Glen,
Where are you in the world. Is this US or Australia? I am unaware of
this requirement.
On the supports side, I have had everything from stellar support to
absolute 0
In the absolute 0 cases I had to make calls to people I specifically
know at Mapinfo to worm my way through the management chain to get
action.
It's amazing what happens when you send a nicely worded email to every
@mapinfo or now @pb address in your address book simply asking "is
there anybody in support who can help me with this problem"
Mind you I've been using Mapinfo for 15 years and have been fortunate
to develop personal relationships with support staff who now hold
senior management positions in Australia and the US.
On Jun 25, 1:19 am, Glen <Glen_Oss...@Ossman-CG.net> wrote:
That extra pricing is a new thing here in the US, and it's real. But I think it's worth it if you have to use MapInfo in mission-critical projects and you find that it's a little over your head. When I was a newbie at this, I bought the support and it was well worth it. Since my business was focused on making maps, I considered it an essential cost of doing business and didn't worry about it. (Of course that was back when an upgrade cost $95 and the WWW was spelled BBS.)
But now I have enough experience to not need much support and can use instant-info resources such as Google and forums like this one, as well as personal (human) networks, to get better and faster answers than MapInfo's tech support can deliver. So it feels a bit painful to suddenly have to pay the full price for a service I don't need, on top of an already hefty upgrade fee. Since everybody's got to have tech support now, why does it cost the same as when it was optional and they priced it for a market that was a fraction of "everybody"?
Nevertheless, I tell myself, it's still very good software and I still need it for what I do so I guess I'll ante up again and try not to lose sleep over it. (Grumble, grumble...) But I'm going to be spending a lot more time in osgeo forums I think.
On a positive note, I sort of like what I read about some of the new features; especially support for PostGIS as I'm beginning to use that and PostgreSQL quite a bit now.
college.atlas wrote:
> Glen,
> Where are you in the world. Is this US or Australia? I am unaware of
> this requirement.
> On the supports side, I have had everything from stellar support to
> absolute 0
> In the absolute 0 cases I had to make calls to people I specifically
> know at Mapinfo to worm my way through the management chain to get
> action.
> It's amazing what happens when you send a nicely worded email to every
> @mapinfo or now @pb address in your address book simply asking "is
> there anybody in support who can help me with this problem"
> Mind you I've been using Mapinfo for 15 years and have been fortunate
> to develop personal relationships with support staff who now hold
> senior management positions in Australia and the US.
> On Jun 25, 1:19 am, Glen <Glen_Oss...@Ossman-CG.net> wrote:
>> MapInfo now requires the purchase of a MATS Plan with all new license
>> and upgrade purchases in addition to the prices quoted above.
>> Single User MATS Pricing Silver MATS Gold MATS
>> One Year $495.00 $660.00
>> Two Years $875.00 $1,210.00
>> Three Years $1,205.00 $1,650.00
Whether MATS is worth the money or not isn't really the point. The
consumer has lost the option to choose. Now the only choice is to
upgrade or not. I like MapInfo, but I don't like having things forced
upon me.
On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 6:42 PM, Bill Thoen<bth...@gisnet.com> wrote:
> That extra pricing is a new thing here in the US, and it's real. But I
> think it's worth it if you have to use MapInfo in mission-critical
> projects and you find that it's a little over your head. When I was a
> newbie at this, I bought the support and it was well worth it. Since my
> business was focused on making maps, I considered it an essential cost
> of doing business and didn't worry about it. (Of course that was back
> when an upgrade cost $95 and the WWW was spelled BBS.)
> But now I have enough experience to not need much support and can use
> instant-info resources such as Google and forums like this one, as well
> as personal (human) networks, to get better and faster answers than
> MapInfo's tech support can deliver. So it feels a bit painful to
> suddenly have to pay the full price for a service I don't need, on top
> of an already hefty upgrade fee. Since everybody's got to have tech
> support now, why does it cost the same as when it was optional and they
> priced it for a market that was a fraction of "everybody"?
> Nevertheless, I tell myself, it's still very good software and I still
> need it for what I do so I guess I'll ante up again and try not to lose
> sleep over it. (Grumble, grumble...) But I'm going to be spending a lot
> more time in osgeo forums I think.
> On a positive note, I sort of like what I read about some of the new
> features; especially support for PostGIS as I'm beginning to use that
> and PostgreSQL quite a bit now.
