Rant: .NET Component Vendors

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  • Chien Lau

    #1

    Rant: .NET Component Vendors

    I had a situation occur today that's happened a number of times before
    and I'd like to get your take on it:

    Imagine... You're developing a WinForms app for a client that includes
    the use charts. So you purchase a .NET charting component, design the app,
    and deliver it to the customer. One year later, the customer comes back and
    says, "There's a bug in your app. The application crashes when I do such and
    such to the chart." I start debugging and realize that the error is
    occurring in the charting component. I call the vendor who acknowledges that
    yes in fact there is a well-known bug in the charting component. It's been
    fixed -- but if I want the patch, I need to pay for the product again. This
    seems outrageous to me, but I've had it happen to me with numerous component
    vendors that provide charting, grid, docking windows, and FTP functionality.

    On one hand, I see their point. In the year since I've released my app,
    they've added lots of cool features to their component and they want to be
    paid for their work... but on the other hand, I don't CARE about the new
    features. All I want is to get this bug fixed, recompile, and re-deliver to
    my customer. Why should I have to shell out another $600 for a completely
    new version of their component?

    Some .NET component vendors handle this by trying to get me to sign up
    for a "subscripti on." Under the subscription, I'd get the latest version of
    that vendors product(s) for as long as I keep paying for my subscription.
    What's your opinion of this? Do you guys typically buy into these
    subscriptions? A sales person at a popular component vendor today asked me,
    "When you buy Visual Studio 6.0, do you expect to get Visual Studio.NET and
    all future versions of VS for free?" My reply was, "no." I said that I don't
    mind paying more money for VS 7.0 because I planned to make use of many of
    it's great new features... but I wouldn't be too happy if MSFT charged me
    again for the product or make me "subscribe" just to fix glaring bugs. When
    Microsoft finds a glaring bug in Win2000, for example, they give me a free
    patch -- they don't tell me "tough luck -- go pay for Win2003."

    What's your opinion on "subscribin g" to a software component (like a
    grid, chart, smtp, etc.)? Is my frustration unjustified?



  • Michael C

    #2
    Re: .NET Component Vendors

    That definitely sucks. They should have given you a patch for the old
    version of the charting component. I tend to be a little behind the early
    adopters in this sense - I've been burned enough times by faulty first run
    software and components that I hardly ever buy a 1.0... As far as a
    subscription - depends on a lot of factors; the main ones being how much
    value will I get for my subscription $$$ and how often will I re-use this
    particular component for other projects. If it's a single-shot deal and
    you'll never have use for it again... well...

    On the other hand, it's easy to get in the mindset of getting a project
    done, running through some test cases and ship it. It's been my experience
    that getting someone else to test your app before you deliver is a pretty
    good idea. I recently created an app that worked fine for my limited test
    cases, but I handed it off to someone else who ran some very strange tests
    and in the process uncovered some well-hidden bugs.

    Best of Luck,
    Michael C.

