MAMBA BLACK V2 released

[whiteg]

Hi,

I tried it today the 2.0 demo.
The frame editor with slow, bitty function. The desing, not nice.
At me, the 1.96 version good dynamic. I Does not like 2.0 demo.
Excuse me, the small one I can in English.

whiteg

[whiteg]

Hi,

I download from new one afternoon the 2.0 demot.
He worked well now!

I like it the play list menu.
The skins do not like, I liked old Mamba appearance ( button, trackbar)

Congratulations OG!

I consider 2.0 of MB prices a lot! More new functions are needed for it in order for me to devote this much money to him.

whiteg

[-bart-]

I had it crashed in the first two minutes, fiddling with the attenuation map

[Pangolin]

Yeah, for now.. But they're considering asking money for upgrades (see other topic)...

You have to read my post VERY CAREFULLY!!!

What I said was -- I am going to watch the marketplace and see if the marketplace was accepting of companies who charge for updates. If so, then, in the future, and on future products, we might do that too.

The point is -- right now it's not a level playing field. Since 1986, we introduced the concept of free updates for the lifetime of the product. For us, that's not just a slogan, it's what we do, and what we have clearly demonstrated year after year on the LD2000 platform.

Also, for a while, all other companies also offered free updates too, basically just to keep up with Pangolin. But a while ago, Laser Animation started charging for thier updates (I am not sure if they changed policies more recently, but they did start charging). Now, more recently we see a few other companies charging for updates too.

My point is -- if the laser community at large demonstrates that this is an acceptable practice, then why the heck are we doing everything we do for free and forever?

Clearly we'd make a whole lot more money if we also charged for updates. So, what do you say marketplace? Is it acceptable to charge for updates?

Bill

[smogthemog]

Personally I have no problem at all with paying for updates for anything really BUT in this case, they do have to be 'Updates' and not just the same software just re-painted a different colour.
If the update give something easier to use, more features, faster operation etc then it goes without saying really - your getting more so why not pay more for it.

I got around to downloading the MB2 demo last night and having a play. I really don't like it. It's just too much like v1.9, apart from the silly skins which are the only thing to me on face value that differ it from old, for me to even bother thinking about parting with cash for this one.

The hype made it out to be a totally re-worked something that will be amazing to the world of laser software and it simply isn't in my view.

[-bart-]

@ Bill

I'm willing to pay for up-grades.
I'm refusing to pay for up-dates.

Pangolin users already pay for upgrades by moving up the intro-basic-pro ladder, and that is perfectly accepted by all of their clients.

Medialas presents mamba v2.0 as an upgrade (hence the v2.0) and charges accordingly.
So In theory nothing has really changed on the marketplace.

Looking at the demo, the mamba v2.0 upgrade is just not worth my money.

[buffo]

Looking at the demo, the mamba v2.0 upgrade is just not worth my money.

I completely agree. The change from Version 1.9x to 2.0 doesn't appear to be that great. Certainly not worth $210... (Considering I only paid $400 for Mamba!)

Personally I can agree with paying for an upgrade. But an update - that's another matter. As an analogy, I'll pay for an upgrade from Windows 98 to Windows XP, but I shouldn't have to pay for windows updates to XP once I get it...

From what I've seen, the new Mamba is mostly a bunch of bug fixes and a few features that in my opinion should have been present in 1.9. I certainly don't see it as a major upgrade, but rather more of a "service pack" update. I recognize that Andre has put a lot of work into refactoring the code, but without significant new features, I don't see that as an upgrade for the end user.

Nevertheless, I've been happily running Pangolin's LD-2000 Intro system for nearly 2 years now, so the fact that Mamba has just become more expensive to maintain really doesn't affect me that much. It's been quite a while since I fired up Mamba Black anyway. (Though I do have some old shows that I like to watch now and then.) Worst case, I'll keep it just for those shows, and move forward with Pangolin.

Adam

[JeroenVDV]

What I said was -- I am going to watch the marketplace and see if the marketplace was accepting of companies who charge for updates. If so, then, in the future, and on future products, we might do that too.

So, that's considering. Isn't it?

Might be the problem that English isn't my native language and I say things a bit shortened or even wrong

Clearly we'd make a whole lot more money if we also charged for updates. So, what do you say marketplace? Is it acceptable to charge for updates?

Updates, no. Upgrades (e.g. complete new "software" or "hardware")? Yes. New features? Be careful with that. Not giving any new features to existing users for free will make them unhappy (well.. Dutch people at least), but of course "big" new features and extensions you should get paid for (and people are willing to, if updates and SOME new smaller features are for free).

[whiteg]

Hi,

OG MB wrote it again software. This is great. What I bought once already. For a long time 1.9xx all bugs I was useful, with patience.
It was written properly finally now MB software. What I shall pay for now Mamba for software again?
I use it it 1.96, and I am waiting for Médialas making it free the software updates, and MB shows.

Excuse me, the small one I can in English.

whiteg

[Jem]

...then why the heck are we doing everything we do for free and forever?

Because that's what some of us liked the sound of when we decided to invest our hard earned money on a Pangolin QM2000.Net/LD200 system .

In fact, looking at the laser hardware/software available, it is currently an absolute 'no-brainer' decision to go with Pangolin (either FB3 or QM2000). No other company (that i'm aware of) gives such good 'value for money' or such excellent support for their products. If you were to change your company philosophy now you may risk spoiling your excellent reputation in the long term.

Having said that I guess having to pay for 'new' software is something we have to do already (unless you have an LD2000 pro system), LivePRO is a good example of this as it comes at extra cost for FB3 users or LD2000 intro/basic users.

Jem