Re: Zone Alarm Pro demanding more money.

From: Alan (somewhere_at_nospam.pew)
Date: 05/31/04 

Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 06:33:16 -0400

Vanguard,

McAfee offers free updated Virus DAT files at www.McAfee.com on a weekly
basis, without anyone needing to pay for a subscription.

That said, McAfee also offers a yearly paid subscription (possibly for the
benefit of those who figure they are "more protected" if they pay for
something instead of getting it for free.)

I suppose my question is why a person would choose to pay for a yearly
subscription, whose cost is virtually the same as buying the regular retail
version, rather than downloading the weekly, free virus definition updates
that are offered?

        Alan

"*Vanguard*" <reply-to-newsgroup@to-email.use-Reply.obey-signature.invalid>
wrote in message news:eua014sREHA.3944@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Derrick Fawsitt said in news:pzWxBiAgLluAFw85@fitzwilliamonline.com:
> > Apologies if this post is slightly off topic but I am in need of
> > advice and am a user of XP Hope edition.
> >
> > Having paid for the "bundle" of MailWasher Pro and Zone Alarm Pro in
> > May 2003, (I paid $39.95) for them when I understand, (correct me), I
> > could have used the free version of ZA without and need to upgrade or
> > fork out money, (again correct me if I am wrong).
> > However, I thought I was a registered user of a better version of ZA
> > than the basic version, and with my money paid up front and a license
> > key I was OK. However, imagine my surprise when I started to get pop
> > up requests to pay for upgrading or I would not get any more up to
> > date information etc., I immediately uninstalled ZA and started to
> > install another programme which I understand is really free for the
> > basic version. It was only when I found my receipt for payment I
> > thought I must be made to give up on ZA and re-installed it again
> > using my License number and details etc., I had however to
> > re-configure all my programmes again to work with ZA and all because
> > it started to demand money or it would reduce the effect of my newly
> > purchased firewall which had cost me
> > 39.95 dollars.
> > Can anyone enlighten me as to what is happening, I simply won't pay
> > out the kind of money demanded again and will go elsewhere but I will
> > ask for a refund as I was not told further money would be asked of me.
> > I object if the only version I can use free is the basic version
> > having paid for the Pro version.
> > For now, that is the state of things but before I un-install it yet
> > again, can anyone enlighten me as to whether I have to relegate myself
> > to the basic version of ZA or install a different brand of Firewall. I
> > did write to ZA but have as yet got nothing back from them.
> > With thanks,
>
> So how long (or how short) have you been using computers? Never heard
> of subscriptions? Yes, you get to use the *software* lease indefinitely
> after you purchase it. The updates are not part of the software you
> purchased since obviously they cannot be included with the product at
> the time of purchase. You get a *subscription* with the purchase that
> lasts a year which allows you to download new signature files. You
> think for $30 to $80 that you get infinite support for as long as you
> live or the software survives on your computer and on the installation
> media you got? The research, analysis, and resources used to provide
> those updates cost money.
>
> When you buy a printer, do you think you get a lifetime supply of toner
> or cartridges? It is NOT like buying Word which is a static program
> that can be usable over years or decades depending on you providing the
> environment in which it can operate. Anti-virus software has to keep
> changing to reflect the current status of threats. The product would be
> worthless if all it protected you against was whatever was known at the
> time the CD image was laid down a months, a year, or more, before even
> when you bought the product.
>
> With the typical rebates found on the products along with a discount for
> purchasing an upgrade, the price for buying the next full version with
> whatever improvements and bells it added is often close to the
> subscription price. If you are purchasing hundreds, or more, copies for
> your corporation then it makes sense to renew the subscription. For a
> single personal purchase, the difference of $10 is little savings and
> you might as well as buy the upgrade with its rebate.
>
> Norton Internet Security 2004 *upgrade* = $39.95
> Norton Internet Security 2003 *subscription* = $29.95
> So for $10 more you get the subscription AND the newest version.
>
> Norton AntiVirus 2004 *upgrade* = $29.95
> Norton AntiVirus 2003 *subscription* = $19.95
> For $10 more, you get the full new version plus 1-year subscription.
>
> Kaspersky AntiVirus Personal 5 full version = $49.95
> Key (subscription) = $49.95 (according to the order form)
> Without a promotional code to enter in their order form, the user has no
> clue as to what the subscription will actually cost. Apparently
> returning customers get a 30% discount so the cost would be $14.99 less.
>
> For a personal purchase, the difference in cost for getting a
> subscription renewal to your old version versus getting the new version
> is pretty small. Like printers are also known as "ink delivery systems"
> because the money is made with the toner and cartridge sales, the
> anti-virus products have become "subscription renewal systems" where the
> cost of the product is only minimally greater than the subscription
> itself. You're paying for their continued service during the
> subscription and their software is simply the delivery system provided
> to acquire that subscription.
>
>
>
> --
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