ACDSEE is the pits!

--I bought ACDSEE 7 in May and now they tell me I can't have a free upgrade to 8, but have to pay like everyone else. Surely one would expect free upgrades for at least one year. Anybody else think the same?
fredyr

Fredy Ross said:

--I bought ACDSEE 7 in May and now they tell me I can't have a free
upgrade to 8, but have to pay like everyone else. Surely one would
expect free upgrades for at least one year. Anybody else think the
same?
fredyr

Click to expand...

No, not really. It's nice when vendors do that, but it's up to the buyer to research the upgrade terms BEFORE the purchase. If the buyer doesn't like the terms then he/she should not make the purchase. The ACDSee Site is pretty clear that there is an upgrade price to go from version to version, and it has been that way since at least version 4.

I've got a LOT of problems with how ACDSee does things. But this isn't one of them.

Ask yourself, what has stopped working in version 7 now that version 8 has been released? It is the same package that you and ACDSee entered into a sales agreement over and you paid for. Both parties have carried out their end of the deal.
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Stop the Insanity!
Diet and Exercise Kills!

-- Yes you are right Buyer Beware but I have bought many programs online over the years and ACDSEE since no.3 but there have always been upgrades even with Photoshop, Neat Image, Piksharpener etc and they probmise at least for a year, so I didn't read the fine print of 1 month.

So I guess a lot of people like me will no longer buy it. Too many other programs like Thumbs Plus who have a more honourable business record.

Anyway I have upgraded zoombrowser since the first one and it connects me directly with photoshop so who needs ACDSEE.
fredyr

If I bought photoshop CS in august 2004, there is no way that adobe would give me a free upgrade 11 months later when CS2 was released in july 2005 (or whenever it was).

Adobe have a short grace period of perhaps 3 months or so AFTER THE NEW VERSION HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED - but not released - to prevent purchasers from waiting for the new release. You buy the old one knowing in a few months it will be updated, and hence you get the free upgrade.

THis is very different from what you are suggesting. Some small apps do come with one year (eg. spysweeper) or even lifetime (eg. breezebrowser IIRC) free updates, but very few if any major commercial programs do this.

--
warren prasek
web design ~ interactive media ~ photography
(specifically candids/street, event, theatre, abstract/arty)
http://www.wprasek.com/

--That isn't true as I have Pik Sharpener, Neat Image and Photoshop nor Canon nor Kodak nor zoombrowser, and I have had updates for all of them. I haven't had one update from ACDSEE 7 since I bought it and just because they call it another name is insulting. At least they should have a price for someone who updated within the last year different to those who haven't updated for years. Anyway there are so many competing programs they lost this customer as I wasn't crazy about 7 anyway. I think 3.1 was their best and probably lost a lot of customers with 4,5 and 6. That is why Breezbrowser is so popular and I will think seriously about them in the future. Besides ACDSEE has an awful support system and always did.
fredyr

Usually upgrade policies are listed on the website (FAQs will normally show them), otherwise if you email the company they will respond - if not I would not purchase the software.

Upgrade policies vary widely. Some offer free lifetime upgrades; some free upgrades within that version (Ver. 7.0 to 7.1) but you pay an upgrade fee with a major revision (Ver. 7 to 8 for example); some will give you one free upgrade and you can decide when to use it; etc.

Many times you will see software being advertised for free or nearly free after rebates. That is frequently an indication the manufacturer is getting ready to release a new/updated version and is to help clear out stock.

As far as ACDSee, I have tried it and been less than impressed with it. The most version 7 said it supported Olympus RAW files, but it does not support the RAW files from the E-300 Evolt, and it was not indicated it did not support all version of the Olympus RAW files. I do like their approach of not packaging everything into one piece so you can buy the software functions you desire, but too often (especially with the last couple of versions) there are a lot of complaints about it being buggy and relying on the buyers to provide info so they can fix the bugs. I gave the trial version of 7 a test and did not like it - for those who did and like the software great. But had I purchased it more than 30 days before the release of version 8 I would not expect a free upgrade.
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(See profile for equipment)

I am an ACDSEE 7 user. I think the main grip that people have is the fact they use the updgrade process to roll in bug fixes. If I recall I have had ACDSEE 7 for about a year. I don't shot RAW so I don't run into the RAW issues and I am happy with the product in terms of cataloging. It does help me to orginize the photos. I also have used Slate a lot of creating school albums.

Since the release, I have seen one update. I also have seen the comment on the ACDSEE forumn that their will be no more updates for ACDSEE7. This is where my beef lies. I know there is still issues with V7 that are classified as must fix bugs. As an V7 user, I personally believe it is resonable that the company would work towards stablizing the product and not have the expectation that the user will pay to have issues resolved that are currently bugs in the version they purchased.

This methodology is convient for ACDSEE but I think combined with steep upgrade price (Compared to purchase price) for users of previous version I think they need to re-think their stratagy if they want to retain a large percentage of customers. Either continue on patching a previous version of software for longer than the next release or provide the loyal customers that move from version to version with deeper discounts.

From what I have read, this is the argument that most people have and I tend to agree with it.

--
fredyr

jdude said:

Since the release, I have seen one update. I also have seen the
comment on the ACDSEE forumn that their will be no more updates for
ACDSEE7. This is where my beef lies. I know there is still issues
with V7 that are classified as must fix bugs. As an V7 user, I
personally believe it is resonable that the company would work
towards stablizing the product and not have the expectation that
the user will pay to have issues resolved that are currently bugs
in the version they purchased.

