OK, I'm not a software developer...and I have never played one on TV. I don't know the first thing about running a software company...but I do know something about customer service.
We've been using Now Contact as our database management system since starting Zeitgeist in 1995. In the '90s, it was pretty rad. However, it has grown very long in the tooth over the past few years, and Now Contact customers have eagerly awaited the seemingly vaporware successor known only by its code name: Nighthawk.
The Beta finally arrived (two years late) and, at least from our standpoint, is stunningly incomplete and frustratingly inelegant. So...time to suck it up and change platforms. And we looked at a bunch of options...finally settling on FileMaker Pro.
Now, I developed the first Convention Sales database in Filemaker when I headed the Greater Madison CVB in 1990...so I know it's capability. But, does it have the elegance I demand today? So I download the 30-day Trial in March...then got slammed with a gazillion projects all at once. Needless to say, no trial occurred.
So, here I am, months later, with a couple weeks that aren't slammin...and I'm ready to check it out again. But, FileMaker Pro Trial places code in my computer that prevents me from restarting the trial after 30 days. I e them for a workaround on Sunday...no response. I call yesterday and am confronted with a very un-engaged member of the team. "Nothing I can do," he says...except send you the last version of the software.
I don't want the last version. I tried the last version as my frustration grew with Now Contact...and I wasn't completely sold. I want to see what you guys have done to change my mind in version 10. Besides...the online tutorials in the V9 download no longer work. Like THAT's gonna help me sign a big check.
But, no. FileMaker is apparently willing to forgo over $1000 of my money (and their affiliates hundreds more) because they're convinced I'm trying to use their software to run my business for 60 days for free. Clearly, that's stoopid. But, I'm not buying their product if I can't test drive it.
As they say in the Twitterverse: FAIL.
As a FileMaker developer and owner of a development, consulting and hosting firm i feel your pain. FileMaker does have a few lessons to learn around the trial model but it is a fine balance to ward off the abusers while keeping the genuine new customers happy. There are some ways around the Trial block, request a new trial with a different email address, also remove the original FileMaker Application if it had been installed. On the Mac make sure you remove the FileMaker Prefrences.
Posted by: Ferrell Beleshko | June 25, 2009 at 11:51
Thanks for feeling my pain :)
I do realize it is a fine line for any software company with the level of piracy out there today. And, thanks for the suggested work around. Despite their "tough shit" attitude on the phone, I am pretty sure Filemaker Pro is the best solution out there.
Posted by: Bill Geist | June 25, 2009 at 12:22
My experience has been that if you call them, they're pretty accommodating about extending your trial...
Posted by: NB | June 08, 2010 at 19:44
Maybe they've changed their tune in the past year. They were fairly inflexible last summer.
Posted by: Bill Geist | June 14, 2010 at 23:21
same problem got hit with loads of work after I downloaded the trial so couldn't test it out; uninstalling makes no difference, it's convinced I'm a pirate.
Posted by: RP | September 14, 2010 at 10:21