    "Chien Lau" <MontherInLau@g randson.pop> wrote in message
    news:#TMu4kebEH A.904@TK2MSFTNG P09.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
    > I had a situation occur today that's happened a number of times before
    > and I'd like to get your take on it:
    >
    > Imagine... You're developing a WinForms app for a client that includes
    > the use charts. So you purchase a .NET charting component, design the app,
    > and deliver it to the customer. One year later, the customer comes back[/color]
    and[color=blue]
    > says, "There's a bug in your app. The application crashes when I do such[/color]
    and[color=blue]
    > such to the chart." I start debugging and realize that the error is
    > occurring in the charting component. I call the vendor who acknowledges[/color]
    that[color=blue]
    > yes in fact there is a well-known bug in the charting component. It's been
    > fixed -- but if I want the patch, I need to pay for the product again.[/color]
    This[color=blue]
    > seems outrageous to me, but I've had it happen to me with numerous[/color]
    component[color=blue]
    > vendors that provide charting, grid, docking windows, and FTP[/color]
    functionality.[color=blue]
    >
    > On one hand, I see their point. In the year since I've released my[/color]
    app,[color=blue]
    > they've added lots of cool features to their component and they want to be
    > paid for their work... but on the other hand, I don't CARE about the new
    > features. All I want is to get this bug fixed, recompile, and re-deliver[/color]
    to[color=blue]
    > my customer. Why should I have to shell out another $600 for a completely
    > new version of their component?
    >
    > Some .NET component vendors handle this by trying to get me to sign up
    > for a "subscripti on." Under the subscription, I'd get the latest version[/color]
    of[color=blue]
    > that vendors product(s) for as long as I keep paying for my subscription.
    > What's your opinion of this? Do you guys typically buy into these
    > subscriptions? A sales person at a popular component vendor today asked[/color]
    me,[color=blue]
    > "When you buy Visual Studio 6.0, do you expect to get Visual Studio.NET[/color]
    and[color=blue]
    > all future versions of VS for free?" My reply was, "no." I said that I[/color]
    don't[color=blue]
    > mind paying more money for VS 7.0 because I planned to make use of many of
    > it's great new features... but I wouldn't be too happy if MSFT charged me
    > again for the product or make me "subscribe" just to fix glaring bugs.[/color]
    When[color=blue]
    > Microsoft finds a glaring bug in Win2000, for example, they give me a free
    > patch -- they don't tell me "tough luck -- go pay for Win2003."
    >
    > What's your opinion on "subscribin g" to a software component (like a
    > grid, chart, smtp, etc.)? Is my frustration unjustified?
    >
    >
    >[/color]


    Comment

    • Floyd Burger

      #3
      Re: .NET Component Vendors

      They should either give you a free patch or a free upgrade. I'm using a
      serial comms library and it had a few bugs in it (it was a 1.0 version),
      once they released 1.1 they gave that away since it fixed some known bugs
      (even though there was a pretty major architecture change) From what I
      understand, once they release 2.0 (with CF support) that will be free also.

      --
      Floyd Burger


      "Chien Lau" <MontherInLau@g randson.pop> wrote in message
      news:%23TMu4keb EHA.904@TK2MSFT NGP09.phx.gbl.. .[color=blue]
      > I had a situation occur today that's happened a number of times before
      > and I'd like to get your take on it:
      >
      > Imagine... You're developing a WinForms app for a client that includes
      > the use charts. So you purchase a .NET charting component, design the app,
      > and deliver it to the customer. One year later, the customer comes back[/color]
      and[color=blue]
      > says, "There's a bug in your app. The application crashes when I do such[/color]
      and[color=blue]
      > such to the chart." I start debugging and realize that the error is
      > occurring in the charting component. I call the vendor who acknowledges[/color]
      that[color=blue]
      > yes in fact there is a well-known bug in the charting component. It's been
      > fixed -- but if I want the patch, I need to pay for the product again.[/color]
      This[color=blue]
      > seems outrageous to me, but I've had it happen to me with numerous[/color]
      component[color=blue]
      > vendors that provide charting, grid, docking windows, and FTP[/color]
      functionality.[color=blue]
      >
      > On one hand, I see their point. In the year since I've released my[/color]
      app,[color=blue]
      > they've added lots of cool features to their component and they want to be
      > paid for their work... but on the other hand, I don't CARE about the new
      > features. All I want is to get this bug fixed, recompile, and re-deliver[/color]
      to[color=blue]
      > my customer. Why should I have to shell out another $600 for a completely
      > new version of their component?
      >
      > Some .NET component vendors handle this by trying to get me to sign up
      > for a "subscripti on." Under the subscription, I'd get the latest version[/color]
      of[color=blue]
      > that vendors product(s) for as long as I keep paying for my subscription.
      > What's your opinion of this? Do you guys typically buy into these
      > subscriptions? A sales person at a popular component vendor today asked[/color]
      me,[color=blue]
      > "When you buy Visual Studio 6.0, do you expect to get Visual Studio.NET[/color]
      and[color=blue]
      > all future versions of VS for free?" My reply was, "no." I said that I[/color]
      don't[color=blue]
      > mind paying more money for VS 7.0 because I planned to make use of many of
      > it's great new features... but I wouldn't be too happy if MSFT charged me
      > again for the product or make me "subscribe" just to fix glaring bugs.[/color]
      When[color=blue]
      > Microsoft finds a glaring bug in Win2000, for example, they give me a free
      > patch -- they don't tell me "tough luck -- go pay for Win2003."
      >
      > What's your opinion on "subscribin g" to a software component (like a
      > grid, chart, smtp, etc.)? Is my frustration unjustified?
      >
      >
      >[/color]


