Maybe…SE comes with Cubase Pro, so some of us got a ‘taste’ from that.
It’s normal with Steinberg for demo keys to come out a few releases later (somewhere in the .2 or .3 range). Sometimes it might even be possible that clicking on the link for the last version demo key might end up putting the newest one in your account instead. It’s worth a try.
Room to crit that policy, love it or hate it, it’s been that way with Steinberg stuff for years. People have complained for years, but it hasn’t changed a thing. It’s the way they roll. They have a million reasons ‘why’ (for better or worse).
They seem to try to stick to a release schedule of sorts. The ‘schedule’ is not disclosed to the public, but the staff knows what it is. The bosses lay out the assignments, set release dates, etc. The marketing and server people get ready for it. The sales and stuff are in motion months before they actually happen. That keeps the ‘money machine’ rolling, so the ‘staff’ can ‘collect their salary’. So, when those big dates hit, chances are they’re going to throw ‘something’ up there come hell or high water!
It helps keep those late sales in the ‘grace period’ for a free upgrade. There’s no promise it’ll work out that way, and it can sometimes be hard to anticipate such things, but…I’m kind of glad 12 came out at the time it did, despite the early release flaws. Why? I just got on board with SL 11 this summer in a 40% off sale. Had they waited, that first release would have missed the grace period for that last big sale they ran. I don’t know how many users this helped out, but I’m glad that I got a key for 12 inside the grace period! If it’s a month or two before it outperforms version 11 for me, oh well, at least I don’t have to pony up $90 bucks to move into 12. Right?
Old heads have learned over the years…
The first few releases often have issues. So if you’re not in a mood to mess with that wait a few months. If you do go ahead and take the upgrade keep the older version around. Run some tests with the new one before going mission critical with it.
Some wait a bit (.4 releases and higher) and watch the release notes in SDA to upgrade.
No, I don’t think upgrades get a ‘grace period’ to skip a cycle of payment. That only counts for full product licenses. Some users just prefer to get their hands on a demo key first, or simply to start with a more stable release.
Once you’ve bought into a product, it all shakes out for the same price whether you adopt early, or give it some time to simmer.
For better or worse, it is what it is. I have no problem with people advocating for a different kind of release model. Thing is, I’ve dealt with many dozens of software companies over a lifetime, and none of them are perfect. They all have their own quirks, and a ‘price’ to stay up to date.
It is what it is. We old heads have just learned to weigh out if the product and workflow is worth it to stay on board. The answer is usually yes. It is what it is, about all we can do is ‘accept it’ and get out the wallet, or freeze the system and use it as-is till we find some better road.
I don’t mind paying a bit from time to time. It usually shakes out to an average of around $50 per year per title (some exceptions of course). It’s competitive enough pricing I think, as I’ve dabbled in the upgrade and subscription models of MANY products over the years.
Bottom line, if the company has no revenue stream, then the programmers eventually have no job, and we get ‘no software/support at all’.
) this may have been the major reason to buy it.
