700 cd's, so we are probably anticipating selling 1,000 cds.

What -exactly- does the GUI need to be able to do?  I don't think anyone
could even hazard a guess on participating without more details, and rather
than tell 20 people the same thing, why not tell us all once? 

Interesting thing about sales estimates:  they're almost always wrong.

> I'll probably be asked to provide the same interface on our website --
> paid access of course.

Again, besides the obvious paid access restrictions/coding, what does the
web site actually have to -do- in the technical sense.

> This has big potential if done right.

I'm always wary when someone says that.  It usually means it's a good idea
in theory, but it really won't sell very well, if at all.  That's been my
experience with various projects that had "really good potential" over the
last decade.  Probably about 1 in 100 actually realise that potential--if
that many.

You mention big potential.  This leads me to ask whether this is desired on
a royalty basis, or a flat-out programming fee with additional maintenance
fees (if applicable)?  If it's royalty, forget it.  BTDT.  Not even worth
considering.  If it's not royalty-based, why would the potential even
matter?

mark->