Studio License Renewal Cost

[Bill Marriott]

My 1-year license for Studio 2.6.1 updates ran out something like a week 
before 2.7 was first released, back in February. In all that previous year I 
don't think I received (nor was there available) a single "update" for my 
money.

Then I said -- oh, this is an interesting update, antialiased graphics, 
maybe 2.7's worth it. But I found 2.7 to be buggier than a picnic on an 
anthill  in Georgia on a summer afternoon. So, no way was I going to upgrade 
lickety-split for that. I experienced every single problem the people on the 
list were reporting -- random crashes, etc. as well as generally sluggish 
behavior overall.

I reasoned, the regular update pack is basically $16.58 a month. If I go for 
the early update pack, I save $50, which is about 3 months. But then my 
contract expires earlier and I have to pay again sooner for the next update 
pack. Better wait to see what was going to happen with 2.7, I thought.

Since Feb there has been 2.7, 2.7.1, and 2.7.2. While I have seen 
improvements in the trial versions I still have not seen the kind of 
stability I enjoyed in 2.6.1. They can't even install and uninstall 
properly.

Now I just got a letter than 2.7.3 is coming out "real soon now" and I'm 
looking forward to trying that out. Perhaps this will finally be the version 
that I want to have. Of course, the Linux support still ain't there. In the 
meantime, I'm still using 2.6.1.

I don't like the pricing plan, either, to be honest. There's no guarantee 
that they will actually *do* anything that matters to me in the year 
following the subscription. I really don't believe in paying for bug fixes. 
To me, I prefer the simple model that if you're fixing a bug, the 
maintenance release should be free. If you're adding features, then you can 
charge for it. And generally you don't go adding features till you fix the 
bugs.

What is the incentive for RunRev to fix bugs? Also, I wonder what my clients 
would say if they had to pay me annually with no promises on my part for 
doing really, anything for them. Or if I did do something, perhaps not what 
was on their "urgent" list... just whatever seemed easy or appealing to me.

The maintenance plan for 2.6.1 essentially bought me nothing at all. And if 
I had gone for the early update pack in Feb, I'd be halfway through my 
contract with a still-buggy 2.7.2. Rev's upgrade pricing plan is wonky 
because it only ensures people will wait as long as they have to before 
"upgrading." It's made total financial sense for me to stick with 2.6.1 all 
this time. Of course, if I do jump for 2.7.3, with my luck it will be more 
than a year before there is a 2.8 with the stuff I *really* want.

In the end, though, it's all moot. These guys are the only 
HyperTalk/Transcript shop in town for all intents and purposes. They can get 
away with whatever pricing they want. Rev is what it is. And until/unless 
you decide to become a C+ or REAL/Visual Basic programmer, they got you by 
the coconuts.



"dreamscapesoftware.com - List" 
<list at dreamscapesoftware.com> wrote in message 
news:200608041539.k74FdYQU006639 at valuworld.com...
> Garrett Hylltun wrote:
>> I've already expressed my dislike of the pricing structure.  But 
>> expressing it here on the mailing list does nothing but cause unwanted 
>> and unneeded dissension among everyone on the list and in the end, won't 
>> change Runtime's pricing structure anyway.
>
> Where else would be a good place to discuss this issue then?   The list is 
> a public forum for the discussion of Revolution, so it seems like a good 
> place to me, whether or not it may upset some people out there.
>
>> The pricing structure was I'm sure intended to create a constant 
>> financial source from businesses which are typically used to paying 
>> through the nose for software and repeated high priced updates and 
>> upgrades.  It wasn't really setup with the home or hobby developer in 
>> mind.
>
> You're right, and it's cutting a huge part of the market out.  Meanwhile 
> REALbasic and other less expensive programs are raking in the "home" or 
> "hobby" developers who don't want to drop down the money on Revolution.
>
>> Basically, if you don't like the price structure for Rev, ya might want 
>> to consider an less expensive alternative which might fulfill your needs 
>> and expectations.
>
> I love working with Revolution... I just want to see the license cost be a 
> little more competitive, especially for what one actually receives through 
> updates.  $199 for 3 or 4 new features, and 3 or 4 old bugs that still 
> haven't been fixed yet, is just not worth it.
>
>
> Derek Bump
> Dreamscape Software
> www.dreamscapesoftware.com
>
>
>
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