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octhem

Hello Vaio Pocket Users et al,

After voting on a poll asking me "Are you willing to pay a fee to upgrade to the latest VAIO software versions?"

No on it's own is not a strong enough answer, I feel the need to rant over this.........

So would I pay to update my VP to the standard it should have been at when it was released? erm.... NO!

Would I pay the developer his overtime to get bugs fixed in his software? NO!

Would I pay to have a decent/reliable/fully featered sonicstage? NO NO NO!

I honestly can't think of a reason why I would pay, I wouldn't even pay if they offered a software update that allowed my VP to play movies.

What are Sony thinking? Do they honestly believe Joe Public having to pay for their shortfalls and mistakes is a fair and viable option?

Would you pay? is this for real? Please vote at the link below; and if you feel as strongly as I do - add your comments pro or con.

Rant over, going to work on my kinetic anti battery drain module!

Are you willing to pay a fee to upgrade to the latest VAIO software versions?

robpaxton

I believe the poll is referring to the versions of Sony software that come pre-installed on most Vaios. Applications like Vaio Zone, DVGate plus etc.

I've no doubt SonicStage will remain a free download and updates will be freely available because they hope to use it as a portal for you to purchase music from their download site. Doesn't stop it being rubbish though - it's been a bug ridden disaster since V1.

Firmware updates for the Vaio pocket will probably also be few and far between. Sony will simply release a new model in 6 months and forget the VP ever existed. They do the same with their computers - for example the graphic card driver for my 2-3 year old GRX computer has only ever been updated once.

kee-lo_

My answer is no, I wouldn't, only exceptions I would are DVGate and Gigapocket.

robpaxton

So your real answer is yes, possibly

octhem

Rob - Valid point if the fee is for upgrading demo/trial software that is pre-installed with your PC/Laptop to a full version product (this is standard practice).

So are you saying you would be happy to pay for software updates that are released to resolve issues or bugs with said software?

Please excuse my ignorance, my only sony experience is with vp.

kee-lo_

Yes Rob, but within reason.
Like if Gigapocket 6 was released I'd buy it.
But if it was an update to fix, oh lets say it prints the wrong date on the capsule file, then no.

robpaxton

Lots of the software on Vaios is full version and Sonys own design.
For example: Gigapocket is the TVR application that was installed on my Vaio V1, new Vaios with similar functionality come with Vaio Zone. This new software supposedly comes with extra features so I would possibly pay to upgrade (that would depend on whether I thought the extras were worth paying for of course).

If the software didn't work properly to start with then I would expect updates to be supplied free.

It's the difference between an update to repair faults and an upgrade which supplies extra features over & above those originally supplied . . . .

kee-lo_

Yeah thats what I would do too.

octhem

Hi Kee-Lo, Thats my point exactly; I can understand paying for upgraded, feature increased software. It's the paying for software updates that I, and I believe many others will not agree with.

It is a grey area that sony need to move into black or white - is it paying a fee for better software i.e. V5 to V6 or software improvements i.e. V5.1 to V5.2.

robpaxton

I agree - there is a perfect example of this with Click to DVD.

The version I was supplied with was V1.2 and it had lots and lots of bugs. Version 1.4 was released on new computers but Sony wouldn't supply this update to existing users. It was only after a lot of pressure and complaints on various sites worldwide that Sony relented and finally supplied an update to existing users.

Actually getting the message across that the software didn't work properly as originally supplied was an uphill battle.

It is hard work getting updates from Sony. Upgrades are currently not supplied at all even if you are willing to pay.