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Pre-release and expired subscription

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    #46
    Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

    Originally posted by iRadiate View Post
    Adobe has started doing this with their products ie) Photoshop, now you can only subscribe and if you stop the subscription, the software quits!
    Also I would like to inform that although Photoshop is the MUST in for example game development the price of Photoshop subscription is about 300 per year. And in practice Alphas is 2500.

    Comment


      #47
      Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

      Originally posted by kkfin View Post
      Photoshop is for artist developers. Images and pictures or animations made with Photoshop will not disappear anywhere if your subscription of Photoshop ends. So totally different story than with Alpha
      The model is the same! If you don't renew the software, you can't continue to use it. I can generate many reports with Alpha and keep them as well. I can keep my SQL database that I create with Alpha.
      Last edited by iRadiate; 08-31-2016, 07:01 PM.
      Alpha Anywhere v12.4.6.5.2 Build 8867-5691 IIS v10.0 on Windows Server 2019 Std in Hyper-V

      Comment


        #48
        Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

        Originally posted by kkfin View Post
        Also I would like to inform that although Photoshop is the MUST in for example game development the price of Photoshop subscription is about 300 per year. And in practice Alphas is 2500.
        That was just an example. If you were a professional illustrator you would have far more than just Adobe tools and I guarantee you would be running equivalent costs. The price wasn't actually my point at all!
        Last edited by iRadiate; 08-31-2016, 07:03 PM.
        Alpha Anywhere v12.4.6.5.2 Build 8867-5691 IIS v10.0 on Windows Server 2019 Std in Hyper-V

        Comment


          #49
          Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

          "If you were a professional illustrator you would have far more Adobe tools that just Photoshop and I guarantee you would be running equivalent costs."

          Not a true statement. All you might need beyond Photoshop would be Illustrator (Raster versus Vector). Both total $600 a year. I use Photoshop as much as I do AA. Both get significant development each year for that price.

          Or, Gimp is free and can work well for that price.

          Additionally, if I sell my creations in Photoshop, perhaps a logo, my customer does not (Or would refuse to) pay me month after month.

          I'm not tying to inflame your temper, or anything, but if I didn't call myself a developer, I'd call myself a graphics artist.

          For the record, I called a customer today, and told him the new pricing. The conversation didn't go well for AS... Try as I did.

          Again, I'm not trying to irritate... But I am confident Alpha is hitting a point where they are too expensive. (Which is funny, since I was probably the first person to tell him he was under priced some 10 years ago...)

          Comment


            #50
            Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

            While Alpha Software welcomes feedback and even constructive criticism of its products, please keep this thread on-topic. Links that recommend competitive products are not appropriate. And while comparisons to licensing models of other software products are relevant, suggestions for alternatives to Photoshop, etc. are off-topic.

            Lenny Forziati
            Vice President, Internet Products and Technical Services
            Alpha Software Corporation

            Comment


              #51
              Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

              Lenny, the post you deleted was 50/50 FOR Alpha.
              I presumed incorrectly that you would respond to the post but if you prefer Twitter, Skype, LinkedIn then that's your choice.
              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.

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                #52
                Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                @Lenny, I apologize if I crossed an unknown line, but thought any alternatives for outside products to help our alpha brothers and sister keep costs down while working with alpha would be a blessing to them.
                Dave Mason
                [email protected]
                Skype is dave.mason46

                Comment


                  #53
                  Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                  Lenny,

                  An On topic response that clears up any lingering doubts about Alpha licensing would be appropriate, don't you think?

                  It would bring the topic back to where it should be and possibly even END the discussion if the response was clear and to the point.

                  While you are at it - a proposal for how to handle subscriptions that expire on dates and/or times someone from Alpha is not available to renew a subscription (or maybe a link to a site where we could make a renewal online) would also be appropriate. I can recommend a software product that would make such an online payment quite easy.

                  Am I asking too much here?

                  Comment


                    #54
                    Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                    Originally posted by lgrupido View Post
                    Lenny,

                    An On topic response that clears up any lingering doubts about Alpha licensing would be appropriate, don't you think?

                    It would bring the topic back to where it should be and possibly even END the discussion if the response was clear and to the point.
                    Selwyn's explanation of licensing was already posted in this thread. I cannot comment further on license offerings or policies, but I can attempt to clarify his statement.

                    Alpha Five Version 11 and prior licenses are all perpetual licenses. If you own one of these licenses, you may use that software indefinitely.

