How many, do you believe, have a physical CD for their AntiVirus,
AntiSpyware, WinAmp or whatever software they have added on to their system?
And, if the PHYSICAL CD was the clue here, how do you expect any netbook
user would ever get their WE onto their new device - since netbooks do have
no CD drive?
For more than a year, I have had two computers here, and none
of them had WE installed from the CD, but rather from my USB disk. So,
please, tell me what the physical CD's got to do with whether or not you can
install WE on more than one system. It's already been pointed out, that all
the files on the CD is simply plain files - .exe, .ini, .dll and so forth -
that could be distributed in any other way, with no problem whatsoever, when
comes to running them.
Yes, I do agree, things like the .wma or .mp3
versions of the manual did not have to be distributed with each image. Those
who want them, could rather download them seperately. These files, make up
quite a chunk of MBs anyway, and hence would reduce the bandwidth
requirement to a certain degree, since the images would be reduced in size.
Another thing, how about letting the user download the main software - i.e
the demo version that is already available, and then the user would only
have to download the tiny bit of user specific info so as to have his
version validated. OK, another discussion, agreed, but just to put it out.
Other software manufacturers (actually by far the majority, now aday manage
to have their software fully downloadable. Then, why not GW? OK, they are
afraid of piracy. Noone will blame them for that. But so is Norton, Esset,
SuperAntiSpyware, Nextup, Nero, OpenOfffice, and who ever else. Still, how
many companies can you mention, that insists on making you start
out with a CD? Microsoft, ok, and? Besides, GW don't even really require you
to install from the CD anyway, since you easily can, and are encouraged to,
copy
the contents onto another media, and plug it into your netbook or whatever,
and run the full installation from there?
What then about those who really wants their physical, good old cd? OH, for
sure, let them have it. Noone ever told GW to stop sending out CDs. And, in
case you are on a dial-up modem, or in regions where downloading is no real
option (maybe due to instabil internet connection), the CD will still be the
safest way. What we are talking, is the option to download your fully
functional, and authorized, version when you need it; where you need it.
Many users would do it this way, and those who want to stick to the old CD
way, go ahead; noone will blame you.
I am old enough in this game, to remember the time, when you had to sit down
and order your software over the phone line, then walk down to the mail
office a week or so later, to sign for your package, then go home and run
several diskettes, so as to finally start enjoying your new software. But,
wonder how long a software company, who decided to do it this way in 2010,
would actualy be in business. I mean in the seeing world? Call on your
colleagues, classmates, or just your next-door, and ask them if they would
have stuck to such a solution. OK, if they had to - like in the case of
Microsoft. But if there ever was another choice? Pretty sure, most people
would have gone to the competitor, and got hold of a software in a few
hours.
After all this discussion recently, I have to say, I am a bit surprised it
ever came up that this would cause much of a problem. Really, the WHOLE
Window-Eyes is available for download, and has been for years. Go to GW's
homepage and download the DEMO? All it does not hold, far as I know, is the
tiny bit of user specific authorization. And that tiny bit, won't ever blow
any bandwidth, I'd expect. If they are able to handle the user authorization
for their new update, then I rest assured, it would be no problem whatsoever
for the guys at GW to handle user authorization for a fresh install. 99% of
the market is able to handle it, and GW will be as well. Bandwidth? I doubt
we would see that much of a problem either. How often do you need your fresh
installation? And how often would you actually need to download it? Download
it once, put it on whatever backup media you want, and use it as often as
needed. How much bandwidth does that take? The only times you might
experience any problem, would be just when the new version comes out, that
require a new CD. But how often is that, and still, it would be less waiting
time, than what it is today. Say for an example, that GW comes out with a
new version tomorrow. If it is a version that takes the requirement of each
user having to receive a new CD in the mail, and GW have to build images,
burn, pack and ship ten thousand CDs - only working five days (40 hours) a
week. How long will that take, as compared to do 8000 of the CD images
online, making each download in maybe five minutes - 24 hours aday, seven
days a week? At least my calculator tells a story that is pretty easy to
interpret; but then again, it might need new batteries :) Smile! :)
----- Original Message ----- From: "Loy" <[email protected]>
To: "GW-info" <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, May 14, 2010 3:06 PM
Subject: Re: window eyes image and cd
All Window Eyes upgrades can be downloaded and installed on any computer
with a previous version installed. I'm glad GWMicro does the upgrades as
they do, requiring a Cd for any new installation, because we don't have the
hassle of activation everytime we want to install Window Eyes on another
computer. I have Window Eyes on several computers which I am the only user
of the Window Eyes. Just try that with any other software! You'll be limited
to one or just a few installations.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Belle" <[email protected]>
To: "Chris G" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, May 14, 2010 8:39 AM
Subject: Re: window eyes image and cd
Dude,
These updates are generated and deleted dynamically 'grin'.
They wouldn't have to be stored on servers permanently.
If you want to know the truth, there's probably only a few bytes that
are changed in each update you download, in some mysterious dll,
and that could be slapped in to a single distribution and away we go.
It wouldn't even necessarily have to be an iso, it could be rared or
zipped up, I've just dumped my files from a we cd many times on to a
flash drive or another partition and run installs that way.
There's no special format on the cd, no extra sessions, nothing like that.
It would require more bandwidth for downloading though, that's for sure.
But we could despense with manuals, and other junk that makes the cd
big, like jaws installs do.
No I'm not patting that company on the back, I use them but I don't
like their ways,
but I'm just saying that if they can do updates all from the web, we
could do if enough of us wanted them and gw listened to us.
Again, this is not meant in an argumentative or complaining manner,
only a long time customer throwing out food for thought for better service.
It's not the worst thing in the world to do the snail-mail thing, but
much nicer to get it instantly, beam me up Scottie.
At 04:28 AM 5/14/2010, Chris G wrote:
Hi,
Sure its not a hard choice, but, what about the 600 MB of disc space an
ISA image takes up. 10 users thats 6 GB, 100 users thats now 60 GB.
On Fri, 14 May 2010 02:49:25 +0100
"MARKYMOUSE" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Well yes you should have the chose if you want cd or image
> the customer should start standing up for them self and saying what they
> want its not a hard task to put a imige up on the site if you want to
> download it for your self
>
> If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original
sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and
your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending
your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it.
>
> GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo.
You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
>
--
The home of the Mystic Place blog and podcast.
www.mysticplace.info
RSS: feeds.feedburner.com/mysticplacebp
If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original
sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your
message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your
message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it.
GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You
can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.819 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2872 - Release Date:
05/13/10 13:26:00
WARNING!!!
This email could contain innocent phrases which, if taken out of
context, or read from an existing inclination to be hostile, or an
overly politically correct world view could induce cursing, abusive
language, or other indications of less than desirable behavior in a
public venue.
No ill will is intended.
The sender takes no responsibility for mis-interpretation or
otherwise extrapolated extended meaning, intent, or purposes implied
or imagined from said phrases.
The receiver of any such email containing such phrases is solely
responsible for good
interpretation and intelligent deployment of subsequent responses to
the above communication.
If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender
only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is
related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to
[email protected] so the entire list will receive it.
GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can
manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender
only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is
related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to
[email protected] so the entire list will receive it.
GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can
manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
--
I am using the free version of SPAMfighter.
We are a community of 7 million users fighting spam.
SPAMfighter has removed 1753 of my spam emails to date.
Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len
The Professional version does not have this message
If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original
sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your
message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your
message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it.
GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You
can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.819 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2874 - Release Date:
05/14/10 13:26:00
