N1SQB
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ARC160 Software problems!
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Holy CRAP!!!! HELL must have frozen over :lol:
DonS
Member
Since my name was mentioned, I'll put in my two cents...
I (like Gommert, I think) make my software available as fully-functional, 30-day, free trials. During that trial period, the potential customer is expected to evaluate the software and see if it's to their liking. If, and only if, they are satisfied with the software should/may they register it. In fact, one is required to click a button on my web site declaring that they are satisfied with the software before they are permitted to register.
If someone came back to me after registering and said they were unhappy with a feature (or lack of a feature), I would do two things... First, I would check to see how easy (and reasonable) it would be to add/change that feature. Second, if the mentioned feature was difficult (or unreasonable) to add/change, I would state that to the user. If the user then complained, I would point out that the user has already agreed that they are satisfied with the software's performance. I most definitely would not accept "blame" for a feature whose omission the user has had ample opportunity to discover before registration.
An example might be "printing". Win500 does not have a "print" feature. If someone registered Win500, then came back to me a while later upset because Win500 does not print, I would probably first respond with something to the effect of "no, Win500 does not print". If the user persisted, I would probably/eventually degrade to "too bad; maybe I'll add printing at some point, but you did, when registering, say you were satisfied". I almost certainly wouldn't offer a refund or promise an immediately forthcoming "printing" addition.
To some, this may sound Draconian. However, it's a far sight better than most software "purchases". Here, at least, you're able to try the software before you "buy" it, and should only buy it if you like it. With most software, you're stuck after you pay - at best, you might get some kind of "store credit", but you're almost never given a refund for opened software media.
Thanks for the kind words, but I have to admit that I (subject to the caveat that I have not seen the entire dialog) take Gommert's side in this.
I (like Gommert, I think) make my software available as fully-functional, 30-day, free trials. During that trial period, the potential customer is expected to evaluate the software and see if it's to their liking. If, and only if, they are satisfied with the software should/may they register it. In fact, one is required to click a button on my web site declaring that they are satisfied with the software before they are permitted to register.
If someone came back to me after registering and said they were unhappy with a feature (or lack of a feature), I would do two things... First, I would check to see how easy (and reasonable) it would be to add/change that feature. Second, if the mentioned feature was difficult (or unreasonable) to add/change, I would state that to the user. If the user then complained, I would point out that the user has already agreed that they are satisfied with the software's performance. I most definitely would not accept "blame" for a feature whose omission the user has had ample opportunity to discover before registration.
An example might be "printing". Win500 does not have a "print" feature. If someone registered Win500, then came back to me a while later upset because Win500 does not print, I would probably first respond with something to the effect of "no, Win500 does not print". If the user persisted, I would probably/eventually degrade to "too bad; maybe I'll add printing at some point, but you did, when registering, say you were satisfied". I almost certainly wouldn't offer a refund or promise an immediately forthcoming "printing" addition.
To some, this may sound Draconian. However, it's a far sight better than most software "purchases". Here, at least, you're able to try the software before you "buy" it, and should only buy it if you like it. With most software, you're stuck after you pay - at best, you might get some kind of "store credit", but you're almost never given a refund for opened software media.
N1SQB
Member
Don, I respect your point of view. I have some of your software and love it just as is. Printing is not something everyone does or needs. It is always optional. It is not a NEED. Global settings are. I did look at the software before I bought it. A friend of mine who also has the pro-162 let me play with his on his computer. It was not until I bought it for MY personal use that the problem came up and even then I discovered it by accident. Since I had already MANUALY set the global settings, it never occurred to me to look for the settings in the software. I was under the assumption that the radio would be in the same condition it was sent when it returned. ( Read then write back to radio.) It was THEN and only then that I discovered my radio now had the key beep re-enabled where as I had it off. I'm sorry but I could never have imagined to look for that. Your Win500 for example is unbelieveable when it comes to global settings on my pro-106. It never occured to me that I would have to check for something so basic yet needed becauce it could not be included in a software package. Apparently I do. I dont feel that I am to blame here. A simple one liner stating that it does not cover Global settings is not that hard to do. Its like saying "you can try it for free for 30 days, I am not going to tell you what it DOESNT do and if you discover it fine if not oh well you should have known better" Thats not the right way to go about it either. There has to be a happy medium for both sides. Maybe the free trial should also come with an attachment listing all the donts as well as the do's to take the guess work out of the equation. Nonetheless, I am moving on with this Don, but I do appreciate and respect your opinion even if it does not match mine.
Manny
Manny
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