Newsgroups: comp.lang.smalltalk
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!nntp.club.cc.cmu.edu!hudson.lm.com!netline-fddi.jpl.nasa.gov!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ames!ictv!tmh
From: tmh@ictv.com (Todd Hoff)
Subject: Re: Price of Smalltalk
Message-ID: <1994Dec28.175424.4054@ictv.com>
Organization: /import/news/lib/organi[sz]ation
References: <3dqt96$7aj@sundog.tiac.net> <3dr01j$f74@nkosi.well.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 1994 17:54:24 GMT
Lines: 39

In article <3dr01j$f74@nkosi.well.com>,
Stephen J Parker <sparker@well.sf.ca.us> wrote:
>The point is that a good Smalltalk programmer can develop in 1-2 weeks
>what would take a C++ programmer about 2 months. And how much will you
>have to pay her during that extra 6 weeks? 
>

This is a business case argument. I and others are in the consumer
market and have consumer like budgets. We are a monster size market
and will be attacking ever more ambitious apps as hardware improves
and tools improve. Companies can catch the wave or stay on the beach.

>But do look at what you get for your money. The IBM Smalltalk team edition
>is a steal for the money - you get Envy for free.

If you can't afford it it doesn't really matter what the features are.

>features no C++ compiler matches - there is not even anything approaching
>a standard C++ class library and likely never will be.
>

But since i can afford the C++ compiler  and Visual Basic i guess i'll never 
know the wonders of what you speak. And Borland will be marketing
Delphi soon.

>Sure, a Black and Decker costs more than a screwdriver, but if you've got
>to do a lot in a little time, I know which I would choose.
>

But if i can get a brand other than Black and Decker that does the job
at a price i can afford i still don't need the screwdriver do i?

It's funny how the arguments for using Smalltalk don't seem to translate
into the prices for Smalltalk development platforms themselves. I assume
most value-add items for Smalltalk products are written in smalltalk.
Given the power of smalltalk i assume the enhancements only took a couple
of person-hours to complete :-) which should translate to a low cost
product. Since smalltalk is so easy to use i can't imagine tech support
costing that much :-) So where's the beef?
