CAD Software Forum

Why do I have to pay to upgrade IntelliCAD PE+ from 6.1 to 6.2?

Say you buy a new car. The next year, you go to the dealer that sold it to you and say that they should give you the new model as you bought the last one. What would he say?

I thought versions like 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3 are usually bug fixes and a few new features. Versions like 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 are usually new versions of the program and usually have new features. You can pay to upgrade a program from 5.X to 6.0 but I don't think you should pay to upgrade a program from 6.1 to 6.2.

Not the case. Intermidiate upgrades (the free ones) are numbered such as 6.1.2. 6.2 is a new release. There is no standardiztion between manufacturers of software on their numbering system. If a company wants to number their systems as version .0025, version .00251, .00252 ect, they can.

[This message has been edited by CW (edited 08-26-2006).]

[This message has been edited by CW (edited 08-26-2006).]

I sent the following info in an email to sales at CMS and I am awaiting a response:

I purchased an upgrade to IntelliCAD 6 PE+ on 9/21/05. I was able to download the update to v6.1 at no charge. It seems the v6.2 is not an update, but an upgrade, according to my account information. I have purchased all versions of IntelliCAD since v3.3, and I don’t recall having an upgrade charge to go from v x.1 to v x.2.



Could you let me know if this is an error?

If not an error, is the $173 cost for me to upgrade from v 6.1 to v 6.2 correct.

If the cost is correct, can you indicate where on your website the specific changes from v 6.1 to 6.2 are documented so that I may consider an upgrade.?


[This message has been edited by chrisd (edited 09-11-2006).]

I realize this thread is older than dirt but hey why not...

There is no standard in the industry for upgrade policies although in the past when I've worked with/for software vendors I've found it a lot easier to swallow things if you get free upgrades for a certain period. Gotta admit I'm a little pissed - I just bought CMS 6.3 less than 2 months ago and here is 6.4 and they want me to pay again basically as much as I just paid - that is just wrong IMHO - but it is completely at the discretion of the vendor.

The reason most companies do this is that they want the incremental revenue stream that they believe they are missing if they don't do it. I'm not always sure they see the other side though - the negative good will (which is unmeasurable) as well as the lack of brand affinity caused by this in addition to delays to upgrades caused by this pricing mentality. I went with CMS this time whereas I had purchased Bricscad a few years ago - next time hopefully it will be truly open source and can go with that option.

Just my $0.02

CMS did upgrade me to 6.2 at no charge. I had paid for 6.1 about 7 or 8 months prior to the 6.2 release. I do expect to pay something on a regular (yearly) basis for upgrades as most CAD vendors charge 15% of the software value for yearly "maintenance"

Since IntelliCAD costs far less than the typical CAD software, I would expect to pay up to 50% of the value for an upgrade once a year. Or even twice a year if there is another significant enhancement. However having to pay almost the full software value every upgrade seems ludicrous.

A better option IMHO would be for CMS to offer an optional "maintenance" or service contract at the time of purchase to guarantee "free" updates for one year. Then renewing the contract on a yearly basis ensures you don't have to purchase the software again at (near) full price and guarantees additional revenue stream for CMS.

Aside from issues of pricing, I have version 6.4.23.1 which suggests incremental revisions. Whether these should be paid for or not, is there information available about any such revs - do they happen?

john gaunt,

There are many incremental revisions during development and CMS usually hold back until the release is as free from bugs as possible.