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In the new economy, 'free becomes inevitable'

JENNIFER WELLS

From Monday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 1:53 PM EDT 20/05/08

Free is what you're going to get, says Chris Anderson in conversation with Jennifer Wells ...Read the full article

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  1. aniphylactic shock troops from Canada writes: Then why am I paying $25 a month to host my website and $40 a month to access the internet?
    Free, my @zz.
  2. Alan Burke from climatechange.dynalias.com in Ottawa, Canada writes: TANSTAAFL
  3. Trilly B from Canada writes: "...the bandwidth, the storage, the processing - are all super cheap..."

    Uh, no. There will always be a cost, even if the thing being sold is not a tangible entity, as is the case with cell phone minutes or web storage. Websites are not stored in the earth's atmosphere; they are hosted on servers. Servers occupy space. Space and hardware cost money.

    Money (or some sort of currency) has and always will change hands. Otherwise Mr. Anderson wouldn't need ads for the online edition of his book, and wouldn't be charging $24.95 for the hard copy.
  4. RD Lone from Vancouver, Canada writes: This is funny. Reminds me why I don't read Wired anymore - their editors are out to lunch. While I agree that there are services that are "free" to the consumer - the argument that "nobody" pays is flawed. Essentially the main idea is that if the government or non-profit pays for it, then "nobody" pays for it - well no, taxpayers or society pays for it. United Way (and pretty much every other non-profit, such as Wikipedia) is "free" - no advertising, but somebody pays. There are always nice people out there who will give up their time or money for nothing, but it doesn't mean there isn't a cost. The author's argument is as ridiculous as saying well, if United Way exists, it's only logical that eventually everything should be free. I'll believe that when I get a free car or a free TV. Businesses don't exist to lose money - if the endeavor is linked with something that people enjoy to begin with, such as sharing their knowledge/showing their expertise by updating Wikipedia or a blog, ok. But if it is any serious kind of project where "work" is required, it doesn't exist. Where are all the "free" web-hosting companies and "free" email services with no advertising involved? (other than the couple super small ones that are trying to lure users before introducing pricing).
  5. Randal Oulton from Canada writes: Hey, good luck on getting Revenue Canada to accept "free" as payments, eh?
  6. m y from Canada writes: "I think a surprising number of things will be free in a version." as stated by Mr. Anderson.

    One must read carefully through the words spoken by an individual. Yes, some perhaps many things might be free; unfortunately, the version that is "free" is the crappy one and the cost will be your time to replace that item. In the end, nothing is free since time is not free it is very expensive since it is irreplaceable.

    I like Wired and Mr. Anderson but many times take them with a grain of salt.
  7. Ted Summerfield from Nanaimo, Canada writes: Free is not inevitable for everything, whether digital on non-digital. Free may be used to expand audience base, as some musicians are doing, but with the expectation of future sales. Giving music away for free online is merely an extension of bands giving away free CD's, or free 45's for those who remember them.

    There can also be a psychological cost of something, like Internet users being drowned in ads and the inevitable negative repercussions.

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