rsdoran
Lifetime Supporting Member
After reading this post and the answers several times the answer seems to be self evident.
Why pay for software? Its a standard for the technology environment.
Think about it, a computer is an awesome machine BUT you need an OS and application software to do anything.
A computer is a hardware machine which needs and OS...Unix, Linux, BeOS, Windows, Dos etc. To program these OS or apps you need a Programming Language...C, C++, Pascal, Fortran, VB etc etc al.
A PLC is a machine, it must be told what to do. Therefore a Programming Language is needed...no different than a computer (which a plc is in a sense).
Overall we ( the buyers ) do what we have to. IF we own a computer we pay what is asked for the OS (yeah the Linux guys will be stating ours is free...yeah right, time and familiarity is also a determination). We pay for the applications that we need. Technically this is right (even though we may dislike the prices) to pay for what someone has spent the time to develop and market.
I have no choice, my business bought/buys machines with AB products in them therefore I MUST have the software, the same goes for Siemens, AD, GE, and others. If there is a problem I must be able to reload or modify the program.
Many of us arent really concerned about the price actually (except it excludes some of us from obtaining it for personal use). Even with all the bitchin about support, prices etc etc al we have our favorites (personal or company mandated) that we deal with on mostly daily terms and will favor them because of familiarity. Personally none are perfect (i know i aint) so any take getting use to after dealing with another brand specifically.
It boils down to we do what we must.
I gonna state this even tho it may be or seem to be inappropriate because I have a need.
I am in the market for a Scope meter...preferably Fluke 123 or 190 series or similar, 20mhz or higher. I have an abundance of new/used plc's primarily GE Fanuc 90-30 or Siemens s7-200/300, S5 to trade. Please forgive me for this blatant request but I have a need but not the funds to buy new.
Why pay for software? Its a standard for the technology environment.
Think about it, a computer is an awesome machine BUT you need an OS and application software to do anything.
A computer is a hardware machine which needs and OS...Unix, Linux, BeOS, Windows, Dos etc. To program these OS or apps you need a Programming Language...C, C++, Pascal, Fortran, VB etc etc al.
A PLC is a machine, it must be told what to do. Therefore a Programming Language is needed...no different than a computer (which a plc is in a sense).
Overall we ( the buyers ) do what we have to. IF we own a computer we pay what is asked for the OS (yeah the Linux guys will be stating ours is free...yeah right, time and familiarity is also a determination). We pay for the applications that we need. Technically this is right (even though we may dislike the prices) to pay for what someone has spent the time to develop and market.
I have no choice, my business bought/buys machines with AB products in them therefore I MUST have the software, the same goes for Siemens, AD, GE, and others. If there is a problem I must be able to reload or modify the program.
Many of us arent really concerned about the price actually (except it excludes some of us from obtaining it for personal use). Even with all the bitchin about support, prices etc etc al we have our favorites (personal or company mandated) that we deal with on mostly daily terms and will favor them because of familiarity. Personally none are perfect (i know i aint) so any take getting use to after dealing with another brand specifically.
It boils down to we do what we must.
I gonna state this even tho it may be or seem to be inappropriate because I have a need.
I am in the market for a Scope meter...preferably Fluke 123 or 190 series or similar, 20mhz or higher. I have an abundance of new/used plc's primarily GE Fanuc 90-30 or Siemens s7-200/300, S5 to trade. Please forgive me for this blatant request but I have a need but not the funds to buy new.