My expectations of the product that I bought no matter how long ago (as long as there's no time limit or other kind of restriction) is supposed to work 100% is not absurd in the least, it's common sense. While it is at your discretion when and how to provide updates and fixes, it's not at your obligation whether to provide them or not. It's your obligation. I don't mind if you release the final tested patches, but the problem is that you haven't released them yet. When will you walk the walk?



That is true. However, since alphas/betas are the best way to provide and test a fix to some bug then I believe it's reasonable to expect them considering the number of bugs that have been piling up and their severity.



I don't expect a personal response. However, Jeff B often used to post here. Also, if they are so busy then why in almost a year there hasn't been a single stable update to OD?



But why a $20 purchase for WindowBlinds user gave him/her more updates, betas and stable releases in the past year than a $20 purchase of OD+?



Yes, it is your right to decide how to distribute your software. I'm just questioning the reasoning behind why it was decided to distribute the alpha of OD+ through Impulse without mirroring it to Stardock Central. No one has been able to say why it was decided to put it there and not onto SDC. SDC has a wider installbase, you know it and I know it. So why aren't you trying to reach the wider audience instead of tempting your customers to install Impulse which in itself isn't out of beta yet?



However, would you not agree that it would be more informative to add such information to the product page? That way people would make a more informed decision and might go for the Plus version straight away, which would result in profit for you.

iVAN WILDER  it's probably wise not to contradict yourself.  Either "that is true", or it is untrue.

Whilst you may believe you have an argument based in some sense of merit, comments such as quoted here suggest otherwise....

Take the hint buddy. I think I have seen what? five Stardock people here say you are off base WWW Link.

Jeff is a very busy person as of late.  He's lucky if we even unchain him for breaks or to go home.  He's actually one of the main devs working on Impulse as well as some other products.  So he isn't able to give "timely" updates on forums.  Again, we did release an update... in alpha form.  You can get it through Impulse.  Impulse is continually updated pretty much every day to fix the bugs that are reported in the forums.  I have been using it since before it was released to the public, and I don't have any issues.  However, everyone's system is different, video cards are different, etc, etc.  We can only make so many different combos to test with here at the office, so yes, bugs are going to come up, and yes we are working diligently hard, and OT to get it together.  You have to remember that Stardock is NOT a very big company, and not everyone in the company works on software, and many of us have several projects going at a time.

If bugs are there then it's reasonable to expect and demand a fix. Whether they are in a form of a beta or a stable patch doesn't matter to me as long as fixes and updates are released.



I'm sure that Jeff is busy and I'm glad to hear that. Since developers aren't able to be on forums then why not let support in a bit more so they can inform people here? I'm glad to hear that Impulse is shaping up to be a great product and that you're working out of your skin to make it better. However, this doesn't explain why, while you're ironing out the bugs in Impulse, you aren't able to offer the alpha through SDC as well?

I also appreciate that while Stardock may not be a big company and people have several things on their hands. However, in my opinion, the larger the scope of the company and the wider the audience of customers get the more resources have to be invested to make sure that level of support and feedback to continue progress are of high quality. I'm not telling you how to do your job, I'm suggesting that you invest into more resources to make sure that levels of expectations that you create by how things have been handled in the past aren't dropping and are still at least up to par.

Again, iVAN ....you cannot have it both ways.

You may wish to claim I'm being pedantic but "I am not telling you how to do your job." precludes what follows.

In fact it precludes most of what went before....as well....

If you choose to interpret it that way then fine. What anybody failed to address are why my suggestions/demands are unreasonable. Furthermore, nobody yet explained why the alpha isn't distributed through SDC, are you avoiding the answer?

Do you have a short term memory issue?  Do you not remember me telling you that we are switching systems and will not be running them in tandem?  We're moving to Impulse.  We're not going to continue to release through SDC.  Why is this so hard to understand?

What IS hard to understand is why, considering that Impulse isn't out of beta yet, you're completely terminating SDC. Once you have Impulse stable them I'm all for it but until then stick to something that I know works for me.

But iVan, that's a choice you are making. You have been told multiple times that Impulse is replacing SDC, yet you refuse it.

I fail to see how it is SD's responsibility to spoon-feed you updates on a program that is being phased out. If you want to get any updates as they come out, get Impulse. If you don't want Impulse, then suck it up and quit bitching about what you can't have.

While Impulse is still in beta people should be give a choice where they get their updates from. Something like that is common sense. Impulse isn't working 100% yet so why take the risk and offer something that is supposed to fix problems through something that we know has problems. If SCD is being phased out then fine but until it's completely out of the picture then offer the same stuff through it as you would through Impulse.

From what I have read, most of the problems with Impulse come during installation, not updating of installed software. I had problems installing, but have not had a single problems with updates.

Once again:

It doesn't matter where the problems come from, as long as there are problems. Getting Impulse won't solve the problems and there are wider issues on debate here. Not to mention that nobody seems to be able to provide a changelog for this alpha. Why would I want to update if I know it won't solve the problems I'm having?

One's life is all about choices.