On 12:11 AM 1/11/2001 +1100, Darren Moore said: >All, > >You may what to have a look at the Protel site, they >(Altium) have a new support plan... > >Darren
I read this as the coming end of the free service packs. I can't see anything in the ATS package that is not offered now for free, except the automatic receipt of a new version (as opposed to the service packs). We get service packs, we get add-ons, we get access to the libraries, yep, the tutorials are there, so too the KB, and even the tech support phones and emails are answered (sometime a bit slowly though). So what do we really get that is new with this nigh on $4000 (pacific peso's) annual cost. So Altium is falling into line with all the other subscription/maintenance type systems - a great method of ensuring that a company does not need to perform. If Protel 2001, or whatever, is no good we won't pay for it. So Altium have an incentive to do a good job. If we are on maintenance, where is their incentive to convince us to part with our money? Here is a quote from some of the bumpf: "Recently released examples include a shape-based autorouter, professional integrated CAM tools, and import/export translation packs for Altium's PCB design packages." Has anyone seen the "recently released" autorouter? The only one I know is the one that has been in P99SE since day dot. It this saying something? I am certainly keen to know more about the devilish details, but I would like to be convinced that we are not being asked to pay for something that until now has been free, with the understanding that we pay for new versions. It may be that the old system was unsustainable - but this does not seem to be bourne about by the 2001 financial report as after tax profit was up by 58% over last year, but I did not read the financial report far enough to find out if this is broken down by product line. I for one need convincing that this is not simply another company (referring to MS) dressing up subscription software as a benefit to the customer when there is a good argument that it is anything but. Ian Wilson * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To post a message: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * To leave this list visit: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/leave.html * * Contact the list manager: * mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * Forum Guidelines Rules: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/forumrules.html * * Browse or Search previous postings: * http://www.mail-archive.com/proteledaforum@techservinc.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *