From: Alan Friedman <alan@greatarrow.com>
Date: August 8, 2012 12:12:56 PM MDT
To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Astro IIDC announcement
Hi everyone,
On Aug 7, 2012, at 11:52 AM, Milton Aupperle wrote:
I am officially putting the potential shutdown on the Astro IIDC web
site today. The "100 new user line in the sand" is drawn, so on
September 15th if it isn't met Astro IIDC is done.
Milton Aupperle
I've followed Milton's announcement and everyone's comments during a recent trip out of town. I share your thoughtfully expressed empathy and disappointment with the announced demise of Astro IIDC.
I have a few comments and thoughts to share. First, I am uncertain as to whether Milton has any interest in continuing Astro IIDC at this point in time. As a business owner since the late 1970s, I can understand the frustration and exhaustion experienced during the past several years. It is all around us.
I think the announcement on the website should be highly effective in quashing any new orders for the product between now and the deadline. The proposals by long time users for additional funding to keep the project alive are very generous. But are we talking about a line in the sand total of $10,000 which will serve to forestall the demise only until the beginning of 2013?
If I understand John's idea of a "golden key" correctly, that seems to me a very good suggestion for a closure to the development side of the software while allowing users to have a version worthy of additional investment… one that can be used with different cameras and computers for some time into the future. As a new license option, this would have real potential to bring in funds from both new and old users. I have versions of software that still run well a decade or more after the last release.
Software development and sales is not my area of business… but that never stopped me from offering observations and suggestions. 8^) While the user community for Astro IIDC has apparently stagnated and perhaps dwindled in recent years, the market for streaming cameras in astronomy and especially in solar imaging appears to be robust. What is missing from the myriad of wonderful features in Astro IIDC is effective marketing. The website and documentation do not offer a compelling case for the potential of this software. In my opinion it would take attention to this side of the business to realize any meaningful growth in sales. Further discussion of this would require input from Milton's as whether this coincides with his business and personal goals at this point in time.
It's funny, but with all the challenges of work and money and trying to get enough of it to send a couple of kids to college in my old age… it's the wonderful and completely unreimbursed astronomy side of my life that keeps it all afloat.
very best wishes,
Alan
Alan Friedman