Moving from SCO to Suse Linux

[John Esak]

> 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.


This is the sticky point. How exactly can you do this? I know FacetWin
simply trusted me over the same issue. Was very nice of them, but if you
have hundreds and hundreds (and thousands hopefully) of clients... all
moving to Linux boxes... why wouldn't you assume that hefty number of them
wouldn't keep running your software on _both_ platforms?  I think that
probably happens a lot. In your case, probably not a big deal... being one
of the best software packages there is... just yesterday, Jim Asman and I
were saying how BackupEdge is simply the most important software on any
system we run.... Anyway, not as big a deal for you because you _have_ a
workig and reliable and usable license scheme. Perhpas, FP Tech should get
with you for some advice.  All this is different if there is some
accountability somewhere in the mix. Imagine if you had no
licensing/protection on BackupEdge... I doubt _very_ much you would be
offering the same arrangements you are now. The product is too good to give
away to hackers and free-loaders.

Tom, Rick will stop by and meet you in Vegas...


Take care,

John


>
> 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
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Developers of Microlite BackupEDGE