Some say that LIFE is a ZERO-SUM GAME....

Good response Thomas.... :)

> But is it true that *everybody* wins, and
> there are no losers? Or in the specific area
> of technological improvement, or
> "enlarging the pie" as Dien talks
> about, is that an example of a situation
> where everybody wins?

> I believe this isn't the case. Yes,
> certainly it is possible for both suppliers
> and customers to win by utilizing more
> efficient technologies... And society
> overall would benefit by increased
> technology, but everybody?

Okay, that's a good point.... I guess I was mainly talking about a benefit to *society* (which I think is a good thing)....

> Surely not, if
> you consider competitors. I believe you
> don't even have to compete directly to be
> effected. For example, if Dien comes out
> with a new technology to make his product
> more attractive and as a result somebody
> spends $10 of their budget on his product,
> then if I am a retailer selling a different
> product, that customer now has $10 less in
> his budget to spend on other goods
> (including my products).

Yes, I think you're probably right....

There may be some rare counter-examples, which is where the technological innovation not only improves the product, but also makes more people buy it, so the "old" manufacturers don't end up losing sales either....

Maybe an example would be the "Walkman" personal tape recorder. If people in general didn't buy "Walkmans" to *replace* their usual tape recorder, but instead they bought them in ADDITION to their normal tape recorders, then it would seem like win/win/win for everyone involved.

But then you might argue that the people would spend less money on movies or something other thing (since they already spent it on a Walkman), so the providers of these other products and services could end up losing sales....

Anyhow, I thought you brought up a good issue. :) Thanks for more food for thought....

Actually, that's one good thing about this forum, it keeps my brain cells working! :)

In revision, I would say that it is good to have products which help society in general, and I believe by creating, distributing, and using technology (in the way I talked about in my earlier post) we can all participate in that....

Dien