04-12-2007 04:50 PM
04-12-2007 08:54 PM
What makes you think that 8.2.1 is not a free update for current 8.20 owners?
@Robert Cole wrote:
I downloaded the LabVIEW 8.2.1 Run-Time yesterday. So, it IS available now.
The only question that I have about the update, is:
Why is an update that is almost exclusively bug fixes, not a free update? Is NI that short on money, that they can't supply bug fixes? If someone calls support with a problem, will the answer be to spend more money to get the latest update rather than helping with what the customer already has paid for?
04-13-2007 01:46 AM - edited 04-13-2007 01:46 AM
This discussion indicates that it is not free. EDIT: It seems still to be an open question.
@altenbach wrote:
What makes you think that 8.2.1 is not a free update for current 8.20 owners?
Message Edited by Tomi M on 04-13-2007 09:50 AM
04-13-2007 04:07 AM
8.2 -> 8.2.1 may be free, but that doesn't help you very much because I assume the next version will be a "major" upgrade you won't get for free. My problem with this is, that you need to upgrade sooner or later because NI doesn't release bug fixes for old versions even if needed. E.g. if you're using 8.0 you have to live with the bugs (I'm not talking about features!) or you have to pay for an upgrade (which may solve old bugs but brings new features with new bugs).
@altenbach wrote:
What makes you think that 8.2.1 is not a free update for current 8.20 owners?
04-13-2007 05:54 AM
04-13-2007 09:20 AM
@Robert Cole wrote:
...Why is an update that is almost exclusively bug fixes, not a free update? Is NI that short on money, that they can't supply bug fixes? If someone calls support with a problem, will the answer be to spend more money to get the latest update rather than helping with what the customer already has paid for?
I believe some Marketing folks are going to supply better answers, but I'll take a shot at this.
The 8.2.1 release is not "free" to anyone. Users on SSP will receive the update as part of the service they paid for. We bundle SSP with product purchases for numerous reasons, this being one of them. Users who purchased 8.20 will still be on SSP, so they will get the update. Users who received 8.20 while on SSP and whose SSP subscription has since expired and was not renewed, will have to purchase 8.2.1 (or perhaps can still renew their SSP? - not sure, I'm in Engr.).
Roy
04-13-2007 09:53 AM
04-13-2007 01:59 PM
In 2006, NI started requiring 1 year of Standard Service Program (SSP) membership with all new software purchases to provide routine fixes, deliver new technologies, and incorporate user feedback in a timely manner. We now strive for regularly scheduled maintenance releases and have an expectation that all customers will receive at least one, and in many cases, two new versions in a given year as part of this program. Another change is that we are automatically shipping version 8.2.1 to all of our customer with SSP membership - so if you are on SSP and you have not received it yet, you will soon.
As stated earlier, most new LabVIEW users who purchased LabVIEW 8.20 have one year of SSP membership and will receive the 8.2.1 update automatically through the mail. If for some reason you purchased LabVIEW 8.20 without SSP, or if you are a long-time LabVIEW user who has your SSP subscription lapse and upgraded manually to version 8.20, we are extending an offer to renew/enroll in SSP at a special price by waiving the late fees and the upgrade charges. The value of SSP membership is not only in receiving all new versions of the software, but also in minimizing your down-time with direct phone and email access to our technical support engineers, and accessing new on-demand training through the NI Services Resource Center (which we continue to expand). In addition to receiving LV 8.2.1, you will also receive any additional releases for the next year.
David Gardner
National Instruments
05-02-2007 08:18 AM
Hello, perhaps David can answer this?
We got started with this at the release of 8.0 and got 8.2 as part of SSP, which came with a new serial number and activation.
We re-upped for SSP for this year and I just got 8.21 which I'm happy about, but the 8.21 didn't come with a new serial number or certificate of ownership. Does the one from 8.2 transfer or am I missing a document?
05-02-2007 08:25 AM