Re: Google CAD "SketchUp"- Free for 90 days

Mark & Juanita wrote:
On Sat, 08 Jul 2006 14:24:32 -0400, alexy
<nospam@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Mark & Juanita <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Sat, 08 Jul 2006 14:23:50 GMT, Han
<nobody@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

"John L. Poole" <jlpoole@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:OTOrg.116838
$H71.11261@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

<snip>

Maybe I'm missing something here. The Google
Sketchup download page says new version, but it
appears still free. Of course they would like you to
buy the US$496.00 pro version, but it does not appear
to be required.

Have you tried using the new version on old files?

As the OP indicated in a subsequent reply, the new
free version does work. However, this should be a real
red flag to those taking advantage of the "free"
version. It is not beyond the realm of possibility
that the new version is also dated to expire at some
future date. It is also not beyond the realm of
possibility that in the future, after people have
invested considerable time and effort in the creation
of various files and projects, that the "free" version
could go away, leaving the only [legal according to the
DMCA] options available to either pay for the
professional version in order to liberate one's files
or to abandon those files and the accompanying work.

Sure doesn't seem to fall under the "do no evil" code
by which Google supposedly lives. At a minimum, the
fact that the software will expire at a future date
should be disclosed.

That hypothetical situation, certainly would violate a
"do no evil" code. But I've seen nothing that they have
done that violates it. And where are folks getting the
idea that the software will expire at some future date? I
haven't seen anything to that effect.

I would argue that since it was not prominently disclosed
that the software being downloaded had a timebomb (it may
have been buried somewhere several pages down in 6 point
type in the click-through EULA) is a questionable practice
in itself and seems to violate the spirit of what Google
purports to be compared to other software houses.

It's not a stretch to assume that the versions being
downloaded are also set to expire since the current version
others have used were so set.

But then, it WAS labeled as BETA sofware, so ... that means
caveat emptor even it if is free.
Usually, unless there's a promise of a benefit for using a BETA
program, you can expect a glitch or rug-pull somewhere along the
line. BETA is TEST software and often a good way of seeing how
something is received by the general public. Then once you know,
you end the BETA, have a nice big release announcement, and wait
for the checks to roll in.
IMO one should NEVER participate in any BETA without promise
of a reward for their efforts. I do it with MS, and I get free
software for it, but they're up front and tell you so. And they
stick to their word.
IMO again, as Excellent a tool as Google is, they ARE a
business and one must expect them to act that way. They're a
..COM, nor a .ORG, after all. There is only one way a business
stays in business and that's by making money. And anyone
offering BETA software is offering untested software only
slightly removed from the ALPHA runs and hopefully headed for a
Release version.

Regards,

Pop`






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If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough

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