----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Barnes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2001 3:29 AM
Subject: Re: [Win4Lin-users] 3.0 upgrade pricing Announcement
>
> Something still bugs me, though. I can't help but wonder if this
> announcement would have happened if there weren't such a lot of loud
> complaints. I can't help but think that this episiode will sit in the
> back of my mind next to the Mandrake 7.2 kernel and the delay in issuing
> 2.0 upgrade licenses when I think about doing business with Netraverse
> in the future.
>
> Of course, the free upgrade MAY have been the plan all along, but it'd
> be pretty hard to convince me of that.
>
> I really think this is not a situation that has worked out well for
> anyone. We've got a promise of a free upgrade now, and that's wonderful,
> but Netraverse is not doing itself any favours here. There are features
> in 3.0 that are WORTH an upgrade cost, and I'm sure it must hurt to lose
> ANY revenue these days. Still, maybe that's a small hit compared to what
> they saw coming in the form of bad customer reaction.
>
> It's no good us rejoicing over our free upgrades, only to see Netraverse
> show up on fuckedcompany.com in six months. Maybe a little more care
> when assigning version numbers in the future, and a firm upgrade policy
> would be a good idea. Set a lifespan for each version and stick to it.
> Hold back features for major version increases, and keep the older
> versions supported. All I ever wanted was for my existing version to
> keep working, which I cannot believe is impossible.
>
Mike, from my perspective as a businessman, I couldn't agree more. Netraverse seems
like an ideal case study of the problems in managing a technology business and
striking a balance between great managers with poor technical skills and great techs
with poor management skills (as an example of extremes, not any indictment of this
particular company). Obviously, the businesses that wound up on fuckedcompany.com
didn't wage that struggle successfully; these guys seem to be doing a better job. They
appear to listen and respond to outside comments and make adjustments. However, that
's not a substitute for good planning; let's hope they take your suggestions to heart.
Hoyt
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