Do I have to be a subscriber to continue getting updates

[David Montgomery]

It appears from what I have been reading that unless I agree to purchase an expensive and unwated subscription that I will no longer be able to get updated software. Is this correct?

[Ray in Capetown]

Re: Do I have to be a subscriber to continue getting updates

I don't read it that way. I think subscription applies to getting videos and optional add-ons included.
Check with sales if you are unsure.

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Do I have to be a subscriber to continue getting updates

It appears from what I have been reading that unless I agree to purchase an expensive and unwated subscription that I will no longer be able to get updated software. Is this correct?

This is from the August 22nd email promo (others were worded similarly):

So, from now until Tuesday, August 28th, we are giving you one final chance to become an Alpha Five subscriber
...
It's also important to note that once the summer is over the only way that you'll be able to receive the latest software from us is by becoming an Alpha Five subscriber.

[Ray in Capetown]

Re: Do I have to be a subscriber to continue getting updates

It IS unclear what software.
Can they deny later releases/updates for bug-fixes for a version already bought?
That kind of makes v11 end of line.

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Do I have to be a subscriber to continue getting updates

It IS unclear what software.
Can they deny later releases/updates for bug-fixes for a version already bought?
That kind of makes v11 end of line.

That's a good question, Ray. I don't know the answer. It's almost as if they are moving away from a version based product to a subscription based model. Although the latter is clear enough, I'm not sure about the former? If it is subscription based that suggests that any updates will require a subscription - unless they separate old bugs from new features, which I kind of doubt given the way Alpha has been providing updates.

[Mike Wilson]

Re: Do I have to be a subscriber to continue getting updates

Maybe someone who has Selwyn's ear can have him address and clarify this question/concern.

[GGAllen]

Re: Do I have to be a subscriber to continue getting updates

If that is the case then I am very unhappy. I have a licensed copies of 10.5 and 11.0. In both cases I expect to pay for enhancements but receive bug fixes for free and I know that is the case with most software that I own, if not all.

[Ted Giles]

Re: Do I have to be a subscriber to continue getting updates

Me too Gary.
If it's subscription based for bug fixes too, that is totally out of order.
There is enough free time spent running down and reporting bugs as it is, so expecting us to pay for the priviledge of applying the fixes is a step too far.

I use a products provided by Quest and also Visual Paradigm and both are free but with enough functionality to give me what I need. I get free updates as well.
Neither does what Alpha does, as they are SQL and UML products. They are however, much more complex.

I have to predict that the subscription route will be short term, and I for one won't pay for stuff I don't need.

Lenny might pull rank on me and remove this post (he's closed me off before), but I have seen the swing to WAS and exciting as it is, there is only ONE license needed to run a WAS product.
The majority of developers have a need for the single or small networked desktop arena. If I wanted to go vanilla, I'd have gone with Microsoft.

If Alpha wants to compete with M/soft then design something that knockes the SQL and Cloud based stuff into a cocked hat! Alpha is after all a user friendly RAD system and simply hasn't got the gravitas of some of the other dev kits. Sure there are big and interesting Web based applications, but I bet there are far more little apps out there with a lot of potential. Where is the Alpha support for these apps? We get marketing hype and offers of advertising apps, but as another Forum contributor has commented, "Their marketing team is insane" and there is no backup.

As an Alpha "lifer" I'd recommend that the brothers get a different business development team on side quickly. They are disappointing a lot of loyal followers, looking unprofessional and there isn't enough cash out there at the moment to fund a subscription.

Anyway, I have my toolkit (and have learned how to overcome the issues with the help of the dedicated subscribers on the Forum), and am happy to build and deploy apps using it.

Rant over.

[aschone]

Re: Do I have to be a subscriber to continue getting updates

I find this very interesting. Currently I am not a subscriber and all of my production databases are running version 8. However I am in the process of upgrading to version 11. During this upgrade I am running into bugs, so I stop to document, test, and then report the bug to Alpha5. If Alpha Software decides to stop providing me with bug fixes, because I did not subscribe, then I fail to see any benefit of reporting bugs back to them. My time will be better spent developing a work around instead.

[Ted Giles]

Re: Do I have to be a subscriber to continue getting updates

+1

[joerobins]

Re: Do I have to be a subscriber to continue getting updates

+1

I LOVE this tag: "The outcome of a rain dance has a lot to do with the timing"

Also waiting to an answer to the OP's question...

[Richard Rabins]

Re: Do I have to be a subscriber to continue getting updates

A subscription entitles you to all feature packs, videos courses, new versions etc
you do not need to be a subscriber to get bug fixes and new builds that may include updates

I hope that clarifies the situation.

The case for being a subscriber is the following - if you are a professional developer you probably want to make sure you always have access to the most recent version of the software and the full suite of feature packs ( right now there here is the list of feature packs http://alphafivefeaturepackswithpricing.blogspot.com/ )
It is simply much more economical to get all this through a subscription than by purchasing separtely

[GGAllen]

Re: Do I have to be a subscriber to continue getting updates

Thanks Richard. Nice succinct answer.
I'm happy again (but isn't it about time for an update?)

[aschone]

Re: Do I have to be a subscriber to continue getting updates

A subscription entitles you to all feature packs, videos courses, new versions etc
you do not need to be a subscriber to get bug fixes and new builds that may include updates

I hope that clarifies the situation.

The case for being a subscriber is the following - if you are a professional developer you probably want to make sure you always have access to the most recent version of the software and the full suite of feature packs ( right now there here is the list of feature packs http://alphafivefeaturepackswithpricing.blogspot.com/ )
It is simply much more economical to get all this through a subscription than by purchasing separtely

Q) Best part of Alpha5?
A) They respond to customer concerns.