>>>Can anyone verify what I've just been told: It will cost an end user about $300 just to be able to run CR reports. No report editor included, if they want that capability, it's about $500? I'm having trouble swallowing these figures, is Uncle Sam being taken to the cleaners? :)
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>>end user doesn't need to buy CR -- distributing reports is free (w/ their activeX controls. don't know how well they work). $300 about right for new purchases (not upgrades) though. subscription (1 year 'free' upgrades) would be around $500 and end-user would have to buy if they wanted to change reports or build their own
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>Ah, I think I see the problem now - we will run some CR reports from vfp which will be cost free if using activex. But we will also have centralized reports accessing multiple data sources (vfp, sybase, access), and to do that each user needs a full installation to run them from CI Desktop. Does that make sense?
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>The subscription adds another $100 to above costs, according to Seagate...do you know if it's worthwhile, or is it like an "extended service warranty" on appliances, which are a bad investment (statistically speaking)?

depends on how often you want to upgrade. they release 'new improved' versions at least once/year. if you need the changes, fine. if you expect that the current one will meet your need for 2 - 3 years, probably not worth it. (down the road you can purchase competitive upgrades for about half the original price)