Your reviewer gives gives his observation with Delphi and what is with this SA.
What is SA?
SA is a software subscription from Embarcadero (formerly CodeGear, Borland) which offers latest version (no more, no less).
This radical idea is similar to Microsoft's MSDN license. The trouble is "older copies" of Delphi, like Delphi 1, Delphi 2, or even Turbo Pascal are not available.
Why won't Embarcadero release older versions we can use?
What is this Discount?
Month before Delphi is offered, -
Borland would send an offer to everyone to buy
- Delphi 7 at discount (before 2005), then
- Delphi 2005 at discount before Delphi 2006, then
- Delphi 2007 at discount before Delphi 2009, and then
- Delphi 2009 at discount before Delphi 2010.
then offer an SA so people who buy will need to "upgrade". so the hapless people who brought Delphi (older) 1 month before they newer version came out, well, need to buy either SA or an upgrade fee? (very smart, IMHO).
Then, people would complain getting stuck with older versions after some time. It leaves sour taste on their mouth, such as getting Delphi 2007 (at discount) when Delphi 2009 came out, and stuck with "some subscription".
(Thus, don't be surprised if, when Delphi 2011 comes out, there will be some "stupid" discount for Delphi 2010.)
Sa-damned if you do, Sa-damned if you don't
- In Microsoft's MSDN model, you get access to every copy of Visual Studio, from PWB (Programmer's Work Bench) or better known as Programmer's Waste Basket, humble Basic Development Kit 6.0 (DOS). (Note: Visual Studio 6 was removed due to Java Limitation, but it's one of the best Visual Studio)
... Embarcadero's SA is just getting latest version, with no word about how to get older versions.
- In Microsoft's MSDN model, you could get well support, extensive help (see: MSDN docmentation), Windows licenses for Development.
... Delphi's help, press F1, and you get articles filled with C#, Visual Basic, C++ and you can't even find one decent help. If you ever get to use Delphi 2010, what kills Delphi is inadequate documentation. That means only old-timers can use Delphi, newbies gets put-off with all irrelevant help.
- In Microsoft's MSDN model, if you get pissed-off by a stupid MVP, you can write a letter to "1 Microsoft Way", or the chief MVP and complain about it, and that's probably why they made this MVP a yearly basis. Either the MVP acts responsibly, behave or, get kicked out.
... Embarcadero's Team B is otherwise. Even some of our readers posted about it.
- In Microsoft's MSDN, you can get it direct, avoiding all those unnecessary evil suppliers, or dealers.
... In Embarcader's SA, you have to deal with some dealer, some reseller, or somebody... Did anyone find out how much commissions are for Delphi/C++/Prism Architect/Ent/Professional? Why not find out and ask?
- In Microsoft's MSDN, you can get hot fixes and plenty of SDKs...
... In Embarcader's SA, almost all SDKs are third-party and every year, to pay for bugs-fixes. Why can't they just release Delphi 2009 with 64-bits, instead of Delphi 2011?
In the end, SA means constant money to Delphi, but how much money do I have to pay for bug-fixes? Maybe Thomas Miller said it right, 5 years ago -
Using Delphi 7, Thomas Miller ranted about getting fixes for DbExpress, fixes for Delphi 7.
Suppose fast forward from year 2001 to 2009, an average developer would pay US$600 * 6 (Delphi 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010) or nearly US$3000 to get updates, and over 8 years.
Aftermath
In 8 year's time - many things passed by -
- Delphi developers lost out on usable NET compiler, fair enough, there's now Prism. But there's C# and who will want to use Prism?
- Delphi developers lost out on Kylix, those who paid got bad/worse products with virtually no bug-fixes.
- Delphi developers lost out on 64-bits with such long wait.
which leads to this question -
Who gained enough money to pay for SA?
Who gained enough money to pay for SA for a team of developers?
What is SA?
SA is a software subscription from Embarcadero (formerly CodeGear, Borland) which offers latest version (no more, no less).
This radical idea is similar to Microsoft's MSDN license. The trouble is "older copies" of Delphi, like Delphi 1, Delphi 2, or even Turbo Pascal are not available.
Why won't Embarcadero release older versions we can use?
What is this Discount?
Month before Delphi is offered, -
Borland would send an offer to everyone to buy
- Delphi 7 at discount (before 2005), then
- Delphi 2005 at discount before Delphi 2006, then
- Delphi 2007 at discount before Delphi 2009, and then
- Delphi 2009 at discount before Delphi 2010.
then offer an SA so people who buy will need to "upgrade". so the hapless people who brought Delphi (older) 1 month before they newer version came out, well, need to buy either SA or an upgrade fee? (very smart, IMHO).
Then, people would complain getting stuck with older versions after some time. It leaves sour taste on their mouth, such as getting Delphi 2007 (at discount) when Delphi 2009 came out, and stuck with "some subscription".
(Thus, don't be surprised if, when Delphi 2011 comes out, there will be some "stupid" discount for Delphi 2010.)
Sa-damned if you do, Sa-damned if you don't
- In Microsoft's MSDN model, you get access to every copy of Visual Studio, from PWB (Programmer's Work Bench) or better known as Programmer's Waste Basket, humble Basic Development Kit 6.0 (DOS). (Note: Visual Studio 6 was removed due to Java Limitation, but it's one of the best Visual Studio)
... Embarcadero's SA is just getting latest version, with no word about how to get older versions.
- In Microsoft's MSDN model, you could get well support, extensive help (see: MSDN docmentation), Windows licenses for Development.
... Delphi's help, press F1, and you get articles filled with C#, Visual Basic, C++ and you can't even find one decent help. If you ever get to use Delphi 2010, what kills Delphi is inadequate documentation. That means only old-timers can use Delphi, newbies gets put-off with all irrelevant help.
- In Microsoft's MSDN model, if you get pissed-off by a stupid MVP, you can write a letter to "1 Microsoft Way", or the chief MVP and complain about it, and that's probably why they made this MVP a yearly basis. Either the MVP acts responsibly, behave or, get kicked out.
... Embarcadero's Team B is otherwise. Even some of our readers posted about it.
- In Microsoft's MSDN, you can get it direct, avoiding all those unnecessary evil suppliers, or dealers.
... In Embarcader's SA, you have to deal with some dealer, some reseller, or somebody... Did anyone find out how much commissions are for Delphi/C++/Prism Architect/Ent/Professional? Why not find out and ask?
- In Microsoft's MSDN, you can get hot fixes and plenty of SDKs...
... In Embarcader's SA, almost all SDKs are third-party and every year, to pay for bugs-fixes. Why can't they just release Delphi 2009 with 64-bits, instead of Delphi 2011?
In the end, SA means constant money to Delphi, but how much money do I have to pay for bug-fixes? Maybe Thomas Miller said it right, 5 years ago -
Using Delphi 7, Thomas Miller ranted about getting fixes for DbExpress, fixes for Delphi 7.
Suppose fast forward from year 2001 to 2009, an average developer would pay US$600 * 6 (Delphi 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010) or nearly US$3000 to get updates, and over 8 years.
Aftermath
In 8 year's time - many things passed by -
- Delphi developers lost out on usable NET compiler, fair enough, there's now Prism. But there's C# and who will want to use Prism?
- Delphi developers lost out on Kylix, those who paid got bad/worse products with virtually no bug-fixes.
- Delphi developers lost out on 64-bits with such long wait.
which leads to this question -
Who gained enough money to pay for SA?
Who gained enough money to pay for SA for a team of developers?
