IA 9.0x releases

[rickrat]

You're probably used to paying for each runtime with InstallShield - they have been purchased by private equity so they will do everything and anything to milk their customer base

This is not what InstallAware does. If we release frequent updates, its because we really are working hard to bring major additional value to you. We're not milking you.

Just visit the PR section of our website. You'll find LOTS of free application runtimes that were published for FREE without requiring a major version update.

If a major version update coincides with new application runtimes, that is a coincidence or a release planning convenience, and not an effort to milk our customer base.

I'd have to disagree with you Michael. Releasing a major version within a 2-3 month timeframe allows people with subscriptions to be current, but sticks the guy that buys the specific version outright. Is there enough features / bug fixes to be called a major new version? Or can you just call it 9.5 instead of 10.0? Granted, v7 lasted a long time, but between 8-10 is two months or so between major versions. My point is, the release cycle for major versions seems to be a "squeezing" of the people who did not pay for subscriptions to gain one or two important features/runtimes.

Changing topics now...

I actually in the past have downloaded the demo for 9, had to install it to a VM, then copy the runtimes to the v7 folder.

I'm just afraid that they are gonna screw up something (Install script may differ between versions). It's also kind of a PITA to download / install just to get the runtimes. Any chance of having those listed on a page where they can be downloaded individually or downloaded in one file?

[MichaelNesmith]

I'd have to disagree with you Michael. Releasing a major version within a 2-3 month timeframe allows people with subscriptions to be current, but sticks the guy that buys the specific version outright. Is there enough features / bug fixes to be called a major new version? Or can you just call it 9.5 instead of 10.0? Granted, v7 lasted a long time, but between 8-10 is two months or so between major versions. My point is, the release cycle for major versions seems to be a "squeezing" of the people who did not pay for subscriptions to gain one or two important features/runtimes.

Changing topics now...

I actually in the past have downloaded the demo for 9, had to install it to a VM, then copy the runtimes to the v7 folder.

I'm just afraid that they are gonna screw up something (Install script may differ between versions). It's also kind of a PITA to download / install just to get the runtimes. Any chance of having those listed on a page where they can be downloaded individually or downloaded in one file?

I'm afraid you're totally wrong: InstallAware has never released major upgrades 2-3 months apart in our history. Even if we did, you would be fully covered by our technology guarantee program - major upgrades are free if you purchased within 3 months of it release. And minor upgrades are always free, of course.

So you're complaining about frequent release cycles without even knowing the true frequency of release, and ironically, the frequency you claim to cause problems for you is actually part of our technology guarantee program.

Between versions 6, 7, and 8, there were exactly 13 months each. Between versions 8 and 9, there were almost 9 months. I really have no idea where you got your numbers, but if you want service from InstallAware support, you will need to get your facts straight for starters. Case in point:

Copying runtimes is a very bad idea. Some runtimes will take advantage of new MSIcode commands and/or enhancements which will be lost on your old version compiler. This would lead to bugs at install time and/or unpredictable errors (which of course, given the quality of reporting in your post above, you would also be unable to properly identify to InstallAware support resources).

Please do take a step back and think before making your next post