      Comment

      • Relaxin

        #4
        Re: .NET Component Vendors

        > All I want is to get this bug fixed, recompile, and re-deliver to[color=blue]
        > my customer. Why should I have to shell out another $600 for a completely
        > new version of their component?[/color]


        Borland's vendor "some-what" solved that problem by giving you the source
        code with all components that you purchased.

        So if a bug does come up and the vendor is not going to fix it, at least you
        can try to fix it yourself.


        Comment

        • JMW

          #5
          RE: Rant: .NET Component Vendors

          There are several decompilers on the market do they have it obsfucated? If not decompile it and try to fix it yourself. Many of the early adopters did not obsfucate their stuff. In fact you could download the current stuff, decompile it and try to take their licensing information out of it :). Then you dont have to pay for squat.

          I usually dont do this but when you are being jerked around sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands. :)

          jason.

          "Chien Lau" wrote:
          [color=blue]
          > I had a situation occur today that's happened a number of times before
          > and I'd like to get your take on it:
          >
          > Imagine... You're developing a WinForms app for a client that includes
          > the use charts. So you purchase a .NET charting component, design the app,
          > and deliver it to the customer. One year later, the customer comes back and
          > says, "There's a bug in your app. The application crashes when I do such and
          > such to the chart." I start debugging and realize that the error is
          > occurring in the charting component. I call the vendor who acknowledges that
          > yes in fact there is a well-known bug in the charting component. It's been
          > fixed -- but if I want the patch, I need to pay for the product again. This
          > seems outrageous to me, but I've had it happen to me with numerous component
          > vendors that provide charting, grid, docking windows, and FTP functionality.
          >
          > On one hand, I see their point. In the year since I've released my app,
          > they've added lots of cool features to their component and they want to be
          > paid for their work... but on the other hand, I don't CARE about the new
          > features. All I want is to get this bug fixed, recompile, and re-deliver to
          > my customer. Why should I have to shell out another $600 for a completely
          > new version of their component?
          >
          > Some .NET component vendors handle this by trying to get me to sign up
          > for a "subscripti on." Under the subscription, I'd get the latest version of
          > that vendors product(s) for as long as I keep paying for my subscription.
          > What's your opinion of this? Do you guys typically buy into these
          > subscriptions? A sales person at a popular component vendor today asked me,
          > "When you buy Visual Studio 6.0, do you expect to get Visual Studio.NET and
          > all future versions of VS for free?" My reply was, "no." I said that I don't
          > mind paying more money for VS 7.0 because I planned to make use of many of
          > it's great new features... but I wouldn't be too happy if MSFT charged me
          > again for the product or make me "subscribe" just to fix glaring bugs. When
          > Microsoft finds a glaring bug in Win2000, for example, they give me a free
          > patch -- they don't tell me "tough luck -- go pay for Win2003."
          >
          > What's your opinion on "subscribin g" to a software component (like a
          > grid, chart, smtp, etc.)? Is my frustration unjustified?
          >
          >
          >
          >[/color]

          Comment

          • Alan Pretre

            #6
            Re: .NET Component Vendors

            I'll be the dissenting voice here.

            If you try to place a dollar value on the time you're saving by not having
            to write this component yourself, I think anyone would agree $600 is still a
            bargain. And if you are not even capable of writing these yourself with the
            same quality then its even more valuable to you. If this is a reputable
            vendor with high quality stuff then I think the $600 is a reasonable
            investment to make you look good. Even if you could write these yourself,
            what is your time worth to you? Finally don't be too hard on the vendor.
            Your code has problems too. There is no software without problems. Perhaps
            if you'd kept abreast of the changes sooner that a year you could've gotten
            patches for free.

