cut-off date for free upgrade to Labview 2012

[gregkernaghan]

With Labview 2012 in second Beta phase and an internal (non-public) release date circulating for LV2012 base, professional and developer editions...

...what is the date after which one can reliably purchase Labview 2011 and be assured a free upgrade to Labview 2012 due to the imminent release of the latter?

Or is it going to be a case of NO FREE UPGRADES for recent purchasers of all 2011 streams even with copies that are merely days old?

thanks

gk 🙂

[altenbach]

I am not going to comments about beta rumors. As you said yourself, this is not public information.

For many years now, the new LabVIEW version has been released around NI-Week, meaning early August.

It might be a relatively safe bet to assume that there is a pattern but there are no guarantees of course. 😉

When you buy LabVIEW, it typically comes with a 1 year SSP, during which you are entitled to all product upgrades. There seem to be 2 and 3 year SSP options at a modest additional price or you can keep it forever for an annual SSP subscription fee.

Also, LabVIEW 2011 won't stop working overnight when the next version comes out and it can give you years of use if you don't need to constanty have the newest and greatest.

[smercurio_fc]

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gregkernaghan wrote:

Or is it going to be a case of NO FREE UPGRADES for recent purchasers of all 2011 streams even with copies that are merely days old?

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Technically, there are no free upgrades. There haven't been any free upgrades for years and years. The software distribution business model isn't like it used to be. Nowadays you pretty much have to pay for everything, including bug fixes. The 1 year of SSP is, for practical purposes, built into the cost of LabVIEW, so you're paying for that "free" upgrade if the new version is released within one year of your purchase.

[ErnieH]

Well, it sounds like you want to buy 2011 and get 2012 without getting on SSP. Assuming the package purchased includes a 1 year SSP, I would allow time after the release so you will get the service pack also. I am thinking June or July should be safe ( of course, now that I have stated that, they may change it!). Just my 2 cents.

[gregkernaghan]

thanks very much for the replies...

I thought the terminology contained in the SSP license document was a little nebulous in terms of product upgrades... relying on interpreting LV2012 as a "product upgrade" and not as a new product was the key to assuring me that LV2012 is included with LV2011 (if released within 12 months of the LV2011 purchase).

seems you guys have answered the question + more (appreciated)

with many thanks

gk 🙂

[_Bryan]

If you really want 2012 and can wait, your best bet might be to wait until it is released to buy it.  The reason I say that is if you get 2011 and get the upgrade to 2012 just before your SSP runs out you will be stuck with 2012 with any bugs that are released with it.  But if you buy 2012 with the 1 year SSP you will get any bug fixes (service packs) for a year that NI decides are worth fixing and have the most complete product you can hope to get before they move on to 2013.