I need to state too, that just for the record, GT has always honored their promises, upgrades, and cherised their existing users -- often with a patience that goes above and beyond the call of humanity, much less duty.
If there is a problem, or something doesn't seem clear, it's always better to ask them directly, as nothing they do will intentionally (or adversely) affect existing user licenses (by past experience).
This can be seen in the message Alex sent out to clear things up for existing GM users. Also, if there is a "special" situation in your particular case, just drop Alex a letter. There are so many "special" cases with the installs of the early versions of the software, that this is the best way to find out the answers in your case.
With a company like GT, griping about things is the least productive -- and mostly pointless -- thing you can do. GT is one of the few companies where the gripers almost always look worse than anything they gripe about.
The past 12 months or so, have been tough for everyone. Alex/GT made some tough decisions to rewrite the core and base of all their programs, miss deadlines, but to develop what is quite possibly the best expanding suit of programs and utilities out there for site development.
There is no way they are going to hurt all those people who stuck with them, and all the people who did stick with them, will see the benefits from cleaner, faster code, easier modifications, easier upgrades (look at the cool install!) and plug-ins that improve the program without touching your code.
Additionally, there is a slow cross-product integration that will eventually allow all the programs to share a central code library, a central user registry, and to work with 3rd party programs like wwwthreads and others seamlessly.
All this is possible due to the front-end (time wise) back end (code wise) development that was done. All this is mostly invisible to the webmaster who just wants to use the programs, but as a programmer and developer, I can tell you these programs, these modules, and designs are really, really awesome.
Their costs and fees are well below what others are charging for inferior porducts with a much more limited lifespan, and I'm actually glad to see GT taking the stand that higher-end program versions will carry a higher end price. 1) because they need to present a "stable" and "business" image, and 2) because unless they can remain profitable (put food on their tables) they won't be able to keep coding the new revisions !! :)
And while I hope I good naturedly pick on Alex at times, about being too close to the programs, I'm absolutely awed and impressed at what he's been able to turn out.
So, to get back to the real point, please don't make a big issue over this (pricing and licensing). If you have a problem, contact Alex directly. I can't help but believe you will be taken care of properly. I know most people who took a moment to think about it, did just that, rather than post here.
That said... one group of people might be a bit left out (that's up to Alex, really) -- and it _WAS_ THEIR choice. Those people who hung around waiting for version 2.0, without buying version 1.x at the pre-release price for 2.0, with a wait-and-see attitude. That was a choice they made not to support GT early on, not to become a "customer", and not to share the benefits -- and potential risk. I know how I feel about it -- those people who've pre-registered the programs I'm developing, and showed their support, will be well taken care of :) Everyone else...?.... the program has a release price that is higher than my pre-release price. :)
Kudos for Alex and GT.
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