            -- Alan


            Comment

            • Michael C

              #7
              Re: .NET Component Vendors

              Charging a customer for new features is one thing. Charging a customer for
              a patch to fix an acknowledged bug in a software product is not good
              business. The only problem the OP told us about is the one caused by the
              buggy component he purchased, so where does "your code has problems too"
              come from? Situations like this make you read the fine print twice before
              spending your hard earned $$ on buggy components from vendors who won't make
              good when their software is discovered to be faulty... today, next week, or
              a year from now.

              Thanks,
              Michael C.

              "Alan Pretre" <no@spam> wrote in message
              news:OljZzPpbEH A.2352@TK2MSFTN GP09.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
              > I'll be the dissenting voice here.
              >
              > If you try to place a dollar value on the time you're saving by not having
              > to write this component yourself, I think anyone would agree $600 is still[/color]
              a[color=blue]
              > bargain. And if you are not even capable of writing these yourself with[/color]
              the[color=blue]
              > same quality then its even more valuable to you. If this is a reputable
              > vendor with high quality stuff then I think the $600 is a reasonable
              > investment to make you look good. Even if you could write these yourself,
              > what is your time worth to you? Finally don't be too hard on the vendor.
              > Your code has problems too. There is no software without problems.[/color]
              Perhaps[color=blue]
              > if you'd kept abreast of the changes sooner that a year you could've[/color]
              gotten[color=blue]
              > patches for free.
              >
              > -- Alan
              >
              >[/color]


              Comment

              • Alan Pretre

                #8
                Re: .NET Component Vendors

                "Michael C" <nospam@lol.net > wrote in message
                news:m5kLc.6741 4$S45.8280484@n ews4.srv.hcvlny .cv.net...[color=blue]
                > Charging a customer for new features is one thing. Charging a customer[/color]
                for[color=blue]
                > a patch to fix an acknowledged bug in a software product is not good
                > business.[/color]

                I disagree here. This happens all of the time. Call it maintenance plans
                or maintenance contracts or one year of free upgrades or whatever. To think
                that you can just purchase a component for x dollars and then get free bug
                fixes forever in all cases is naive. Is that good business for the vendor?
                Maybe, maybe not.
                [color=blue]
                > The only problem the OP told us about is the one caused by the
                > buggy component he purchased, so where does "your code has problems too"
                > come from?[/color]

                It sounded to me like he was being too harsh on the vendor. My point was
                that everyone's code has problems, his included. If he found value from
                this vendor's product, and it seems he did, then it is not unreasonable to
                reimburse the vendor for their effort. The vendor has expenses too and a
                staff to pay. If he values their products and would like them to be in
                business down the road it's in his best interest to support them. Compared
                to say, soft drinks, the potential market size of a software component is
                orders of magnitude smaller. When you figure that the market penetration
                for the vendor's product is probably just a fraction of this already small
                potential market, it is not surprising that the vendor needs the revenue.
                [color=blue]
                > Situations like this make you read the fine print twice before
                > spending your hard earned $$ on buggy components from vendors who won't[/color]
                make[color=blue]
                > good when their software is discovered to be faulty... today, next week,[/color]
                or[color=blue]
                > a year from now.[/color]

                I don't disagree with this at all. Good research is always prudent before
                plunking your cash down. Since the OP says it took his customer a year to
                find this bug it doesn't sound to me like this vendor's product is "buggy".
                If you are a pro developer, then $600 for, I'm guessing, unlimited
                distribution of their component is not unreasonable. It all comes down to
                what is it worth to you?

                -- Alan


                Comment

                • Bob Grommes

                  #9
                  Re: Rant: .NET Component Vendors

                  Another option is to purchase the source code version of a component (if
                  there is one). If you expect the feature set of the current version will
                  serve you well for several years, then it may be cheaper to endure the extra
                  cost up front and maintain it yourself. Sometimes the source is not that
                  much more.

                  Another way to look at it is that if you pay $600 for a component and this
                  saves you several thousand bucks developing the same functionality yourself,
                  then what's another $600 to fix a bug that took the customer a year to
                  notice? You are still ahead of the game.

