They would need to be careful not to upgrade to much at once otherwise
people would loose interest. Just gradual updates ever so often to make
the folks feel like their rigs are getting better and better. This rig
software thing is a hobby in it's self. From what I've seen, the updates
don't really make the receivers receive better or the transmitters reduce
their phase noise transmission. It's just a lot of fun to play with and
that's ok with me. It gives us something new to play with and keep our
interest up plus it's good for the economy.
n4lq
-----Original Message-----
From: "Mark Erbaugh" <mark@microenh.com>
To: <johnclif@ix.netcom.com>, <tentec@contesting.com>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Sep 2002 14:52:29 -0400
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Paying for updates... YES!
> John,
>
> I agree with you. I think people should expect free updates for some
> initial
> period, the cost for which would be rolled into the initial purchase
> price.
> After that, a fee that would support the development effort. After all,
> I
> would rather pay $25 a year and get a 'new' Pegasus every quarter or so
> than
> shell out $1K or more for a new radio.
>
> However, I wonder how many Pegasii and Jupiters have been sold and what
> percentage of those users would be willing to participate. I would bet
> that
> it would take at least $200k / year to keep an update program going.
> That
> equates to 8000 subscribers.
>
> You also have the problem of how would you keep the updates out of the
> hands
> (and radios) of non-subscribers?
>
> Mark
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Clifford" <johnclif@ix.netcom.com>
> To: <tentec@contesting.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2002 22:11 PM
> Subject: [TenTec] Paying for updates... YES!
>
>
> > I guess I started the 'pay for updates' idea on this list... and I
> still
> > stand by it.
> >
> > I can understand why Ten-Tec gives away updates... it is a
> selling/marketing
> > feature. Buy a radio and know that it won't be obsolete. I'm sure
> that
> > some firmware development costs are associated with new radio sells
> as a
> > means of keeping TT competitive, e.g., AM transmit. I would be
> willing to
> > bet that, if TT discovered that offering free updates had absolutely
> no
> > positive effect on sales, it would be discontinued.
> >
> > I think that paying a very nominal annual fee (and $25 is very
> nominal)
> > would allow/inspire TT to offer even more features. Things like
> waterfall
> > spectrum display (a great CW tuning aid, as well as generally useful
> for
> > finding weak signals), a much better looking UI, etc.,... features
> that
> > someone who is getting PAID specifically to think up features could
> come
> up
> > with, rather than someone who is told "Just do this amount of work
> since
> > that's all of the R&D budget we have allocated this quarter."
> >
> > I can't understand hams (or anyone) who isn't willing to pay a little
> bit
> to
> > get a lot. I know, FREE is a very powerful marketing word (perhaps
> the
> most
> > powerful). But paying for something is not a bad thing! You can't
> compare
> > this with taxes, payroll deductions, etc., because those are
> INVOLUNTARY
> and
> > besides, we should be THANKFUL that we don't get all of the
> government we
> > pay for! If you were getting washes and waxes on your new car for
> free,
> > would you pay an additional $25 per year to get free oil changes,
> too?
> > Would you be upset if, having given you free washes and waxes for a
> couple
> > of years as an unexpected bonus the car manufacturer announced that
> it was
> > discontinuing this free service for cars older than one year, but
> > instituting a new service for $25 yearly that included washing,
> waxing,
> and
> > oil changes?
> >
> > I say, vote with your dollars! If you like a company and want it to
> stick
> > around, be willing to pay it for its goods and services. That's why
> I
> > decided to bite the bullet and completely populate my Omni VI with
> filters
> > direct from Ten-Tec... plus the coffee mug.
> >
> > Re the usual Msft bashing... products succeed in the marketplace
> because
> > they meet or exceed customers' needs and expectations. Most
> customers who
> > purchased Msft products liked them enough to keep on doing so, and
> liked
> > them better than the competition. That's why Lotus lost their #1
> position
> > in the software business, and why Ashton-Tate, Novell, and
> Wordperfect
> also
> > were eclipsed. As bad as some people dislike Msft, many more
> disliked the
> > competition even more and bought Msft products.
> >
> > I hope that the Orion is as good to Ten-Tec as Windows was/is for
> Msft.
> > How's that for a wish?
> >
> > - jgc
> >
> > John Clifford KD7KGX
> >
> > Heathkit HW-9 WARC/HFT-9/HM-9
> > Elecraft K2 #1678 /KSB2/KIO2/KBT2/KAT2/KNB2/KAF2/KPA100
> > Ten-Tec Omni VI/Opt1
> >
> > email: kd7kgx@arrl.net
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TenTec mailing list
> > TenTec@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
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