@michael_maberly said:
Without exception, friends' reactions to VS's VI 'upgrade' policy have been strongly negative, ranging from "unacceptable business practice" to "bordering on fraudulent". This is from people who are actively engaged in IT.
I, too, feel somewhat bruised by VS's recent behaviour, and understand that it hurts more precisely because VS had - until now - been exemplary; the disappointment is deeper.
Well all my friends think that it is a marvellous policy and that anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot!! See how easy it is to hide behind un-named friends?
Firstly, your friends will only know what you've told them, and it is easy to see where you're coming from.
Secondly, I doubt that any of them are experts in European law, so your borderline libellous statement has no authority.
As I see it, there are four elements in the VI package:
1) A new "intelligent" sample player
2) New samples
3) Old samples
4) Re-programming of old samples
I would imagine that your reaction comes from not wanting to pay for point 3. However, nobody has said that you are paying for these samples. How do you know that they are not free, much in the manner of the free content that comes with GS or K2? You don't, so therefore your percieved argument is fundamentally flawed. What is clear is that VSL is giving a huge discount for the Extended material, far more than any "old" content would warrant, and you also have a period of 30 days to try it out. If you don't like it, or think that you don't need it, then you don't have to pay for it. I can't think of any other sample company that allows this.
If you really have a problem with all this I suggest that you write to VSL and complain, rather than whinging on a public forum, so that we can all get on with discussing this exciting new product, rather than having our enthusiasm destroyed by a few naysayers.
DG