                  All of these are rationalization s of course -- the vendor should not charge
                  full price for a version upgrade and they should be willing to cut a deal in
                  a case like yours in the name of customer satisfaction. But, many companies
                  don't understand customer satisfaction.

                  --Bob

                  "JMW" <JMW@discussion s.microsoft.com > wrote in message
                  news:DC98478C-15FB-4401-B031-FE9AF826BE9B@mi crosoft.com...[color=blue]
                  > There are several decompilers on the market do they have it obsfucated? If[/color]
                  not decompile it and try to fix it yourself. Many of the early adopters did
                  not obsfucate their stuff. In fact you could download the current stuff,
                  decompile it and try to take their licensing information out of it :). Then
                  you dont have to pay for squat.[color=blue]
                  >
                  > I usually dont do this but when you are being jerked around sometimes you[/color]
                  have to take matters into your own hands. :)[color=blue]
                  >
                  > jason.
                  >
                  > "Chien Lau" wrote:
                  >[color=green]
                  > > I had a situation occur today that's happened a number of times[/color][/color]
                  before[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > and I'd like to get your take on it:
                  > >
                  > > Imagine... You're developing a WinForms app for a client that[/color][/color]
                  includes[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > the use charts. So you purchase a .NET charting component, design the[/color][/color]
                  app,[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > and deliver it to the customer. One year later, the customer comes back[/color][/color]
                  and[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > says, "There's a bug in your app. The application crashes when I do such[/color][/color]
                  and[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > such to the chart." I start debugging and realize that the error is
                  > > occurring in the charting component. I call the vendor who acknowledges[/color][/color]
                  that[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > yes in fact there is a well-known bug in the charting component. It's[/color][/color]
                  been[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > fixed -- but if I want the patch, I need to pay for the product again.[/color][/color]
                  This[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > seems outrageous to me, but I've had it happen to me with numerous[/color][/color]
                  component[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > vendors that provide charting, grid, docking windows, and FTP[/color][/color]
                  functionality.[color=blue][color=green]
                  > >
                  > > On one hand, I see their point. In the year since I've released my[/color][/color]
                  app,[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > they've added lots of cool features to their component and they want to[/color][/color]
                  be[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > paid for their work... but on the other hand, I don't CARE about the new
                  > > features. All I want is to get this bug fixed, recompile, and re-deliver[/color][/color]
                  to[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > my customer. Why should I have to shell out another $600 for a[/color][/color]
                  completely[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > new version of their component?
                  > >
                  > > Some .NET component vendors handle this by trying to get me to sign[/color][/color]
                  up[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > for a "subscripti on." Under the subscription, I'd get the latest version[/color][/color]
                  of[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > that vendors product(s) for as long as I keep paying for my[/color][/color]
                  subscription.[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > What's your opinion of this? Do you guys typically buy into these
                  > > subscriptions? A sales person at a popular component vendor today asked[/color][/color]
                  me,[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > "When you buy Visual Studio 6.0, do you expect to get Visual Studio.NET[/color][/color]
                  and[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > all future versions of VS for free?" My reply was, "no." I said that I[/color][/color]
                  don't[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > mind paying more money for VS 7.0 because I planned to make use of many[/color][/color]
                  of[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > it's great new features... but I wouldn't be too happy if MSFT charged[/color][/color]
                  me[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > again for the product or make me "subscribe" just to fix glaring bugs.[/color][/color]
                  When[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > Microsoft finds a glaring bug in Win2000, for example, they give me a[/color][/color]
                  free[color=blue][color=green]
                  > > patch -- they don't tell me "tough luck -- go pay for Win2003."
                  > >
                  > > What's your opinion on "subscribin g" to a software component (like a
                  > > grid, chart, smtp, etc.)? Is my frustration unjustified?[/color][/color]


                  Comment

                  • Patty O'Dors

                    #10
                    RE: Rant: .NET Component Vendors

                    Entirely your problem. If you don't either (a) use a charting component you
                    know well enough to trust, or (b) write your own, then you're entirely to
                    blame for not testing it. After all, the component vendor probably let you
                    download a free trial version for you to be able to test it under all
                    possible scenarios, otherwise they probably wouldn't have got their business
                    off the ground if they didn't.

