(Posted by Bob St. John)

Bob St. John sent us this message, which we want to share with you:

I recently posted a proposed change to our Upgrade Protection plan. Not final yet .. but .. the short story is I'm changing it from 24 months to 12 months (might still put up a 24 package if folks insist). I'm pulling Software Choice (SWC) out of it and putting the next MCP (MCP2) into it.

And I'm dropping the SRP from USD$225 to USD$69.

The reasoning is .. eCS users have the MCP. Most of what is on SWC is in MCP .. so eCS users wind up paying twice for the same features. Instead, I'll provide the second MCP when it becomes available. It will contain any new items put into SWC. What I'm going to put inside the paranthesis is for your information .. to be posted .. (I have a nondisclosure with IBM regarding OS/2 product plans. Therefore, I cannot comment on IBM plans. But based on what I know, this is the best value package I can provide to eCS customers).

Other items, which I think demonstrate our continued efforts to enhance the user experience with eCS and the support for the product by OS/2 ISVs. First, an eCS Clock by Mark Eckstein. I'm attaching a preview. It needs to be removed before installing any future previews or the GA product. But it gives a taste of what I consider to be the need for "fit and finish". eCS will be time zone aware .. daylight savings aware .. and allow users to create 'reminders' and 'alarms'. And it will be enhanced.

Norman Defense has provided us with a three month version of their Virus Control and CatsClaw. And we are also working with an ISV for a config tool to assist with firewalls. Feel free to contact me with questions or comments.

I'm working with the distributors on how we might repackage this for the benefit of eCS users. In my original packaging, I included a two year subscription to IBM's Software Choice (SWC). I've come to believe that is overkill. We will continue to offer SWC through our distributors. But I think we have crafted an exciting option for the eCS users. This is my proposal to the distributors. The new eCS Upgrade Protection program will be for 12 months. It will not include SWC. However, it will include the next MCP, due out the end of the year. This means eCS users get the SWC features as a package, not as a subscription. Rembember, it will still be possible to purchase SWC from eCS distributors and from other sources.

But I'm repackaging the program because I think we can do better this way. The new eCS UP will be 12 months, not 24. The distributors will determine the actual pricing, but the SRP will be USD $69. And it will include the MCP2, due out around the end of this year.

So the new packaging provides a shorter time frame, 12 months .. a bit more "tactical" and focused. At the same time, it significantly reduces the cost to the user.

First question, what happens at the end of the 12 months? For one thing, all of us will have a better view of things in 12 months. But even if the eCS UP price doubled (and that is a very, very big "if" .. see next para), it would still cost slightly less money than the current package and pricing
... eCS users are still better off. But by now, I think eCS users should have come to understand that Serenity Systems works hard to protect the investment made by our users. Any increase in pricing would be more than matched by an increase in the value proposition.

The next question is, what features would an eCS user miss out on if they don't have SWC. Well, registered eCS users will already have access to fixes and drivers. OS/2 users need SWC to access these features. The immediate feature which may come to mind is the new browser. This browser will be available on SWC with the IBM brand. It will also be available for download from other sources. So, I'm not inclined to suggest that a user purchase a subscription just to get the browser. The point is, once you have the MCP, how much more do you get in SWC and what is it worth?
IMO, asking an eCS user to buy SWC is asking them to pay twice for the same set of features. So, Serenity Systems can and will make SWC available at competitive pricing through the resellers. But .. eCS users will also have the option of getting a refreshed eCS at the end of the year, which will include the next Convenience Pack from IBM.

eCS users who do not purchase the Upgrade Protection package will be able to upgrade to the refresh product when it becomes available. I'm not going to put a price on that option today. The only thing I will say is that it can be expected to cost more than the eCS UPP. This a plan ... a proposal to the distributors. But I will come your input and feedback as well.

Regards,

Bob St.John

Dir, New Business Development
Serenity Systems International
a Managed Systems company

214 222-3414, ext 101 (outside USA)
888 299-6483, ext 101 (USA only)


http://www.Serenity-Systems.com


Moderator's Note: The next one if a little explanation note from OS2VOICE.org


>Would you care to explain what is MCP?

MCP = Merlin Convenience Pack. It is basically Warp 4, but updated by all the latest fixes so that you end up with Warp 4.51 on a CD,including things like tcp/ip 4.3. You can get it in two ways: by subscribing to Software Choice, or by buying eComStation.

>Is there any convenience pack or ecom packafe for an user of WSeB?

I believe that that's called ACP (Aurora Convenience Pack), but I don't know how you get it. The software streams have merged, so MCP effectively contains the same operating system as WSeB with the latest fixpacks, but I guess WSeB also includes some server software that's
not part of MCP.


--
Peter Moylan
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Human resource

Source: OS/2 ORG

OS/2-eCS-ArcaOS General News

More in General  

OS/2-eCS-ArcaOS Software News

More in Software  

Latest Forum Posts

WarpStock and OS/2-eCS-ArcaOS Event News

More in Events  

Site News

More in Site News