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Should I Sell A Web Browser?
Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 2:29 am
by Dreglor
So, Im in the process of Making a Web Browser and i wondering is there any sense in trying to sell or at least ask for donations to unlock "Special Features".
With all of the Free ones out there like firefox and mozilla that is hard to step up too and the only web browser that you can buy is opera.
but I know a guy that doesn't like firefox or mozilla (strange as it is) he be willing to pay me to make such a product.
still he's only one guy im sure theres others but there isn't a flood or anything of them
in otherwords, should I make a sellable item to a small crowd (donate or full out trial-ware) or just make it Freeware/OpenSource and join the flow?
Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 2:45 am
by Shannara
Heck, if you make a light weight web browser, I would buy it too. Already paid for Opera and it is nice. Just for the record, we're talking about a real browser or a front end to a browser? such as using the IE gadget (ATL) or whatever?
Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 2:48 am
by dracflamloc
Yea I wouldn't pay an old boot for an IE frontend...
Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 3:44 am
by Dreglor
Real Browser all http and html functions are created by me
Re: Should I Sell A Web Browser?
Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 4:26 am
by PB
> I know a guy that doesn't like firefox or mozilla (strange as it is) he be
> willing to pay me to make such a product
Any browser could be sold as long as it does things that no other browser does.
Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 8:05 am
by thefool
hmm all http & html functions by you? Well does it support JavaScript and that stuff then??
another posibillity was to sell it as a light DLL [and userlib for PB], for people to use it as light weight for own help systems etc..
Re: Should I Sell A Web Browser?
Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 10:11 am
by Max.
Dreglor wrote:in otherwords, should I make a sellable item to a small crowd (donate or full out trial-ware) or just make it Freeware/OpenSource and join the flow?
Guess, it depends. If it fills one of the gaps the "big" browsers leave, then do it.
Features that come to my mind:
- Very small (maybe single executable, for example for running from DVD/CD)
- Very fast
- Very secure
and any other feature people miss so far.
If it is just 1 guy who would buy but you don't see any chance to sell more, just give it to him for free. Selling software somewhat means selling your soul. Not worth for one guy.

Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 2:39 pm
by Dreglor
thefool wrote:hmm all http & html functions by you? Well does it support JavaScript and that stuff then??
another posibillity was to sell it as a light DLL [and userlib for PB], for people to use it as light weight for own help systems etc..
im writing the http code now it might not be right away but i think java,flash, and other things will become working (plugins most likly)
as selling it as a light dll is a good idea make a XWebGadget
it's still in the works but i can see alot of features
Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 3:00 pm
by sec
May we see a screenshoot?

Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 3:27 pm
by Dreglor
i will post screens when i get things to take screen shots of

Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 4:13 pm
by akee
have one that is easy to design web apps.
Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 2:47 am
by Dreglor
I Plan a plug-in architecture

that in it self is a security threat :\
maybe i find a way to make it not so easy to turn my program into a virus..
Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 4:03 am
by dagcrack
Well, the subject is mostly like "Im going to sell a notepad".. If you really offer what the other browsers dont, then you might charge for it, but remember, its better if you give it out for free and charge for the plugins, in that way you'll make a big community (if your browser is that good, which I doubt you can beat Firefox.. but in the case that firefox doesnt have some feature, anyone can add it in no time..).
But of course, your plugins will get cracked in no time if your browser became popular

- So I ratter tell you to make this a freeware (non open sourced) program, and build up programs later (for free or not) and get them popular in less time, because of your community.
Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 12:40 pm
by naw
- There's already a HTML DLL that PB can use to render a WWW page. Its lightweight and good for Help Systems. Whats missing is FORMs support.
It would be very cool to have a WWW Gadget that is fully accessible by PB so all the <INPUT> <BUTTON> <IMG> etc HTML FORM attributes are rendered as PB Gadgets and therefore usable by PB.
It would be another way of describing a PB User Interface.
Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 2:40 pm
by Dreglor
naw wrote:
It would be another way of describing a PB User Interface.
intresting thought.
the system to display the html will be through gadgets so it could be for windowed programs. im not sure how that will turn out for me.