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Comparison

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    #1

    Comparison

    Does anyone have any familiarity with Visual FoxPro as compared to Alpha Five and pricing comparisons.
    Tags: None
    #2
    RE: Comparison

    I have no great comparison charts but I will make this statement. VFoxPro is pretty good....but V5 blows it away!

    Comment

      #3
      RE: Comparison

      Mark, I just went to the MS Web page (I didn't realize that Microsoft had eaten up FoxPro)
      the Full package version 7 is $549.
      Upgrade from Ver 5.0 or 6.0 to 7.0 is $297
      -Barry

      Comment

        #4
        RE: Comparison

        Barry:

        The approx. $550 price for a single full license for VFP INCLUDES a royalty free runtime engine, something that people in the RT thread might want to take notice of.

        I don't think you can compare A5V5 and VFP directly. Certainly A5 is far easier to get up and running. It sits nicely in certain environments and pretty much beats the socks off Access and Filemaker.

        Having said that, the notion that any version of V5 in the foreseeable future will have the sort of overall power, depth and extensibility that VFP already has is, frankly, ludicrous. VFP is positioned as an RDBMS for the enterprise and is not positioned by Microsoft as a competitor to Access.

        If comparisons of A5V5 must be made, I think that they must be made to Access and Filemaker. To my mind, the most important element of comparison is not features so much as it is the resources behind the competing products. Access is owned by Microsoft. Competitively - enough said. Filemaker is owned by Apple. They need it to have a viable cross-platform database to keep the Mac desktop part of the real world.

        By any measurement yardstick both companies dwarf Alpha and can afford to manipulate pricing to their own advantage. Alpha can only stay in this race with a superior product AND competitive pricing.

        Finian
        Finian

        Comment

          #5
          RE: Comparison

          Competitive prices that is the key.
          Have you seen the prices for V.5??
          It's crazy !!!
          I know Alpha Five is a very good product but with those prices I can buy VFP and a bunch of books on programming and in about two months anyone can start programming. Unlike Alpha Five that there are no books whatsoever( oops! I forgot those outdated books from Dr. Wayne).
          Now, don't get me wrong guys, I love Alpha Five I just don't agree with their prices!!!
          The Mexican

          Comment

            #6
            RE: Comparison

            I gotta say something here. I build applications and it takes lots of time and effort. I feel like Alpha is a much more personalized company for their customers and really put at effort in giving us what we want. They have this fabulous board here that has helped me out tremendously. The Alpha ownere are dedicated to us as we are to them. If there is a bug they do everything they can to fix it as soon as possible. They put out the product we want and not what we are stuck with. I don't like paying anymore than I have to either but I do believe the prices are fair and reasonable. I do believe their marketing could improve but I can say that about myself too. Also, marketing costs money and if they can't get a fair price for the great work they do then maybe you wouldn't have the "Alpha" option. Hopefully they will do a better job marketing. The product is first class!
            One more thing! I am not related! Just appreciative!

            Comment

              #7
              RE: Comparison

              Mario,

              You're mixing apples and oranges. True, the manuals for v4.5 were not very good. Have you down loaded a beta of v5? If so, have you checked out the Action Scripting manual? If ya can't follow that, you're in the wrong business, period!!!

              I suspect the other manuals that come with v5 will be of the same calibur. Selwyn really 'caught it' from many about the manuals. I doubt he really wants to go throuh that again. There's even "rumor" of an interactive CD. Alpha has worked hard to improve the manuals.

              So, have you seen the current prices of v5? They're not crazy or unfair. Some will complain but I doubt there is a datbase out there with the power, ease of use and flexibility of A5. I know cause I've done some checking. There is one that may be close and it's runtime is only $799. However, their message board is full of whiners and little to no help for thsoe "how do I do it" things.

              If that's the quality you want, send me an email and I'll give you the url.

