You have made some really good points here! What about Developer Tools! Doesn't it anger you 'just a taint' when you buy program or 2 for 'full price' only to find them in a 'suite' later, highly discounted? You had to buy the software because of a project that needed your immediate attention, while the discounted 'suite' showed up later. You might try getting a reseller number and buy NFR (Not For Resale) packages through someone like MERISEL (1-800-MERISEL) at a substantially reduced price. I have been able to get most everything except Back Office and Visual Suite. You have to have a tax number though. The documentation for Visual Suite was delivered on a CD-ROM. (I like books though, although more expensive, you can be 'open' to more than 'one' place at a time, instead of printing out the reference.)
The other question I would have on the upgrade, is how much is 'new' versus how much is 're-released'? The programs are now 'monstrous' and how would you know the new stuff? (I know they give you a list, but is this 'all' of it or just what 'they' think is important?)
I don't know about MS Mail as I don't use it, but I agree that it should work with the upgrade. The problem with the archives is extremely disturbing, and I can relate to the 'costs' other than software!
As for the costs of 'real' support, I agree with you on the 'creep' of prices. How about the $195 charge per incident? You better be working on something that is paying for that call! Unfortunately, without some of the charges, (I don't know what the level should be), you will have customers calling up to find out how to turn the computer on!
I guess we are just 'renting' the software until the next release!
I still like the power that I now enjoy, that I didn't have in the past!
Thoughts?
Ken |
