>> Jim;
>>
>> Software marketing is taking a different turn as I see some companies do
>> not provide updates, will provide updates for a limited time or you pay
>> an annual “subscription fee” for updates. From the latter business plan
>> I get the feeling I am paying to have the company correct bugs after I
>> pay for the product. This takes on an entirely different software model
>> if you will.
>>
>> 1. Ship product (the sooner the better – we have to have market
>> share- first to market and all that)
>>
>> 2. Have customer purchase a subscription to have a finite period of
>> updates.
>>
>> After questioning one company with a subscription plan, I was told, “We
>> cannot afford to pay for correcting bugs so our customers have to pay”!
>> I thought when we purchased software it would be reasonably bug free and
>> my expectation has been to receive updates as they become available.
>>
>> This does make sense though for those that create code and do not care if
>> it works or not. Put in all your resources to create the new product,
>> sell it and then have the customer fund your effort to make it work. I
>> like that! I will give you updates if you pay for their development.
>> After all, there is “no free lunch”!
>>
>>
>> Tom

That is actually a very good point. And I think it is worth pointing out already, that although we are going to see a quite substantial update, what we are about to release (as far as the base package goes) is going to be free for all registered users. Unless you want to get the fancy-shmancy box and manual, which all new customers will now get. Current customers can still get that, but we are asking for a small fee to basically cover S&H as well as materials...

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