              As far as VFP is concerned, perhaps A5 is not for you if you can can become a sufficient programer in 2 months. Starting to program is one thing, heck, I did it with VB6 in less than an hour. But it's a very time consuming program just to get the little things done. VFP is a bit better but not that much.

              I just don't agree with their prices!!! No one's forcing you to buy it.

              kenn
              TYVM :) kenn

              Knowing what you can achieve will not become reality until you imagine and explore.

              Comment

                #8
                RE: Comparison

                The Xdialog manual is terrific.
                Bill
                Bill Hanigsberg

                Comment

                  #9
                  RE: Comparison

                  I saw you mention about whiners. I've been watching this board and have seen others and for some reason there sure is a bunch of whiners. I just laugh. I guess they think they should get software for nothing or practically nothing. I got an idea. These whiners should go buy one of these shareware programs and quit there. Of course they won't have the dynamics of a program like this. I'm in business. If I can't make a living then I better quit. These guys went quite a while with not much income and look what they come up with. Alpha 5 is great. Again I must say, this board is a great tool. Where else do you get this kind of communication with the owners. I don't think you will find that with Mr. Gates. I'm not a Gates basher either. Anyway, enjoy the product and dig a little deeper. I used to be a Q&A guy but Syamantec didn't know we existed. Well, I'm done..lol....good luck with whatever software you decide to buy!

                  Comment

                    #10
                    RE: Comparison

                    Just wanted to add a few comments to this thread.

                    As some have mentioned, we have paid a lot of attention to the documentation that will come with v5, (there is also a brand new Peter Wayne book for v5) and based on the feedback we have received thus far, people will notice the difference!

                    Secondly, we are also seriously investigating offering high quality 24 x 7 interactive chat tech support/application building assistance as soon as possible after v 5 ships.

                    Thirdly we also are planning on offering web based training for v5 as soon as possible after release as well.

                    Thanks

                    Sincerely
                    Richard Rabins
                    Alpha Software
                    Richard Rabins
                    Co Chairman
                    Alpha Software

                    Comment

                      #11
                      RE: Comparison

                      Frankly, VFP is not relevant to the pricing of A5.

                      Even if VFP were free, it would not make any impact on how we make our pricing decisions for A5.

                      The reason is that, notwithstanding the fact that VFP is probably a superb product , we believe that in the hands of our typical customers, who are not trained programmers, VFP is pretty much close to useless. I don't think anyone would deny that a casual user who picks up VFP will get very little out of it. The VFP learning curve is steep.

                      Is say the VFP is probably a superb product becuase I don't really know -- I lost the ability to understand it when they went from DOS to Windows. It is just too complicated for me.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        RE: Comparison

                        I think it would be very interesting if you did report back to us all after two months on how much progress you have made with VFP.

                        Comment

                          #13
                          RE: Comparison

                          I, for one don't understand how Alpha exists, financially speaking, altogether! With the number of copies out there, and the past pricing levels, I could never figure out how they can put out such a quality product.

                          It's interesting that all along the v5 journey, and the eventual release of v4.5, we all put in our two cents worth. We suggested this and that, and Alpha responded. Where in the world do you have a product like that? Real time suggestions and responses. Imagine!! We were all involved in the development!

                          I hope my Alpha brothers realize that it is in our interest that Alpha generate the revenues that will allow it to continue!

                          The only problem is that Alpha spoiled us with ridiculous prices in the past.

                          Comment

                            #14
                            RE: Comparison

                            Let's say you earn only $1000/month. Two months downtime learning the new product (really it will be much longer than that), is substantially more than the cost of the upgrade.
                            Peter
                            AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

                             [email protected]
                            https://www.alphabasesolutions.com

                            Comment

                              #15
                              RE: Comparison

                              Lest I be misunderstood - "learning the new prduct" meaning Visual FoxPro.
                              Peter
                              AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

                               [email protected]
                              https://www.alphabasesolutions.com

                              Comment

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