Sage News and Discussion

100c Now that we have the actual order form for 100c, I have run examples to determine what it will take to sell a current customer on this. My conclusion is copious amounts of alcohol or magic mushrooms. In one example without any discounts, the annual subscription calculates to 29% greater than their last silver plan maintenance renewal in August. We have the ability to not charge activation fees, discount recurring charges to equal an increase of only 15%, and provide free months of recurring charges (specifically to offset maintenance already paid). This helps up front, but the issue is the discount on recurring charges is only for one year, so conceivably in a year this increases to the 29% greater amount. The ""enhancements"" found in 100c as released are certainly not worth an increase of 29%, and I can't imagine what they are going to add to make this attractive. It took them 2 years to web enable 300 for 300c, and they didn't even include all modules or functions. If that's all the customer wants, they don't have to wait and can sign on with Acumatica. The probability of current customers opting for this is very low, so I'm not wasting my time trying.

CLUSTER

And the User Key sent in an e-mail for v2016 was incorrect. I used the one on the Portal and that worked. No indication of how we are to unlock the 100c features.

Yes, I really want to access the color schemes, so I can set my test system up to be black on black.

Our keys give us 100c functionality. Surprised they got that right.

Prediction: 100c is pronounced wildly popular. Remainder of customers transition to 100c under operation ""boiling frog"". Maintenance increase capped at 6% every year until it rises to the full amount.

I wonder if you will be able to ""flip"" back and forth between the 100 and 100c interface by changing keys or if a reinstall will be require?

How do I change the Desktop view in version 2016? Products Sage 100 Description How do I change the Desktop view in version 2016 to either Classic or Standard? Disclaimer Support Sage Customer Support does not provide assistance for issues related to third party products or enhancements, hardware, report customizations, state or federal tax-related questions, or specific accounting questions. Please contact your Sage Business Partner, network administrator, or accountant for assistance. Please review this document for additional information on the scope of Sage Customer Support Services. Resolution The first time you open Sage 100 version 2016, it will prompt you to choose the Desktop view. If you would like to change this view afterwards, please follow the steps below. Browse to the local MAS90 folder on the computer. (ie: C:\Sage\Sage 100 Workstation 2016\MAS90) Click on the Launcher folder. Click on the Launch32.exe file. Select the correct view. Click OK and the changes will be applied the next time you open the program.

This didn't work for me. Clicking on Launch32.exe did nothing.

When in the new view, on the Home tab, click ""Change User Settings"", pick ""Classic"". Log out of Sage, then back in. To go the other direction, there is a ""Settings"" button on the login screen.

I remember how many times @WayneSchulz said Sage would move to expiring keys and I said they can't because of the EULA. Looks like they found their Trojan Horse way to do it.

Sage's core product problem(s) , and they haven't changed with the various regimes, is they start at ""how do we benefit ourselves financially"" and not ""how do we create/improve products so that customers never want to leave"".

To get an idea of what Epicor customers expect for their 20% support and maintenance (which covers unlimited phone support), this is what's new between epicor 10.0 and 10.1. 10.0 was released in May 2014, 10.1 will be released in December 2016,

Has anyone read the EULA for v2016 to determine if they have solidly locked up the expiring keys wording? I have highlighted some areas, but don't have a lawyer on staff to translate. I am thinking about requiring a client sign off when I install.

No idea on whether the legalese requires it, however I agree with your thinking that the customer should acknowledge the EULA is their responsibility and they specifically request you accept the terms on any screen asking for EULA acknowledgement during an installation. Given past history I doubt Sage would make any type of notification to the customer even if they changed the keys to be expiring and it were allowed in EULA.

Sage includes the language in the EULA so they have the legal option of enforcing it. They would only do so in extreme cases. They probably believe they and their partners have a chance to convince customers to reinstate maintenance or subscriptions. In most cases they know the reaction will be ""screw you, we'll just go to Product X"", so they don't enforce it.

I'm back to wasting my time trying to price 100c again. Key item to remember - Crystal Reports licenses are NOT included in any of the bundles, so they need to be included under ""Subscription Add-Ons"" at $22.22 per user per month, or $240 per user annually. I'm only adding 1 license.

I so envy you that you got your installation to run...... Woe to anyone running WIN 2008 SP2!!!!

@JeffSchwenk The current EULA (v2016) specifically states that a user can only use the software (subscription or perpetual), if fees have been paid, which includes maintenance plans. The latest versions of the EULA mention that the software MAY contain technology that allows Sage to terminate your use of the program or convert it to read-only. Uncertain as to whether that function is actually there. The paragraphs that I find especially disturbing are 15 which details monitoring the use of the program, and 16 which mentions automatic updates. For users that continue to pay their subscriptions and maintenance fees, they still have to deal with these intrusive actions. [Note: The expanded terms of the EULA appeared first in v2014. Through v2013, it was a 2-page document and now is a 5-page document.]

So @JohnHoyt - if I'm reading that right ... Sage has thrown out the rent (subscription) vs own (perpetual) metaphor when you describe the options to prospects. Both models are rent and if you stop paying the protection money ... I mean recurring fees ... then you cannot use the software. Anyone else find that to be quite the scam?

PS. It's my experience that people don't pay attention to these things but we should. @WayneSchulz - upon validating the information, you might want to consider adding it to the 90 Minds Newsletter - this is a big change.

I've been saying this since August 2012. Nobody really listens until there's some pain evident on the horizon. https://90minds-com.socialcast.com/messages/12928153?ref=stream

I agree with you. No one hears the news until it impacts them / their clients. I don't have an answer to that one - it's human nature. In this case, despite previous warnings, I feel that now the change seems to have actually been snuck in to the EULA though so it's no longer a theory - it's a reality - and 90 Minds partners should be made aware. The ones that read the threads will hopefully see this. I was thinking the newsletter might be another way to increase chance of exposure.

It's a good idea. I'll make an article about it.

Wow, interesting article from three years ago. Sage certainly plods along at the speed of the customer...

FYI, I have an EULA that I downloaded dated 06/25/12 where the wording exactly matches that which Jeff highlighted in his pdf above. There also seem to be a couple places to get the EULA online and they don't seem to all be the same version. I have one dated 062512 #56416-2

The EULAs I reviewed were from the links on the Help About screen for each version. Those would be the only ones that customers would review, which, of course, they don't. What is listed on-line is very confusing.

Here is the EULA (pdf) I printed out of the Sage 100 2016 install