Moving from SCO to Suse Linux

[D. Thomas Podnar]

: Well, I've not really thought about it much, but on the surfadce, this is
: one case where I think I really agree with FP Tech (and just about _every_
: other software supllier out there.)  The simple fact of the matter is there
: is no way for the vendor to know that you are not still using the old
: software on a fully working system. Even if that weren't the crux of the
: issue, just the simple dollars of how the company makes money is critical.
: This is the whole O/S we are talking about... the car... not the radio... In
: the case of say Microlite BackupEdge... you use it on SCO for two years,
: then buy another server... they are not going to just send you a completely
: new or even upgrade package for less than full price. What in the world
: would be their incentive for doing this? Good will? It's their income
: stream, and they also have no way of knowing you aren't still using their
: product on the other server.  It is a matter of trust I guess. There is none
: anywhere, ever.

I somehow had a feeling I'd end up in this thread. 

If you buy BackupEDGE on SCO OpenServer, and then move to Linux or
UnixWare or something else, you are never forced to toss your license
and buy another copy at retail price.

We don't consider this any different than upgrading to a newer version
of OpenServer which may also require a newer version of BackupEDGE.

We consider you a valued client and sell you a "cross platform upgrade"
for the same price as our standard "same platform upgrade". These are
also the same as an annual support agreement.

We WILL require you to show proof of purchase of the original when
registering an upgrade on a different system or platform.

We MAY require you to certify that the old platform is retired.

Our business model is built primarily on the succes of our channel
partners in creating new customers, not getting more money out of
their old customers.

Our 01.01.0x series had free on-line updates for 6 years (too long).
Our 01.02.0x series had free on-line updates for 2 years (about right).
Our 02.00.0x series has been around a bit less than a year, so we're
probably about a year away from the next chargeable version change.

Of course, we do encourage users to invest in an annual support
agreement, since in addition to providing support access it also
includes free upgrades should we make a change during the agreement
which would be otherwise chargeable.

I'm looking forward to seeing many of you at SCO Forum 2004 beginning
Sunday in Las Vegas. Please stop by and say hello. You'll also get a
chance to meet Lois (my lovely wife), whom many of you deal with,
and Frank Liberato, our product architect and VP-Engineering.

Tom
---
 D. Thomas Podnar
 tom at microlite.com         http://www.microlite.com
 Microlite Corporation     724-375-6711 Voice
 2315 Mill Street          724-375-6908 Fax
 Aliquippa PA 15001-2228   888-257-3343 Toll Free Sales
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Developers of Microlite BackupEDGE