I agree that the A-B software is egregiously over priced, and out of step with the market. Simple Answer: I pay for programming software because I have to! How would you justify giving away something that you used to sell? So why doesn't someone try it? Shareholders. If I invest time making a program using it, I've committed myself to either discarding that investment of time (and money), or buy one of their PLCs. If I got RSLogix for free, I could only use it on AB PLCs. But custonmers want it both ways - the lastest OS from MS, and software that works on it.īut you could always apply the Gilette business model ("Give away the razors - make money on the blades"). But the software development requires a bigger effort than the hardware (some of which hasn't changed in a decade).Īnd don't forget the body-blocks that Microsoft throws them - software that used to work, doesn't. I can buy one programming package and program hundreds of PLCs with it. The usual spiel from the manufacturer is that the Hardware and Software Development Groups are two independant groups, and each are expected to be a profit center. The old way was to buy a "Programming Terminal". I pay the service fee to get "free" upgrades, phone support, and bug fixes (TANSTAAFL). I buy the software because I can't program the PLC without it.
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