FCS upgrade cost -What does the COW think?

[Rcpics]

I don’t think it would have been so bad if it weren’t for this line…

“I am now stuck with this editing system, and maybe it will serve my needs; but UNLESS I can get this upgrade for a lot less, APPLE will never get my recommendation as being a good company — and in the future I WILL avoid Apple products.”

Bit extreme, no? 😉

[Pxlmvr]

Definitely a fishing trip.

FWIW you sound like a pc user and there is difference between the pc experience and the Apple experience. First, Apple makes very good products with a long shelf life. They don’t instantly become crap when Apple offers an upgrade. They are very good at providing support and free software updates. Second, even at $1800 that is literally a steal! Avid MC software only is $5000 with none of what Apple is offering. Three, as has been said, you don’t have to upgrade. I’ve been using FCP 5 since it came out and it is very stable and will do almost anything required for editing.

“A software upgrade, with only modest packaging, costs a few dollars.”

You are forgetting R&D, distributing, cost of business, etc. You don’t sound like you know a lot about business or software publishing. I lot of people responded to your naivete.

“I wanted a stable late-model FCP, (not necessarily the New Hotness with *$24k COLOR*) now it feels like Old and Busted, unless I cough up $499.”

Again, FCP 5 works great and is perfectly stable. In fact FCPS2 has more of a risk of being unstable being a new upgrade and all.

“I have seen the way bastard-stepchild software can get treated by publishers (limited support/patches/resources, etc) and my confidence in this product (v5x) is inevitably reduced by this situation.”

Use of the term ‘patches’ and your assumption of ‘publishers’ indicates a pc background. Again, Apple operates differently. There are still people making money using v.3 and 4.

In my estimation this is a kid who likes PCs and wanted to rag on Apple.

[Rcpics]

I think that’s going a bit too far, as well. He later explained his situation in more depth, and acknowledged that there was a tinge of his initial anger behind his post. I still don’t agree with his stance. He felt misled and misinformed, while many of us feel that it’s an unfortunate by-product of being new to all of this, and not quite understanding the extent to which Apple stands behind their products as they develope.

[Jason Porthouse]

I have to say, I think that Apple have pulled a blinder here. Although the UK pricing of the upgrade really rankles (its

[Marten Benatar]

I’m not new here, but it has been a while since I’ve posted.

Whatever the case, I’ve had all the versions, bought all the upgrades and FCP5 is still the bomb! I think that $499.00 for an upgrade from FCS 1 to 2 is a steal.

I doubt that a new user to FCP5 needs the upgrade to 6 in the first place.

You guys may have been a little harsh, but this forum is still the best FCP forum on the internet.

I would have appreciated your candor. Sometimes the truth is hard to face.

Marten Benatar
Rio Media Services

[Marten Benatar]

I haven’t posted here in quite a while, but here’s my 2 cents

Whatever the case, I have bought all the upgrades up to 4.5 HD, and then upgraded to FCS 1. The money involved is still a hell of a bargain in respect to any other software available.

I would bet that FCS 1 will be enough of a learning curve to this first time user, and all that is need to complete his project. Hopefully he has a good capture card!

You guys may have been a little harsh, but I personally would rather hear the truth of the matter rather than any sympathy. CCOW is the best forum on the net.

You guys ROCK!!

Marten Benatar
Rio Media Services

[Decloux]

DeCloux’s Apology

Because my followup was inadequate, I will revise.
I regret that I clouded what I felt was important debate with my selfish stab.
I retract paragraph #4 with an apology to the C.O.W. community and it’s moderators.
(“I am now stuck with this editing system….” etc.)
I think the rest might’ve been useful; but as it was, I just smudged the thread and
reduced its usefulness.
(And no, I haven’t received — as of this writing — any communications from staff
or any lawyers… yet)
Anyway, I earned a few harsh words.

Consider this also a white flag and a Limited Surrender on the subject of the value of FCS2.

It was not whining, it was Screaming. Not a plant of any kind. Software purchase is and
has always been a crapshoot, and sometimes you “read ’em and weep.” End of that story.

Crow is a delicacy, not so bad, but it’s an acquired taste. I really try NOT to prepare it
very often: I’m actually rather mild, and this really was a case of: “Step away from the
keyboard, and let it sink in, flow through ….”

Perhaps it was also that I was a little on edge. We’d also just bought a car (NOT a yugo)
at a higher-than-planned price, and it was Tax Day. And I came off the highway after too
many miles (not usually a good frame-of-mind), and I had just gone to googleNews
looking for the latest deathtoll when I saw the recently rumored news of The Upgrade.
Not wanting to delay a millisecond on my faithful application for The Upgrade, I called
and heard $500 and quickly hung up (before I could scream) and did a silent scream via
email. (Did I forget to mention that The Survey just revealed that our property line
appears to cut through our bathtub — on a house which is 130 years old?!?) I was
probably due for some venting. After the phonecall to Apple, it felt like Triple-Tax Day.
I will try and remember April Sixteen for another reason, with a special insight on
expressions of outrage.

As I said, I’m philosophical about software/hardware purchases. I even held a very small
Buyer’s Remorse party — a month before the MacPro. It didn’t help: especially after all of
the purchases, I began building The Pedestal upon which I could put Apple. The system,
despite 5.13, seems to be working within expectations and within my limited ability to
evaluate it. (It has only crashed once — the vaunted Vault seemed to work — I’m told
that I shouldn’t try to capture more than 10 minutes at SD … maybe if we can solve the
latter I will be actually happy. )
But I really wasn’t yet ready for what seemed like another hit: I still have to decide between
Decklink and Kona … And YES, another $500 I can give to my Fixer in a tough economy in
a devastated country means a LOT to me.

These aren’t excuses … OK they’re excuses.
I also apologize to anyone who felt baited, and who might’ve stabbed back.
I will continue to look here for excellent insight and advice, not for guarantees of success.
And get out and socialize.
-d

PS
Maybe I should try and ride that dramatic urge – maybe there’s a mean willie lohman in there.
Brings to mind the old adage about small theatre: why so vicious? because the stakes are
so low.

Thanks again to those who expressed solidarity with my dilemma. There are some people
who purchased even more recently who probably felt worse than me.