Vector Magic: So You’re Hooked? Good. Now It’s Gonna Cost You.

April 16, 2008

I talked about the super-cool online raster-to-vector image converter tool back in January, bragging about the amazing capabilities of this online tool and raving about my favorite feature of all: it was free.

Yes, I said was free.

Alas, capitalism wins again. It is no longer Vector Magic by Stanford. It is now Vector Magic, Inc. And no longer are your online image conversions free. They now cost tokens. And tokens cost money.

Your formerly-free vector conversion will now cost you close to 3 bucks.

Now, I’m all for free enterprise. And I’m all for profiting from one’s own sweat - be it mental or physical. But there’s something about charging for something that was once free that sticks in the craw.

And honestly, $3 seems a bit steep.

For me, working for a Federal agency, getting something like this funded by the government - even at $3 a pop - takes an act of Congress. Seriously. Your government really sweats the small stuff. It’s the big ticket items they aren’t so worried about.

So a for-pay Vector Magic means no more Vector Magic for me.

It was fun while it lasted. Good luck with the whole business thing, guys.

Bah.

Posted in eLearning Development Tools