                    Alpha Anywhere (V12) is subscription based and the subscriptions have had 2 different models:
                    • Initial Alpha Anywhere subscriptions included a perpetual license that allowed indefinite use of the software, up to the last official release available when the subscription expires. If the subscription expires and the software is newer than the latest official release available on the expiration date, the software will not work. This can be resolved by applying an older patch.
                    • Current Alpha Anywhere subscriptions do NOT include a perpetual license. When the subscription expires, you will be unable to use the software. This is the only type of subscription that is currently offered. Your data is yours and will not be locked or blocked in any way, but you will not be able to use Alpha Anywhere to access it.


                    The second type of subscription (without a perpetual license) is the only subscription currently being offered by Alpha Software. All new subscribers will have this type of subscription.

                    If you do not know which type of subscription you have, you can contact your sales rep directly or email sales @ alphasoftware.com. Similarly, contact sales if this explanation is still unclear, or if you are interested in some type of custom license offering.


                    Originally posted by lgrupido View Post
                    While you are at it - a proposal for how to handle subscriptions that expire on dates and/or times someone from Alpha is not available to renew a subscription (or maybe a link to a site where we could make a renewal online) would also be appropriate. I can recommend a software product that would make such an online payment quite easy.
                    Regarding the ability to renew at any time, this is something that is in process. There will be an online portal where you can view your existing subscriptions and renew them directly. Taking the online payment is the easy part, what is missing is the integration with the licensing system to allow the payment to immediately extend a subscription. Unfortunately there is no firm ETA for the roll-out of this.

                    Lenny Forziati
                    Vice President, Internet Products and Technical Services
                    Alpha Software Corporation

                    Comment


                      #55
                      Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                      Lenny,

                      Thank you.

                      I do have other questions, but they pertain more to my subscription than to subscriptions in general, so I will do as you suggest and contact my sales rep.

                      Larry

                      Comment


                        #56
                        Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                        Lenny,

                        Thank you for the further clarification. That is very helpful!

                        Stephen
                        Alpha Anywhere v12.4.6.5.2 Build 8867-5691 IIS v10.0 on Windows Server 2019 Std in Hyper-V

                        Comment


                          #57
                          Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                          Originally posted by Lenny Forziati View Post
                          Regarding the ability to renew at any time, this is something that is in process. There will be an online portal where you can view your existing subscriptions and renew them directly. Taking the online payment is the easy part, what is missing is the integration with the licensing system to allow the payment to immediately extend a subscription. Unfortunately there is no firm ETA for the roll-out of this.
                          You are kind of playing with fire here. You really should create the ability to renew a subscription quickly and easily BEFORE you start to turn them off automatically. One of these days a really big customer is going to get turned off automatically. Imagine, for instance, Amazon shutting down because of a licensing issue. Who's side would the media be on when that hits the news? Is it really worth the potentially bad publicity?

                          Note: I make my living off this product - I ask because I care and because such a scandal would potentially affect my ability to sell your product. When my customer asks "What happens if there is a licensing problem", I'd like to have a better response than I don't have any idea ....

                          Comment


                            #58
                            Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                            ****
                            Last edited by bea2701; 09-02-2016, 01:47 AM.

                            Comment


                              #59
                              Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                              FWIW, here is a good article on different licensing models: https://talentedlearning.com/3-license-models-of-lms/
                              Steve Wood
                              See my profile on IADN

                              Comment


                                #60
                                Re: Pre-release and expired subscription

                                When my customer asks "What happens if there is a licensing problem"
                                I think it's a pretty fair and truthful statement to say that they need not worry as it will be taken care of ASAP.
                                Of course, that's just my opinion and you can print it out and fire it into the ceiling fan or not.

                                My experience so far with Alpha Software, and partners such as Zebrahost, and on down to individual developers like Colts and Wood who sell add-ons - When things get tough - the tough get going. None of them have ever let me down in a pinch!
                                Of course in this world things can happen, as a responsible developer, I am sure you will work to resolve it. I think that's the best anybody can ask for.
                                Stuff Happens !

                                That being said I think it is SUPER important as a developer selling a product that you realize you may be selling that license in perpetuity when your pitching your idea. You have to explain WHY they will need to pay (someone) monthly for the application that you are developing for them.
                                I see that as a HARD sell personally - BUT I am developing a multi-tenant SAAS application so for me this works.
                                If I was going to build an app for a cement truck company I think convincing them it will be an ongoing monthly expense even before we get to my fees might be a tough sell. It doesn't help that the cement company guys I have met are Neanderthals, but I digress.

                                I see the subscription model as a tax write off...an expense for the cost of goods sold as it were.
                                NWCOPRO: Nuisance Wildlife Control Software My Application: http://www.nwcopro.com "Without forgetting, we would have no memory at all...now what was I saying?"

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