For many technologists, $39 is a very small amount of money relative to many things they could compare it to. (For example, the implicit cost of learning the new JavaScript hotness.) The audience of professional developers who can spend $39 is quite large. For example, if you're ever at a developer event, look for the folks with the hardware with the fruit on it; they're universally capable of paying $39. The fruit company does not appear to be hurting for market share.
Re:The Pricing Trilogy
by solutionyogi on Wednesday May 22, 2013 @12:28AM
(#5748884)
Boy, that fruit reference really threw me off but now I am laughing my ass off. If you were not in to software, you could have definitely made a career in stand ups.
That said, I think that "reasonable" prices are probably those that offer lucrative revenue while still permitting a large portion of prospective users to buy the book. This is where the $39 model ceases to be optimal. Although it might increase revenues, it will ultimately preclude many purchases, and limit the ability of the book to proliferate. This is because most people, despite their interest in the book, simply cannot afford such an inordinate expenditure. This is certainly what occurred with me. Despite the fact that I was quite excited about the book and am optimistic about Meteor as a framework, there is simply no way I can front the money for such an expensive product.
I suppose that if revenues are the only thing that one desires, this is probably the preferable model (and there is certainly nothing unethical about it), but more accessible pricing is better if you want to reach a large audience.