Last Chance for Moneyplex ?
Read about Matrica having started a poll about wether OS/2 users are interested in a new version of Moneyplex, having HBCI support as a new feature ? At first, one would like to shout out "Great, OS/2 software is being further developed !" and "I vote YES, I want to have it !" .
But when you read the conditions of this poll, you possibly won't believe your eyes: the so-called poll turns out to be a registration form for the upgrade. Even better: you will have to order AND pay the upgrade before the first line of code has been written (except perhaps existing Windows code). And even if you want to pay for it in advance, you still do not know, if and when the update will come out, because that can at the earliest be said, when enough users have ordered the upgrade AND payed in advance.
Are you upset now ? Have you never heard of such a behaviour ? Well, the same applied to me, when I read this. But then, let's think about it one moment ...
Everybody, who uses this program, will wonder, how long it can still be used without HBCI. This is why one will want to or will have to pay the relatively high price (OS/2 was always a bit more expensive, wasn't it ?). At least I have not heard of anybody having this program and not wanting the update.
I must admit, that even before this background Matricas way of handling this leaves a more than flat aftertaste in my mouth. This program has been around for several years know and I think that I have invested already about DM 500, therefore I would certainly prefer not to be treated that way. But even then any angry mails or comments will not change things anymore, the only vote can now be made with the wallet.
Even though I don't like being treated like this and even though there is no justification in any way for such dubious manner (the purpose also here does not sanctify the means): this program simply has a monopoly positiion in the OS/2 market, and due to this many others and I are caught in the trap.
It is sad, that a software vendor takes such action or at least thinks, that such action must be taken. From my point of view Matrica has by far not yet exploited the market potential for Moneyplex and so it was not necessary at all for them to follow the scheme "the money in advance - the good possibly later". But there have been some of such software vendors around there without courage and some are still there. This is why many OS/2 programs are discontinued, that in turn pulls down OS/2, and so the wheel turns full circle. It is possible, that this circle really can only be broken through in such a way ?
It is a pitty, that Matrica did not search for a solution together with the OS/2 community, that would taste much less like confrontation than the current one. There are well enough forums and groups, that would have been available for a dialog. But let us also think of that even this action would not have been possible without a basic prerequisite: Matrica is definitely interested in OS/2, it only may not end up in losses.
Let us give Mr. Flemming, what he very much needs: faith into the OS/2 community. Comments like "this cannot be don like that" is equally as correct as it simply does not help any further in this situation. I very much hope, that the program is further being developed and that Matrica will present a preview of it at Warpstock Europe 2000.
Mit freundlichen Gruessen / With kindest regards
Christian Langanke
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Warpstock Europa 2000 Team
Team OS/2 Deutschland e.V.
Warpstock is a trademark of Warpstock, Inc.
Christian Langanke, 2000-07-06
Comments: 3
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