Purchasing Solidworks 2006 - SP2.0 availability question 4

[garrickk]

Hi, I've been negotiating the purchase of Solidworks 2006 today for my company. For cost/budget constraints, I wasn't going to purchase maintenence yet, and the person I'm buying the software from claims SP1 is the latest release, yet people here are discussing SP2.

Is SP2 out, or is it still in an "evalutation" release? It's my understanding that I won't be able to download service packs for 2006 without a maintenence contract.

Any other thoughts or buying suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Beggar]

Call him back and tell him the PO will be faxed within 20 minutes provided that it come with SP2. Be sure to tell him that you're considering Inventor and Solid Edge. Tell him you like Solidworks but your boss is having trouble with the pricing compared to what they're offering you witih Inventor.

If you're ready to cut the PO - seriously - then he'll probably do what's needed to close the deal.

--------------------
Bring back the HP-15

http://www.hp15c.org

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[Beggar]

Don't BS him though. If you're not ready to cut the PO then don't make the offer.

--------------------
Bring back the HP-15

http://www.hp15c.org

--------------------

 

[garrickk]

Beggar, thanks.

I had a typo in my previous post - this VAR told me I only get SP0 unless I purchase maintenance in the next 6 months. Not even SP1, much less SP2.

I would like to know, after Scott's post (two above), is if I'm being scammed into buying maintenance? This VAR should have to offer me the SP's for SW06 if I'm entitled to them.

I'd rather lose my nice deal and go elsewhere than deal with someone that would do that.

 

[PDMAdmin]

garrickk,

I'm not trying to downplay your situation, but have you ever dealt with PTC sales? SolidWorks VAR's are positively tame by comparison.

 

[garrickk]

No, I haven't dealt with PTC sales before.

So, am I entitled through this VAR to get SP2 or SP1 for Solidworks 2006 even if I don't buy maintenance now, and if I don't give him a "promise" to buy maintenance in the next 6 months?

I don't mind pushy or uninformed sales people, but I do mind getting lied to.

There is some conflicting information in this thread:
PDMAdmin: "All we ever get is the SP0.0 CD's. Anything you want above and beyond that would require a maintenance plan.

To answer your question, SP2.0 is officially out, but without a current maintenance plan, I doubt you'll be able to get your hands on it unless you have a very generous VAR."

SBaugh: "You are entitled to the latest SP if it's out when you purchase it."

SBaugh: "FYI: Those off Subscription or did not purchase are entitled to the free software updates of the same version which you had purchased. So if you purchase SW06 you are entitled to all SP of SW06. You will have to Contact your VAR to get those Upgrades."

I guess the generosity of the VAR determines what you are "entitled" to. Sort of missing the meaning of the word.

 

[SBaugh]

IT will Vary between the VAR's you deal with. What I posted is what I found... it's not to say it will vary between VAR's. However I think and still believe all companies should purchase Maintainance. But to use the product once a month seems like a lot wasted to me... I would think for that amount of time you would look at some type of cheaper CAD product... not many cheaper MCAD's out there though.

REgards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

If you are looking for an inexpensive MCAD system for infrequent use, take a look at Alibre or even Alibre Express. I personally don't like it, but it may well fill your needs.


Helpful SW websites faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091

 

[afb66t9]

Its not like buying a car. If you buy a car and there is a problem you take it back and get it repaired under warranty.

 

[garrickk]

Yeah, afb66t9, but apparently, the software comes with a *warranty* depending on your VAR generosity.

Car manufacturers should allow dealerships to decide what to offer in factory and after-market warranties.

Regardless, people are advising me to take the bus.

 

[neilc78]

Play hardball. Demand a commitment to get the latest SP (ie SP2). Threaten switching to another VAR and then switching completely away from SW to Solidedge. I'd be 90% sure this will work. I did similar bargaining on different grounds and I found that the VAR can make a strong case to SW HQ if the sale is in danger of being lost to competition.
If you get nowhere then take your business elsewhere. IMO it is completely ridiculous what this VAR is proposing. If you think about it they are saying that you can have a version of SW which they know needs 100MB worth of fixing - but you'll have to pay for it.

 

[smcadman]

We'll be buying Desktop EDA's Protel/Altium plugin and will be generating 3D models and drawings of our circuit boards. We may also design some simple enclosures.

I use Altium Designer daily (hourly), but I'll probably
be using Solidworks once a month.

So you plan on purchasing SW and a plugin?

http://www.desktop-eda.com.au/products/protel-solidworks.htm

The plugin is listed for $995, so with SW that is a pretty penny for something you will use "once a month".

http://www.desktop-eda.com.au/pricesordering/northamerica.htm

I don't have a clue about circuit boards, but you might want to post on the "Circuit engineering" forum forum240 to see what is most used in your industry.

Flores
SW06 SP2.0