Only 10 IP in free version - not enough - Will it be raised? - Page 5

patrick.schneider · #41 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 02:21 PM

Astaro selling licences for home users? I don't think that this will happen.
If they would start selling it to home users, they would have to deal with all the unexperienced home user requests, resulting in the need of more support technicians to process them. That just won't pay off for Astaro.

BrucekConvergent · #42 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 06:32 PM

Agreed; this is not really a "home user" product for the masses, though it is useful for us techno-geeks! (I'm including myself in that category!) The support costs alone would be astronomical if the public, en masse, were buying this, say, at Best Buy, etc...

eganders · #43 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 08:23 PM

The 10 IP limit question for the home version comes up all the time. In fact, it might be the single most repeatedly asked question on these boards.

We all like "free". That's not in question.

But what's in it for Astaro?

One would expect that most every business is concerned with protecting their markets, particularly in this economy. In this case, offering even more free IP's might further jeopardize their and their reseller's small business markets. There is no revenue upside (to offering more for free), and only potential downside.

So while there is nothing wrong with asking for more (except that this same question has been previously asked. A lot.), I have never seen anyone proffer a compelling business reason for Astaro to make this change.

If that should change, one would expect Astaro to jump right on it.

BarryG · #44 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 09:09 PM

In case not everyone noticed, Astaro has been giving away 25-IP licenses to beta testers.

Barry

BrucekConvergent · #45 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 09:22 PM

I agree that this is the subject of many threads that "will not die."

Eganders is dead on about this issue; some individuals would and could abuse Astaro's generosity if they let them... I think the 10 user home license is quite generous, and the Beta testing licenses they give out are really generous. I wouldn't change a thing in this regard.

pattont · #46 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 09:28 PM

Well, the advantage to Astaro is the people implementing this product at home are more likely to recommend Astaro at their work. The majority of the techno-geeks that have implemented this product likely hold techno jobs where they will be in the position to recommend this product to the people that make decisions (usually non-techno geeks). Without an increase in IPs I will be forced to use another product simply to use on my home network. I agree that the product is good, but why not sell a home version with more IPs. They could market it "as-is" like they currently do with no tech support. You are simply paying for the product to have more IPs because you need them.

BarryG · #47 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 09:33 PM

Pattont, are you unaware of the beta programs, or unwilling to participate?

Barry

pattont · #48 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 10:40 PM

BarryG, It's not that I am unaware of beta programs, its just the last one was in Dec-08 and I am impatient :-) If they are going to give away free licenses for beta testing, why not sell me a copy instead of "hiring" me to find bugs for them. Believe me, if I find issues with the software, I am not going to sit patiently and hope they get fixed, I am going to submit a bug ticket (aka the same thing as beta-testing just post release).

BAlfson · #49 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 10:44 PM

Pattont, where there are opportunities, the Astaro marketing program offers solutions...

Several of us here are active Astaro resellers, and I'm sure you have one in your area. If you believe there is a real opportunity within your company, an Astaro reseller in your area can generate a demo license for 90 days at a time. That would get you past the 10-user limitation for long enough to participate in a beta and earn your own 25-IP home-use license.

Cheers - Bob

eganders · #50 (**permalink**) 04-18-2009, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pattont

Well, the advantage to Astaro is the people implementing this product at home are more likely to recommend Astaro at their work. The majority of the techno-geeks that have implemented this product likely hold techno jobs where they will be in the position to recommend this product to the people that make decisions (usually non-techno geeks). Without an increase in IPs I will be forced to use another product simply to use on my home network. I agree that the product is good, but why not sell a home version with more IPs. They could market it "as-is" like they currently do with no tech support. You are simply paying for the product to have more IPs because you need them.

1.) I don't disagree with you about the concept of marketing a "home" version. But I can't see a way to do it without taking away the 10 free IP version, and still protect against business users buying the "home" version instead of the business version. Say you add 10 IP's to the 10 free IP's - at minimal cost for home users, how do you stop a business user from taking unfair advantage?

2.) There is no question that lots of Astaro home users are techno-geeks and generously offer their knowledge to others - including at work. But unfortunately that doesn't guarantee sales, which is probably why most companies don't give out free copies of their product, even though it might increase sales. However . . .

3.) Thinking about your comments, maybe Astaro could work something up whereby, in return for a sale to an Astaro home user's company - the place where that user is employed, Astaro might provide some additional IP's as an incentive / reward to the home user techno-geek who made said recommendation. Just a thought in passing that might have some merit for everyone involved. . .