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Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

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    Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

    I just received the marketing email about locking in the subscription price for the Alpha Anywhere version 12 product. Two things stood out and perhaps someone can clarify for me. Given Alpha's recent record. Of responding to product roadmap question I expect the answer will have to come from a forum member.

    First is that it only mentions web and mobile apps. Is desktop development as we think of it dead in AA? Perhaps someone using the beta can confirm this one way or the other.

    The second item was the new release was only available by subscription. This was highlighted in blue text. Does this mean the so called al la carte purchase option ended with version 11? My sense is some on the forum are closer to Alpha Software than others and may know the answer.

    Any clarification will be appreciated.
    Regards,

    John W.
    www.CustomReportWriters.net

    #2
    Re: Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

    John,

    You have likely just re-ignited the firestorm from previous threads … most of which were eventually taken down … regarding Alpha’s move to a subscription-only model, after Version 11.

    I do not have any insider knowledge and I don’t think anyone else does, so noone can really say for sure. However, my take on this matter …

    POINT 1. The desktop is not going away. Period. The hoopla surrounding all things “mobile” is mainly as that is where the marketplace buzz is currently “at” … or thinks it’s at!

    POINT 2. [Again … just my opinion!] … Alpha’s announcement of subscription-only pricing is more of a trial balloon, to gauge the reception of existing customers. Many users on this forum (and that includes myself) will never go the subscription route with ANY software. We’ll stick with V11 (that actually does all that I need … and more) or just move to some other development environment when push really does come to shove, further down the road.

    Imho … A5 is not yet mainstream-enough as a development platform to sustain subscription-only pricing, while ostracizing its existing user base. Most A5 developers are not large corporations with deep pockets. They are “the little guy”, like me and many others on this forum ... and we do not intend to feed a meter, every month.

    AGAIN: just my opinions!

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

      Paul thanks for the response, I really don't want to restart a fire. It is just that v12 must be nearing release so I was curious if anyone had the inside scoop. There must be a beta tester or two that knows the answer to the desktop question.

      If not, then for the sake of sanity people shouldn't view this as an opportunity to vent on Alpha that is not what this is about. As far as I am concerned the moderators can delete this thread anytime they deem appropriate.
      Regards,

      John W.
      www.CustomReportWriters.net

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

        John,

        It does not take a beta tester to answer the desktop question. AS have already stated their continued support for the desktop environment. AA (Version 12!) merely adds the development and runtime functionality to the (V11) platform for mobile devices.

        Btw ... people WILL vent on this platform. That is what makes it so valuable. Also, the moderators will indeed delete this thread if it gets out-of-hand!

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

          .
          Hi,
          I wish I were a "little guy", but I'm just a "very little guy". I'd gladly support the subscription model if it were in the 30USD / 25EUR per month range.



          Regards,
          Felix
          .

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

            Hi All,

            Before I moved to Alpha Five I worked with dot net and Visual FoxPro. For the Dot Net I had to spend thousands of dollars every year just for commercial framework and other dot net products as well. Just see how much Iron Speed cost.

            Regards,

            Doron
            The Farber Consulting Group, Inc.

            Web site: http://www.dFarber.com
            Blog: http://www.dfarber.com/computer-consulting-blog.aspx
            Alpha Five Developer
            Convert MS Access to Web
            Remote DBA

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

              Doron - thanks for the comments about the cost issue, but that really was not the information I was seeking.

              Again the questions, can anyone who is testing AA clarify whether or not Alpha Anywhere support what I consider traditional desktop development? The promo only mentioned web and mobile which is why I ask. Also does anyone know if it will truly be available by subscription only as indicated.
              Regards,

              John W.
              www.CustomReportWriters.net

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

                John,

                With respect, no one here can answer your question regarding AA/A12 and subscription-only. That information would have to come from AS.

                If anyone here IS actually privy to Alpha's future pricing intentions, I am sure he/she is bound by some kind of confidentiality agreement. Similar restrictions would probably also apply to Beta testers re: AA's exact feature set/functionality.

                Paul

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

                  Paul

                  I am sure you are right, but it never hurts to ask. With all the signs that AA is coming soon I perhaps foolishly was hoping someone from Alpha would give us a sneak peek...
                  I guess that is what happens when someone like me resides in Lala Land. In Lala we all wear 'rose' colored glasses to make things look better. :)
                  Regards,

                  John W.
                  www.CustomReportWriters.net

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

                    John, Project Tracker - all DT as you know - works fine in AA.
                    There is no Alpha Installer offered though.
                    PM me with anything you want tried out.
                    See our Hybrid Option here;
                    https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


                    Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
                    You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

                      Ted - Thanks for letting me know that the desktop is in fact alive and well in V12. Now we will have to see if subscription is the only way to purchase a license. I for one am keeping my fingers crossed for the ala Carte option.
                      Regards,

                      John W.
                      www.CustomReportWriters.net

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

                        I hope the subscription is not the only way John.
                        I suspect that Alpha might have a "mid life kicker" as IBM used to call it when V12 (AA) is about to be superseeded.
                        The V11 version worked well for you and I, so I doubt that Richard will have forgotten the reasons he did it.
                        See our Hybrid Option here;
                        https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


                        Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
                        You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

                          Originally posted by jkwrpc View Post
                          if subscription is the only way to purchase a license.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

                            Ken

                            Now that is funny, sucked me in for the whole 2 plus minutes. I laughed and giggled the whole time.

                            Good one and it made my day. Thanks
                            Regards,

                            John W.
                            www.CustomReportWriters.net

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Can anyone clarify the recent Alpha mailing

                              No sense beating a dead horse here, but it's quite obvious that most of the a5 users on this forum don't maintain subscriptions. Consequently, if v.12 is only available as a subscription, Alpha is going to either have to offer "tiers" where the basic plan is well under $500 annually, or they will cease to exist. It's as simple as that!
                              This assessment is even more apparent as some competitors have/are presently moving to a "give away" model, where you don't to pay a single dime to develop. (You pay only when you "commercialize" your work, and/or for SUPPORT.)

                              I for one do in fact have an active "charter subscription" (which I should have let expire last time around.) No point in going into details as to why, other than I had suspected/hoped that "collective support" for the Alpha brand would eventually produce a better & more refined desktop product. (As opposed to being used almost exclusively for web/tablet/"smart-phone" R&D.)

                              PS: I've never even installed (or even registered) a single 10.5 or v.11 feature pack, and I'm still using the v.10.5 web server for my current active project. ~ In my instance, the subscription was initially justified for reasons of both training material access & BUG support. ~ I've been with Alpha long enough (since it was shipped on 3.5 floppies) that I know how important that aspect can be. (bug support)
                              Robert T. ~ "I enjoy manipulating data... just not my data."
                              It's all about the "framework." (I suppose an "a5-induced" hard drive crash is now in order?)
                              RELOADED: My current posting activity here merely represents a "Momentary Lapse Of Reason."

                              Comment

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