                    Why not become a component author yourself, then you can show them how it's
                    done?

                    "Chien Lau" wrote:
                    [color=blue]
                    > I had a situation occur today that's happened a number of times before
                    > and I'd like to get your take on it:
                    >
                    > Imagine... You're developing a WinForms app for a client that includes
                    > the use charts. So you purchase a .NET charting component, design the app,
                    > and deliver it to the customer. One year later, the customer comes back and
                    > says, "There's a bug in your app. The application crashes when I do such and
                    > such to the chart." I start debugging and realize that the error is
                    > occurring in the charting component. I call the vendor who acknowledges that
                    > yes in fact there is a well-known bug in the charting component. It's been
                    > fixed -- but if I want the patch, I need to pay for the product again. This
                    > seems outrageous to me, but I've had it happen to me with numerous component
                    > vendors that provide charting, grid, docking windows, and FTP functionality.
                    >
                    > On one hand, I see their point. In the year since I've released my app,
                    > they've added lots of cool features to their component and they want to be
                    > paid for their work... but on the other hand, I don't CARE about the new
                    > features. All I want is to get this bug fixed, recompile, and re-deliver to
                    > my customer. Why should I have to shell out another $600 for a completely
                    > new version of their component?
                    >
                    > Some .NET component vendors handle this by trying to get me to sign up
                    > for a "subscripti on." Under the subscription, I'd get the latest version of
                    > that vendors product(s) for as long as I keep paying for my subscription.
                    > What's your opinion of this? Do you guys typically buy into these
                    > subscriptions? A sales person at a popular component vendor today asked me,
                    > "When you buy Visual Studio 6.0, do you expect to get Visual Studio.NET and
                    > all future versions of VS for free?" My reply was, "no." I said that I don't
                    > mind paying more money for VS 7.0 because I planned to make use of many of
                    > it's great new features... but I wouldn't be too happy if MSFT charged me
                    > again for the product or make me "subscribe" just to fix glaring bugs. When
                    > Microsoft finds a glaring bug in Win2000, for example, they give me a free
                    > patch -- they don't tell me "tough luck -- go pay for Win2003."
                    >
                    > What's your opinion on "subscribin g" to a software component (like a
                    > grid, chart, smtp, etc.)? Is my frustration unjustified?
                    >
                    >
                    >
                    >[/color]

                    Comment

                    • ToddT

                      #11
                      Re: Rant: .NET Component Vendors

                      i'm sympathetic to your cause and i believe that the vendor should
                      provide a patch for free. however, if the bug wasn't noticed until a
                      year after you deployed your app, i wouldn't describe it as a "glaring
                      bug"...

                      which vendor is it so i can avoid them?


                      On Mon, 19 Jul 2004 16:36:30 -0700, "Chien Lau"
                      <MontherInLau@g randson.pop> wrote:
                      [color=blue]
                      > I had a situation occur today that's happened a number of times before
                      >and I'd like to get your take on it:
                      >
                      > Imagine... You're developing a WinForms app for a client that includes
                      >the use charts. So you purchase a .NET charting component, design the app,
                      >and deliver it to the customer. One year later, the customer comes back and
                      >says, "There's a bug in your app. The application crashes when I do such and
                      >such to the chart." I start debugging and realize that the error is
                      >occurring in the charting component. I call the vendor who acknowledges that
                      >yes in fact there is a well-known bug in the charting component. It's been
                      >fixed -- but if I want the patch, I need to pay for the product again. This
                      >seems outrageous to me, but I've had it happen to me with numerous component
                      >vendors that provide charting, grid, docking windows, and FTP functionality.
                      >
                      > On one hand, I see their point. In the year since I've released my app,
                      >they've added lots of cool features to their component and they want to be
                      >paid for their work... but on the other hand, I don't CARE about the new
                      >features. All I want is to get this bug fixed, recompile, and re-deliver to
                      >my customer. Why should I have to shell out another $600 for a completely
                      >new version of their component?
                      >
                      > Some .NET component vendors handle this by trying to get me to sign up
                      >for a "subscripti on." Under the subscription, I'd get the latest version of
                      >that vendors product(s) for as long as I keep paying for my subscription.
                      >What's your opinion of this? Do you guys typically buy into these
                      >subscription s? A sales person at a popular component vendor today asked me,
                      >"When you buy Visual Studio 6.0, do you expect to get Visual Studio.NET and
                      >all future versions of VS for free?" My reply was, "no." I said that I don't
                      >mind paying more money for VS 7.0 because I planned to make use of many of
                      >it's great new features... but I wouldn't be too happy if MSFT charged me
                      >again for the product or make me "subscribe" just to fix glaring bugs. When
                      >Microsoft finds a glaring bug in Win2000, for example, they give me a free
                      >patch -- they don't tell me "tough luck -- go pay for Win2003."
                      >
                      > What's your opinion on "subscribin g" to a software component (like a
                      >grid, chart, smtp, etc.)? Is my frustration unjustified?
                      >
                      >[/color]