> - Bill Thoen
> college.atlas wrote:
>> Glen,
>> Where are you in the world. Is this US or Australia? I am unaware of
>> this requirement.
>> On the supports side, I have had everything from stellar support to
>> absolute 0
>> In the absolute 0 cases I had to make calls to people I specifically
>> know at Mapinfo to worm my way through the management chain to get
>> action.
>> It's amazing what happens when you send a nicely worded email to every
>> @mapinfo or now @pb address in your address book simply asking "is
>> there anybody in support who can help me with this problem"
>> Mind you I've been using Mapinfo for 15 years and have been fortunate
>> to develop personal relationships with support staff who now hold
>> senior management positions in Australia and the US.
>> On Jun 25, 1:19 am, Glen <Glen_Oss...@Ossman-CG.net> wrote:
>>> MapInfo now requires the purchase of a MATS Plan with all new license
>>> and upgrade purchases in addition to the prices quoted above.
>>> Single User MATS Pricing Silver MATS Gold MATS
>>> One Year $495.00 $660.00
>>> Two Years $875.00 $1,210.00
>>> Three Years $1,205.00 $1,650.00
Oh well, every coffin has to be nailed down I suppose. The high cost of
upgrades buried us out long ago. Charging for something we'd never use is
simply those nails in the coffin.
Come to think of it, I never had to contact Mapinfo tech support. I learned
by reading the "real paper back manual" that came with our initial purchase,
and reading "white papers" by our own Bill Thoen, Jacques Paris etal. And as
Bill said, through networking and probably the most help... The Mapinfo-L.
"Throw'em in, he'll learn to swim or else"
Eh, industry and peer pressure will probably force us to the dark side one
of these days anyway. :))
-----Original Message-----
From: mapinfo-l@googlegroups.com [mailto:mapinfo-l@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of Richard Greenwood
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 9:21 PM
To: mapinfo-l@googlegroups.com
Subject: [MI-L] Re: Mapinfo 10.0
Whether MATS is worth the money or not isn't really the point. The consumer
has lost the option to choose. Now the only choice is to upgrade or not. I
like MapInfo, but I don't like having things forced upon me.
Best regards,
Rich
On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 6:42 PM, Bill Thoen<bth...@gisnet.com> wrote:
> That extra pricing is a new thing here in the US, and it's real. But I > think it's worth it if you have to use MapInfo in mission-critical > projects and you find that it's a little over your head. When I was a > newbie at this, I bought the support and it was well worth it. Since > my business was focused on making maps, I considered it an essential > cost of doing business and didn't worry about it. (Of course that was > back when an upgrade cost $95 and the WWW was spelled BBS.)
> But now I have enough experience to not need much support and can use > instant-info resources such as Google and forums like this one, as > well as personal (human) networks, to get better and faster answers > than MapInfo's tech support can deliver. So it feels a bit painful to > suddenly have to pay the full price for a service I don't need, on top > of an already hefty upgrade fee. Since everybody's got to have tech > support now, why does it cost the same as when it was optional and > they priced it for a market that was a fraction of "everybody"?
> Nevertheless, I tell myself, it's still very good software and I still > need it for what I do so I guess I'll ante up again and try not to > lose sleep over it. (Grumble, grumble...) But I'm going to be spending > a lot more time in osgeo forums I think.
> On a positive note, I sort of like what I read about some of the new > features; especially support for PostGIS as I'm beginning to use that > and PostgreSQL quite a bit now.
> - Bill Thoen
> college.atlas wrote:
>> Glen,
>> Where are you in the world. Is this US or Australia? I am unaware of >> this requirement.
>> On the supports side, I have had everything from stellar support to >> absolute 0
>> In the absolute 0 cases I had to make calls to people I specifically >> know at Mapinfo to worm my way through the management chain to get >> action.
>> It's amazing what happens when you send a nicely worded email to >> every @mapinfo or now @pb address in your address book simply asking >> "is there anybody in support who can help me with this problem"
>> Mind you I've been using Mapinfo for 15 years and have been fortunate >> to develop personal relationships with support staff who now hold >> senior management positions in Australia and the US.
>> On Jun 25, 1:19 am, Glen <Glen_Oss...@Ossman-CG.net> wrote:
>>> MapInfo now requires the purchase of a MATS Plan with all new >>> license and upgrade purchases in addition to the prices quoted above.
