I'll bite...
Carl,
I don't think a lot of folks disagree with your sentiments,
and I can safely say we all disagree about Checkpoints
support methodology and the strong upper hand.
Your comment "I was under the impression" has _assume_
written all over it. With that said, I do have to ask.
Did you ask about support contracts? Did you inquire
as to what you _do_ get for the big $$ you paid for the
product.
In this day and age of JIT, always up, don't ever let it
break, just begs to have some support agreements in
place for those really bad hair days.
If this was your first purchase and had zero knowledge
of Checkpoint, I *might* think, well his anger is sort of
justified. If that were the case, then I would think that
you should have been even more motivated to inquire
about the company as much as you had inquired about
the product.
Which brings me to my final thought. You chose CP for
a reason right? Your research said, this product fits our
needs, so you told your boss/company we need this
because it came out best in my testing and research.
Are you willing to throw it away(or get refund??) and
settle with a product that doesn't fit your needs as well,
just becuase your angry about something _you_ forgot
to ask about?
Carl, I think it's a good thing when a company's 'area
for improvement' is brought out in the open, and I hope
CP does change some of their ways for the better.
Best of Luck!
Robert
- -
Robert P. MacDonald, Network Engineer
e-Business Infrastructure
G o r d o n F o o d S e r v i c e
Voice: +1.616.261.7987 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>> Carl E. Mankinen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 8/23/00 5:25:43 PM >>>
>
>I was under the impression that Service Packs correct BUGS in a developers
>product and generally all companies which sell software make access to their
>point release patches FREE via the Internet.
>
>A Software Support Contract would be for when a MAJOR upgrade is released
>and not just a point release.
>You can't just purchase a really old copy and expect to have the latest and
>greatest, but can you imagine the uproar that would be heard if Microsoft
>tried to force us to PURCHASE their Service Packs?
>
>Why then does CheckPoint require a Support Contract in order to download a
>"point" release?
>
>After talking with their "customer advocacy" group, they told me I was
>screwed and there was no way I could the patch unless I paid more to get the
>"Software Support Contract". Customer Advocacy? it's more like the "tell
>them to pay more hotline".
>That's pretty lame in my opinion.
>
>As far as I am concerned, their support is pretty lack luster as it is and
>they want you to give them money just to download patches for their bugs in
>software which you already paid a fortune for?
>
>I just went thru CCSE/CCSA certification and purchased CheckPoint 2000 / 4.1
>Enterprise with all the bells and whistles for Windows NT and unfortunately,
>the dealer (INSIGHT) did not sell us a support contract. Now it looks like
>we will be returning this product and going with another product due to this
>lame support contract b.s. My manager is hopping mad about this.
>
>Any one else have any comments on this?
>
>I would say something like, "Hey, my tax dollars paid for those patriot
>missile batteries and AH64's they have which are providing them with THEIR
>security, how about helping me out with mine..." but this is already getting
>pretty inflammatory.
>
>-Carl E. Mankinen
>CCSA/CCSE/RPOMF
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