                      Comment

                      • Chien Lau

                        #12
                        Re: Rant: .NET Component Vendors

                        >[color=blue]
                        > Why not become a component author yourself, then you can show them how[/color]
                        it's[color=blue]
                        > done?[/color]

                        That's a really useful suggestion, babe.

                        Thanks.


                        Comment

                        • Chien Lau

                          #13
                          Re: Rant: .NET Component Vendors

                          > i'm sympathetic to your cause and i believe that the vendor should[color=blue]
                          > provide a patch for free. however, if the bug wasn't noticed until a
                          > year after you deployed your app, i wouldn't describe it as a "glaring
                          > bug"...
                          >
                          > which vendor is it so i can avoid them?[/color]

                          You're right, I misspoke. I shouldn't have used the word "glaring."

                          I don't want to mention the specific vendor in this negative thread
                          because they *did* eventually agree with me and provided me with a free
                          upgrade.

                          Here's an example to illustrate. I purchased a charting component to
                          display a profit/loss graph on a UserControl. I tested the UserControl
                          thoroughly. Everything worked fine. It turns out, however, that the charting
                          component is more sophisticated that it initially appears. For example, the
                          user can right click the chart and will be presented with literally dozens
                          of properties that can be set to change various aspects of the chart (3d
                          rendering, line colors, etc.). Very cool, actually. It turns out that a
                          particular combination of properties causes an unhandled exception in the
                          component. Because of the way the component uses threads, there's no way for
                          me to catch the exception. The bug wasn't discovered by any users (or the
                          vendor) for well after a year of the component's release.

                          So, what is one to do? I could:

                          a) Follow Patty's brilliant suggestion and just design a new charting
                          component myself. NOT.
                          b) Berate myself for not catching this bug on my own -- despite the fact
                          that even the VENDOR wasn't able to catch it after careful testing. Nope.

                          or

                          c) Ask the vendor to give me a free patch.

                          I chose (c). Just to be clear. I'm not ragging on the vendor having a
                          bug in their code. All code has bugs. I'm not even complaining that they
                          took so long to fix it -- after all, it did take a while to come to light.
                          My only complaint is that they initially wouldn't give me the patch without
                          demanding that I "resubscrib e." Eventually, they saw things my way. I've
                          been using components for many years and I'm now beginning to realize that
                          vendors can be categorized into two categories: those that believe the
                          "customer is always right", providing free patches for paying customers, and
                          those who don't. I've continued to buy more components from the former
                          category and I've stopped doing business with the latter -- and for what
                          it's worth, I can think of at least three from the latter category which are
                          either now defunct or heading in that direction... which tells me that a lot
                          of customers out there are like me, they vote with their feet so to speak.

                          One bit of advice that I've found helpful when dealing with a new
                          component vendor: Visit their support newsgroups. If you see a bunch of
                          angry customers complaining about having to pay for bug fixes, that's a red
                          flag. Had I followed this advice years ago, I could have saved myself a lot
                          of hassle + money.



                          Comment

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