Click to expand...

It is normal for a company to discontinue updates when a new version comes out, but it is simply not good business to have a lot of bugs and either not fix them to make the version usable to those who purchased it or give them an extra large break on the new version (though if the new version is full of bugs too, then their customer base will rapidly shrink).

jdude said:

This methodology is convient for ACDSEE but I think combined with
steep upgrade price (Compared to purchase price) for users of
previous version I think they need to re-think their stratagy if
they want to retain a large percentage of customers. Either
continue on patching a previous version of software for longer than
the next release or provide the loyal customers that move from
version to version with deeper discounts.

Click to expand...

It may be too complicated to track loyalty, but could be worth it long-term for customer good will. At this point it seems to indicate that ACDSee thinks the majority of their customers are happy with the product and will continue to upgrade regularly. I think they may need to waike up. Or it may be that their product suffers from continued bugs because they are losing customers and there is less each version for R&D.

jdude said:

From what I have read, this is the argument that most people have
and I tend to agree with it.

Click to expand...

It is a difficult situation. If you basically do like the software, except for the bugs, you have a hard time saying no, I am not going to buy the next version and look for something else. Continuing to use it and seeing new features offered in the new version entices you to buy and hope that they released it without the bugs. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.

--
(See profile for equipment)

Not sure how normal it is for bigger companies to do the practice of using the argument update your product if you want bug fixes. Much more common for smaller companies than bigger. I will say it has become more common recently for sure.

Here is an analogy. There has been move towards restaurants offering free-refils. They upped the price of a beverage in return they offer the customer free-refils. Some restaurants have used this trend to increase the price of a beverage but in return they still keep the practive of no free-refills.

Software companies have moved towards this trend. Release a product with less features to entice the user to upgrade and then remove the incentive to stay with the current product (i.e. Not continue the support).

I am sure you wonder where the analogy is. Well it is in the fact that you are double dipping. You either continue support for your current customers with small incremently feature updates they can pay for or you don't provide support when a new update occurs but give the update to the person has the current release at a very nominal cost. Restaurants that upped their drink cost to refill prices are doing the same thing.

The argument lies is ACDSEE given enough in the next version to justify a 50% upgrade fee to people that plopped down 90bucks a year ago. Based on the feature set I would say no. Another way I look at it is if ACDSEE is releasing on a yearly cycle and not supporting previous versions

once a new one is released, one would argue basically they are trying to get users to move to a subscription model release.

I know that ACDSEE is not the only people playing this game. Quicken makes a science out of this. Release once a year and try to get people to upgrade. However, from my experience they still release fixes for older version when a new version comes out to fix problems.

Ok.. enough ranting... It bascially comes down to looking at the features and seeing if it is worth the upgrade. Personally I think for the features shown 50 bucks is too high.

I feel the right think for ACDSEE to do is either continue bug fixing one to two version back or make upgrading more cost effect to the user that is committed to supporting ACDSEE by keeping their product up to date. You can't have both worlds and personally I wont purchase a 2.50 soda at a restaurant if there is not refills and same goes with software. If there is not enough bang for my buck by upgrading I wont.

Too bad you can't get free refills on beer. LOL.
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(See profile for equipment)

I tried ACDSEE and just did not like it.... no big deal This is the trial version.

my problem... I do not know how to get the damn thing off my computer! It does not have an uninstall.... and does not appear in the Add/Remove program list.

So.... I am out traveling now... but when I get back I will wipe it off somehow. This also concerns me.... if the company makes it so difficult to uninstall.... kinda like ad-ware poping up all over. I never trust a vendor who does that. Just my thoughts.

I'm with you on this Freddy. I've upgraded through from 4 to 7 the latter I've had nothing but trouble and I'm using it less and less. It keeps asking me to register the software which I've done about 100 times then it tells me I've already registered!

They havn't offered me the new version yet but I've purchased the last copy of ACDSEE.

-- If you see another thread I received a letter from ACDSEE today with the new powerpack to upgrade with licence. I only had it 4 months I see and they told me they didn't want unhappy customers. I am glad I was assertive and thank this forum to give me a chance to ventilate as maybe that helped. I have never been able to register from Israel but that has never bothered me as I have the order no. written down should something go astray. So I will continue to upgrade but read the fine print in the future as ACDSEE is a very good organiser and quick to send e-mail photos to families and use Photoshop for serious editing.
fredyr

--I use ACDSEE 5 n WON't Upgrade as I find the Upgrades are Pure Rubbish..Quite Happy with 5 as it's FAST n does what I want......That n PS is all I need...
MrScary (DennisR)
Swansea, Wales. UK

http://www.pbase.com/dennisr
http://community.webshots.com/user/mrscarecrow
http://digiden.photoshare.co.nz

I used ACDSee since version 3.0 and up until lately had been extremely satisfied with it. I loaded som RAW files and it read them fine for several days and then it completely locked up my computer. I uninstalled and reinstalled version 7.0 to no avail. I found and deleted all thumb files, took all the RAW images off the computer and cleaned out the registry of all ACDSee entries. Uninstalled and reinstalled again and it would open and then the whole computer would lock again. I didn't change any hardware during this time. I worked perfectly for several months on my machine (an athlon 64 3200, 1 gig,all new) and then shortly after loading RAW it crashed. Have since switched to FastStone and all is well. I really did like ACDSee but this was not the first instability issue so have now chunked it. I have already received several FREE updates to FastStone and am happy without my paid for version of ACDSee.
Keep the blue side up.

Jerry