Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!watmath!iuvax!mailrus!cornell!batcomputer!mha
From: mha@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Mark H. Anbinder)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Upgrade Policies (was Re: Comments on S.U.M. (long)) (VERY Long)
Keywords: Symantec, SUM, S.U.M.
Message-ID: <8742@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu>
Date: 30 Aug 89 16:08:30 GMT
References: <11238@burdvax.PRC.Unisys.COM> <3986@csd4.csd.uwm.edu> <925@mrsvr.UUCP>
Reply-To: mha@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu (Mark H. Anbinder)
Organization: Baka Industries, Ithaca, New York
Lines: 33

In article <925@mrsvr.UUCP> hallett@shoreland.UUCP (Jeff Hallett x4-6328) writes:
>
>Bob's comment on the SUM and DiskExpress updates, reminds me of a
>constant thorn in my side - Software Update policies.  There are
>several items that really bug me.  Yeah, I guess this is whining;
>companies are in the business to make money, unfortunately, at ALL
>costs, but I'd still be curious to see other people's opinions.
> ...

One recent example of a good upgrade policy is with Acius and their
4th Dimension software.  Acius just sent out notices to ALL of their
4D registered owners, offering them two choices for upgrading to
version 2.0.  They can either get a FREE upgrade of the software, with
an upgrade manual that describes the new features and changes, OR they
can pay $80 for a completely new set of manuals along with the software.

That means that people who want to take their chances get a free
upgrade, including the bug fixes, changes, and all the new features,
but people who want a set of the new documentation can pay a very
reasonable sum and get all of the new manuals.  When you think about
how much documentation the first version came with, this really does
look like a good deal.

Not everyone has an upgrade policy that'll make everyone happy (end
users and shareholders both have to be considered!), but it's good to
know that some companies, not just small ones, have the end users in
mind from the start.

-- 
Mark H. Anbinder        ************************** mha@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu
BAKA Industries                                 ** (cornell!)biar!memory!mha
200 Pleasant Grove Rd.  H: (607) 257-7587 ********
Ithaca, NY 14850        W: (607) 257-2070 ******* "It's not safe out here." Q