>>> Single User MATS Pricing Silver MATS Gold MATS One Year
>>> $495.00 $660.00 Two Years $875.00 $1,210.00 Three >>> Years $1,205.00 $1,650.00
If you are buying an upgrade you can buy it with or without MATS. So it is only with a full new copy that you pay for one year. The cost of MATS is less than the price of one upgrade. So in effect the support is a free bonus.
regards
Tim
Dr Timothy Rideout
The XYZ Digital Map Company,
32/9 Hardengreen Industrial Estate,
Dalkeith, EH22 3NX.
-----Original Message-----
From: David Reid <dwr...@hiwaay.net>
Sent: 26 June 2009 06:00
To: mapinfo-l@googlegroups.com <mapinfo-l@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [MI-L] Re: Mapinfo 10.0
Oh well, every coffin has to be nailed down I suppose. The high cost of
upgrades buried us out long ago. Charging for something we'd never use is
simply those nails in the coffin.
Come to think of it, I never had to contact Mapinfo tech support. I learned
by reading the "real paper back manual" that came with our initial purchase,
and reading "white papers" by our own Bill Thoen, Jacques Paris etal. And as
Bill said, through networking and probably the most help... The Mapinfo-L.
"Throw'em in, he'll learn to swim or else"
Eh, industry and peer pressure will probably force us to the dark side one
of these days anyway. :))
David Reid
-----Original Message-----
From: mapinfo-l@googlegroups.com [mailto:mapinfo-l@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of Richard Greenwood
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 9:21 PM
To: mapinfo-l@googlegroups.com
Subject: [MI-L] Re: Mapinfo 10.0
Whether MATS is worth the money or not isn't really the point. The consumer
has lost the option to choose. Now the only choice is to upgrade or not. I
like MapInfo, but I don't like having things forced upon me.
Best regards,
Rich
On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 6:42 PM, Bill Thoen<bth...@gisnet.com> wrote:
> That extra pricing is a new thing here in the US, and it's real. But I > think it's worth it if you have to use MapInfo in mission-critical > projects and you find that it's a little over your head. When I was a > newbie at this, I bought the support and it was well worth it. Since > my business was focused on making maps, I considered it an essential > cost of doing business and didn't worry about it. (Of course that was > back when an upgrade cost $95 and the WWW was spelled BBS.)
> But now I have enough experience to not need much support and can use > instant-info resources such as Google and forums like this one, as > well as personal (human) networks, to get better and faster answers > than MapInfo's tech support can deliver. So it feels a bit painful to > suddenly have to pay the full price for a service I don't need, on top > of an already hefty upgrade fee. Since everybody's got to have tech > support now, why does it cost the same as when it was optional and > they priced it for a market that was a fraction of "everybody"?
> Nevertheless, I tell myself, it's still very good software and I still > need it for what I do so I guess I'll ante up again and try not to > lose sleep over it. (Grumble, grumble...) But I'm going to be spending > a lot more time in osgeo forums I think.
> On a positive note, I sort of like what I read about some of the new > features; especially support for PostGIS as I'm beginning to use that > and PostgreSQL quite a bit now.
> - Bill Thoen
> college.atlas wrote:
>> Glen,
>> Where are you in the world. Is this US or Australia? I am unaware of >> this requirement.
>> On the supports side, I have had everything from stellar support to >> absolute 0
>> In the absolute 0 cases I had to make calls to people I specifically >> know at Mapinfo to worm my way through the management chain to get >> action.
>> It's amazing what happens when you send a nicely worded email to >> every @mapinfo or now @pb address in your address book simply asking >> "is there anybody in support who can help me with this problem"
>> Mind you I've been using Mapinfo for 15 years and have been fortunate >> to develop personal relationships with support staff who now hold >> senior management positions in Australia and the US.
>> On Jun 25, 1:19 am, Glen <Glen_Oss...@Ossman-CG.net> wrote:
>>> MapInfo now requires the purchase of a MATS Plan with all new >>> license and upgrade purchases in addition to the prices quoted above.
>>> Single User MATS Pricing Silver MATS Gold MATS One Year
>>> $495.00 $660.00 Two Years $875.00 $1,210.00 Three >>> Years $1,205.00 $1,650.00
Hi, well I can't speak for the USA, but we are MapInfo dealers in the UK
and over here you can buy an upgrade either with or without MATS (unless
something has changed in the last week or two that we have not been told
about).
