Tony:

This almost seems like an axiom. RDUS sells through VARS. Free copies of
all RDUS software and tools allow VARS to develop solutions on RDUS
platforms. Without VAR solutions RDUS sell _NOTHING_.

Ummmm...seems simple to me. :-)

Bill

<MBTraining (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote

On Mon, 22 Aug 2005 17:39:16 -0700, Tony Gravagno
<g6q3x9lu53001 (AT) sneakemail (DOT) com.invalid> wrote:

I'll try another slightly different angle. Customer retention.

In our case, we're a service company controlled by very non-technical people.
At the very least, they want the customer facing common computer features to
work. There is pressure to move to canned pre-bought software that has all of
the buzzwords and glitzy features.

With the exception of Jet and an older 4gl-ish program, our software is
in-house developed. AR/GL/AP/Treasury/sales/leasing - nearly everything we do.
Raining data has provided us with a single Dev copy of D3 that I've used for
testing major or delicate changes on a separate system. We've had great
reliability as a result. When the owners almost never see the system down, the
bills go out on time every time, and the financials are correct - well, that is
a powerful argument for keeping the D3 system.

A couple of years ago, Raining Data increased our Maint. fees about 40%. We had
substantial issues with documented features of D3 not working, and couldn't get
help from Raining Data either with resolutions or work arounds. Management has
questioned what we're getting for the money.

I moved our support contract to Zumasys so I'd have a chance of at least
getting help if not resolutions. Raining Data retaliated by revoking the Dev
license. After an argument Raining Data agreed to reinstate it for a final
year.

Next year I'll have to make a choice. The options I see are to try and convince
management to purchase and maintain an additional D3 system that will go unused
most of the time; to do my coding and testing on the live system; or to migrate
to another platform (MV or not).

This has gotten to be more long winded than I intended. The general gist is
that a Dev copy for in house shops is a very cheap retention tool. Taking one
away in retaliation for moving a support contract to an authorized VAR
generates bad will, and I'm not sure what Raining Data gains by it.

We are a small community. Kudos and abuse both travel quickly. My friends with
a 400 user shop that are preparing for a migration to a newer platform have
heard about my experience with D3 and Raining Data (both good and bad).

Giving Dev licenses to VARs with documented customers and End-Users (who
code..) who have existing paid licenses isn't going to take away from Vendor
sales. It costs very little. Is there another driver of sales for this sort of
platform other than developers writing software for it? <flattery mode>
Certainly if someone like Tony knows your platform well and offers his
services, he'll add value to the platform for his customers. </flattery mode>

Tony: The free version of JBase has resulted in at least one benefit. I've met
several folks planning a MV platform migration. I've recommended that they
download Jbase and try it. It is hassle free, so why not look? At least one of
them contacted a Var about Jbase afterwards and is still talking with them.
Jbase at least acquired a solid prospect with the free copy. Not too shabby.

Anyhow, an interesting debate.

- Sean

Goo'day,

Might I be permitted to make an observation?

On Tue, 23 Aug 2005 18:54:02 -0500,
seanANTIPINKSTUFFbuy2 (AT) theleasingcompany (DOT) com (Sean Clark) wrote:

But, with the "per user" pricing or licencing of software, the "free"
ones tend to get used (commercially) elsewhere, simply because there's
no easy way to prevent it from happening..... A licence applied to a
CD is instantly transportable, a licence applied to downloaded
software is instantly transportable. A licence applied to hardware
is extremely difficult to transport, unless the licence is
cracked/hacked.

I'm not saying that it - "another" use for development or "Free"
copies - happens everywhere, but it has happened often enough for
licence holders to (a) be aware of it and (b) try to prevent it
happening to them....

But, there *is* a cost, however small, and an opening for
exploitation.....

Reminds me (Oh! Heavens, not another war story!) of an incident some
few years ago when we got a phone call from an unknown wanting to know
how he could change the name at the top of his reports........

After a short discussion he told me, quite openly, that his "very good
friend" X - a middle manager, member of the owner's family - of XYZ
had given him a copy of the OS and Account Saves of their data so he
could use it. Just added his own customers and products and ignored
any "history" reporting, 'cos "next year it'll all be right. I've
deleted all their customers"....."But I'd like my company name in the
report headings".........

Who said Pick was difficult to set up and get running?
Regards,

Bruce Nichol
Talon Computer Services
ALBURY NSW Australia

http://www.taloncs.com.au

If it ain't broke, fix it until it is....

Only prior to release 7.4.

<douglas (AT) pickteam (DOT) com> wrote