I'm NOT objecting to paying the subscription. Just to the software expiring. I'm being punished if I dare to say that I do not gain any benefit from the latest round of updates.cfheinz wrote:The message I'm getting is that this is what it takes to keep MWP healthy. I was concerned about this until I received an answer that satisfied me. I'd much rather pay a $10 fee instead of a $40 fee. This assumes that Firetrust continues to provide a product that I think merits it. If it doesn't, I've still got my copy of the old version.sabarnett wrote:The message I'm getting right now is 'if you don't like it, then shove off because we don't need you".
As an aside, I've used MWP since prior to Firetrust. The only "face" then was Nick Bolton.
I bought an installer from a company that charges yearly for support. I paid for the first year and, in that time, they released nothing that was of benefit to me (actually, they released nothing at all). I now have to make the decision, do I pay for another year in the hopes that they will get around to an update or do I drop support and continue to use the product as is because it does what I want. I have decided that I will drop support until they offer enhancements woth the annual fee. The software has NOT stopped working. If they come up with something worth while I will upgrade.
There is nothing to stop Firetrust from releasing only minor updates or,indeed, no updates at all, except that I am now a captive audience, I have no choice but to pay or the software stops. Yes, I can go back to the old version, but why should I? - I've paid for the upgrade. I believe MWP will go on to become a better and better product but I want to make the decision about whether it is benefiting me, not the vendor. Tell me, having bought Office 2010 do you think anyone would be happy if MS told you, pay up or downgrade to office 2000? I know I wouldn't. I paid for the upgrade I expect the software to continue to run.
Everything is stacked to the benefit of Firetrust right now. If they decide to go off in some different direction with the product that I do not want, then I have no choice but to go with them. "That won't happen" I hear you say??? Well, a well respected RSS reader built up a large bank of users then sold itself to another organisation who decided you had to buy a subscription to their services in order to use the software. Support died and the product became an integrated offering. Another pay up or go away situation.
And what happens if all this doesn't work out. Firetrust just decide it's not worth the hassle, they've made enough money and they wind the business up. The servers go off and they disappear off to live out their lives surfing (water not the net). At the end of your subscription, your software just dies. All the money you invested over the years is down the drain. You can't even struggle on with the copy you have because it just won't run.
I too started with Mailwasher when Nick was all there was. I paid for my copy in the hopes of supporting future developments. I later bought another copy on the basis that I had owned the software for a long time and had not been asked to pay for any upgrades. I've also paid for an use Benign and have introduced Mailwasher to several of the small organisations I have regular contact with.
Apparently though, all this makes a a troll.
Everyone has their own reasons...good, bad, right, wrong, or what ever, but I think it's not right to try to break it down like that when someone is expressing their personal feelings. Just a thought...but you get more with honey than with vinegar. Breaking it down to cents/day is meaningless if you don't know what their financial situation is.