Regards
Tim
Dr Tim Rideout
Director
See Earth - the Limited Edition World Atlas at http://shop.xyzmaps.com.
Only 200 will be sold in the UK. The largest Atlas ever published with
570 pages of maps and stunning images. We are proud to say XYZ supplied
the Europe map spreads. Orders are now being taken for the next
consignment here
Visit XYZ at the Frankfurt Book Fair, October 13-16th 2009
The XYZ Digital Map Company
Unit 9-11 Hardengreen Bus.Pk.
Dalhousie Road,
Dalkeith,
EH22 3NX
Tele: +44 (0) 131 454 0426
Mobile: +44 (0) 7766 825937
Fax: +44 131 454 0443
Email: tim.ride...@xyzmaps.com
Web: www.xyzmaps.com
-----Original Message-----
From: mapinfo-l@googlegroups.com [mailto:mapinfo-l@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of David Reid
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 9:46 PM
To: mapinfo-l@googlegroups.com
Subject: [MI-L] Re: Mapinfo 10.0
Oh well, every coffin has to be nailed down I suppose. The high cost of
upgrades buried us out long ago. Charging for something we'd never use is
simply those nails in the coffin.
Come to think of it, I never had to contact Mapinfo tech support. I learned
by reading the "real paper back manual" that came with our initial purchase,
and reading "white papers" by our own Bill Thoen, Jacques Paris etal. And as
Bill said, through networking and probably the most help... The Mapinfo-L.
"Throw'em in, he'll learn to swim or else"
Eh, industry and peer pressure will probably force us to the dark side one
of these days anyway. :))
David Reid
-----Original Message-----
From: mapinfo-l@googlegroups.com [mailto:mapinfo-l@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of Richard Greenwood
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 9:21 PM
To: mapinfo-l@googlegroups.com
Subject: [MI-L] Re: Mapinfo 10.0
Whether MATS is worth the money or not isn't really the point. The consumer
has lost the option to choose. Now the only choice is to upgrade or not. I
like MapInfo, but I don't like having things forced upon me.
Best regards,
Rich
On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 6:42 PM, Bill Thoen<bth...@gisnet.com> wrote:
> That extra pricing is a new thing here in the US, and it's real. But I > think it's worth it if you have to use MapInfo in mission-critical > projects and you find that it's a little over your head. When I was a > newbie at this, I bought the support and it was well worth it. Since > my business was focused on making maps, I considered it an essential > cost of doing business and didn't worry about it. (Of course that was > back when an upgrade cost $95 and the WWW was spelled BBS.)
> But now I have enough experience to not need much support and can use > instant-info resources such as Google and forums like this one, as > well as personal (human) networks, to get better and faster answers > than MapInfo's tech support can deliver. So it feels a bit painful to > suddenly have to pay the full price for a service I don't need, on top > of an already hefty upgrade fee. Since everybody's got to have tech > support now, why does it cost the same as when it was optional and > they priced it for a market that was a fraction of "everybody"?
> Nevertheless, I tell myself, it's still very good software and I still > need it for what I do so I guess I'll ante up again and try not to > lose sleep over it. (Grumble, grumble...) But I'm going to be spending > a lot more time in osgeo forums I think.
> On a positive note, I sort of like what I read about some of the new > features; especially support for PostGIS as I'm beginning to use that > and PostgreSQL quite a bit now.
> - Bill Thoen
> college.atlas wrote:
>> Glen,
>> Where are you in the world. Is this US or Australia? I am unaware of >> this requirement.
>> On the supports side, I have had everything from stellar support to >> absolute 0
>> In the absolute 0 cases I had to make calls to people I specifically >> know at Mapinfo to worm my way through the management chain to get >> action.
>> It's amazing what happens when you send a nicely worded email to >> every @mapinfo or now @pb address in your address book simply asking >> "is there anybody in support who can help me with this problem"
>> Mind you I've been using Mapinfo for 15 years and have been fortunate >> to develop personal relationships with support staff who now hold >> senior management positions in Australia and the US.
>> On Jun 25, 1:19 am, Glen <Glen_Oss...@Ossman-CG.net> wrote:
>>> MapInfo now requires the purchase of a MATS Plan with all new >>> license and upgrade purchases in addition to the prices quoted above.
>>> Single User MATS Pricing Silver MATS Gold MATS One Year
>>> $495.00 $660.00 Two Years $875.00 $1,210.00 Three >>> Years $1,205.00 $1,650.00
|
