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Bonus TIPS for Successful Posting

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Important info to all Astrum users!

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    Important info to all Astrum users!

    Goodday,

    I received this feedback from Traex support when asking whether development is ongoing....

    "There are currently no plans to add any major new functionality to the software."


    Maybe its time that we start looking at another longterm installation solution.

    Kind regards
    George

    #2
    Re: Important info to all Astrum users!

    Maybe this just means that they see no need for any "major new functionality".

    George, do you believe there are major shortcomings with Astrum? If so, please share your concerns.

    I have used it and found it be completely suitable for my needs at the time, but certainly would not consider myself to be a power user. I know Cal Locklin has used it (and probably still does) and from memory he handles new installs, network installs and upgrades without problems.

    Do any other Astrum users see shortcomings?

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Important info to all Astrum users!

      If you are happy with Astrum as it is then I see no need to panick :)

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Important info to all Astrum users!

        There was a period in my life that I used InstallShield and Wise installamakers to make a living, maybe I am anfairly comparing Astrum to them?

        Anyway, it concerns me when a vendor "has no plans to grow". I then wonder just how long will they continue to support the product.

        Yes, now its ok, but what about 2 years from now when Windows IX come out, will they still be paying attention to us?

        Just my 10c worth, everyone has to decide for themselves. I have just started using the app and feel that is good enough for now.

        Regards
        George

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Important info to all Astrum users!

          i see no reasons to change from astrum. I send installs and updates(by disk and web) to single users, severs, and shadow installs. these can be installed to a shadow machine, directly to the server, or. depending on the client situation. Never saw a problem with astrum(me maybe). Astrum has all the functionality I currently need and if MS decides to come out with a new Windows, i bet astrum gears up to the task before launch as they did the last time.

          don't expect a software company to tell you what they are doing or what they are planning to do. most are totally closed mouthed.
          Dave Mason
          [email protected]
          Skype is dave.mason46

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Important info to all Astrum users!

            Dave (or others), do you recommend the Standard, or the Professional, version of Aiw?

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Important info to all Astrum users!

              tom,

              Mine doesn't say wht it is. I paid for it and it says version 2.25. I suppose that is the professional. not sure.

              try here; Try the trial first if you want.
              http://www.thraexsoftware.com/aiw/index.html
              Last edited by DaveM; 04-29-2008, 04:17 PM.
              Dave Mason
              [email protected]
              Skype is dave.mason46

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Important info to all Astrum users!

                Originally posted by Tom Cone Jr View Post
                Dave (or others), do you recommend the Standard, or the Professional, version of Aiw?
                In my opinion, the biggest advantage to the Pro version is that you can edit the dialogue boxes. For example, I don't like the appearance of the default ReadMe dialogue and changed it to a white background for the text and increased the text area. (Not that anyone will read it even after making it better!)

                Here are the features that are in the Pro version but not the Standard:

                Dialog editor
                Freely edit any properties of the dialogs shown during installation and add new dialogs.
                Theme support
                Change the outlook of entire installation with just one mouse click and create your own themes. (Std version has some limited theme support.)
                AutoUpdater
                Automatically retrieve updates to your own programs using a professional looking application.
                Install 3rd-party components
                Automatically install common 3rd-party components, such as .NET Framework, JRE, MDAC, etc.
                Free updates to any 2.x version
                Standard: 1 year
                Pro: Unlimited
                Price
                Std: $49
                Pro: $89

                My comments:

                AutoUpdater: I've never used this feature because I had already "rolled my own". My apps just check a file name on my website and compare it to the current version number. This also gives me more flexibility as to how it works.

                3rd Party Components: Again, I've never had occasion to use this feature.

                Free Updates: They haven't issued any updates for awhile so I don't expect any significant changes before something happens in Windows to require the change.

                Price: Not as good as the price I got it at a few years ago but beats the heck out of Wise. The Wise 'Express' version is only $449. (And the owner of Wise is on the local township board. He voted to appoint me to the planning commission at least twice now. If he sees this, he may not vote to re-appoint me again when my term expires in December. Oh well, he never got me that free copy of Wise that he promised either - although I suspect he just forgot about it since he mentioned it late at night after one of the meetings and probably had other things on his mind.)

                I've only tried a couple of the free installers but those I tried didn't have all the features that I use in Astrum. However, if one of the free installers has all the features you need, use it - don't spend the money on Astrum.
                Last edited by CALocklin; 04-29-2008, 08:33 PM.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Important info to all Astrum users!

                  Thanks Cal,

                  I must have the pro, because I have the same features.

                  I think I paid something like 69.00 for it a few years ago and the last upodate was about oct, 07???

                  Maybe that will help Tom
                  Dave Mason
                  [email protected]
                  Skype is dave.mason46

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Important info to all Astrum users!

                    I've been using it for years now and have looked at others but they did cost more and aren't as easy to use as Astrum

                    Comment

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