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From: <ritz@interactive.spamthis.net>
Subject: New BSDI Pricing
X-Nntp-Posting-User: ritz
Organization: IBS Interactive, Inc.
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Message-ID: <E8ssJ8.Mqr@news.interactive.net>
X-Trace: 861306735/28530
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Date: Thu, 17 Apr 1997 19:52:20 GMT
Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc:6660 comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:39236
Does anyone else find the new BSDI license prices to be a
bit on the silly side? At these prices, it will be virtually
impossible for us to convince clients to use BSDI for Intel-based
unix boxes.
I realize that in many instances you get what you pay for,
and I have been quite happy with BSDI support in the past.
However, I can't help but feel that in an environment where
the quality and support of some free alternatives is getting
so good, that this isn't a questionable move. I'm certainly
not a "big customer" (we only have 5 or 6 licenses) so I
doubt my buying decisions will weigh heavily on them, but I
don't think I can justify spending $3k for each binary license
plus another $1k/year for support (per license!). I've done my
best to support these guys and have been buying their product
since version 1.0, but I think this is where I have to draw the
line...sigh...
For quick and dirty unix tasks (dns, authentication and news
machines) FreeBSD is starting to look awfully attractive.
For those that haven't seen it, here's the announcement from
Rob:
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 09:44:20 -0600 (MDT)
From: kolstad@bsdi.com
To: customers@bsdi.com
Subject: BSDI Pricing
Dear Valued BSDI Customer,
As a long-time BSDI user, you have seen our company and our products
mature during the last few years. Our new Internet Server 3.0, with
its core BSD/OS operating system, is a greatly enhanced product when
compared to our original versions. We are proud of our improvements
in ease-of-use, security, reliability, speed, and tools. We hope
that you've looked at version 3.0 and that you agree!
BSDI has a great deal of gratitude for our customers who have been
with us from the "early days". Your business has been the core
of our success, and many of you have helped us improve our product
over the years. We have demonstrated our gratitude as tangibly as
possible - by extending our 1994 prices to our long-term customers
through 1995, 1996 and the first quarter of 1997.
Now, changes in BSDI's business require that we modify this policy.
After April 30, 1997, all of our commercial customers will purchase
product according to our 1997 prices. This change is necessary for
many reasons, including the economic realities of a company that is
10 times larger than it was in 1994; fairness to all of our customers;
the costs associated with developing and supporting our operating
system; and the increased value our product offers when compared to
three years ago.
The new price sheet is attached. You will notice that our current
commercial pricing is based on the number of simultaneous users per
system, and that right-to-use licenses are no longer offered.
Naturally, volume discounts are available, and we continue to offer
educational discounts and individual user pricing.
We know that these prices are higher than you have been paying, and
that you may be tempted to consider operating system alternatives.
However, we believe that BSDI offers exceptional value, even at 1997
prices. When compared to other commercial operating systems and free
alternatives, the BSDI Internet Server and BSD/OS offer the kind of
price performance, reliability, and low cost of ownership that make
them a bargain. BSDI support backs it all up with some of the most
experienced technical support engineers in the business.
Please feel free to contact your BSDI representative or BSDI's sales
staff (800-800-4273, info@bsdi.com) if you have any questions,
concerns, or comments about this change.
Thank you,
Rob Kolstad
President
BSDI
P.S. Please do take advantage of the old pricing through April 30 by
calling our order desk at 800-776-2734 (9am to 5pm Mountain time) or
by contacting your sales representative.
--
BSDI INTERNET SERVER PRICING [USA] -- Effective April 30, 1997
Subject to change at any time without notice
THESE ARE LIST PRICES IN UNITED STATES DOLLARS.
Each BSDI Internet Server license is for a single machine. Purchase
additional licenses for additional machines as shown in pricing
tables below.
All products available on CDROM.
Foreign Customers: Customers in Europe, Australia (and surrounding
countries), India, ex-USSR, and Japan, should contact BSDI in
their respective areas. All other foreign customers
are processed by BSDI in the United States and must prepay their
order in US dollars (with money order, wire, check from US bank, or
VISA/MasterCard).
All BSDI customers receive free upgrades and full telephone support
through 60 days after BSDI ships their product. Telephone
installation support continues, as needed, after the initial 60 days
of free telephone support.
BSDI direct purchasers have a 60 day money-back guarantee (for product
fees, but not for rush shipping charges).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commercial License Pricing (for Organizations and Institutions)
Commercial license pricing is categorized by maximum number of simultaneous
users per machine:
Binary | -- Annual Support Costs -- |Source+Binary
License | Upgrades Upgrades Upgrades | License
# users Per machine | only +email +email+phone | Per Machine
---------------------|-----------------------------------|-------------
1..16 $995 | $200 $325 $500 | $2,995
1..64 $1,995 | $400 $525 $700 | $3,995
Nolimit $2,995 | $600 $750 $950 | $4,995
Please call BSDI for reseller pricing discount schedule.
Please call BSDI for volume discount pricing.
E-mail and telephone support costs are for first point of contact. Call
BSDI for multiple points of contact.
Note that # users means ``number of simultaneous users'':
* Each physical person logged in (potentially many times) is
a single user
* Each active incoming UUCP, SLIP, & PPP line counts as a single user
* Each active incoming network service (e.g., FTP, WWW/HTTP and
NFS clients) counts as 0.1 users
Compute the `number of users' for your system with this formula:
Number_of_users = Number_of_different_people_logged_in_from_a_network +
number_of_serial_lines_installed +
0.1 * Number_non_login_network_connections
When your installation exceeds the Number_of_users for which it is
licensed, upgrade your license by paying $50 + the difference in
license fees.
Purchase via COD, check in advance, VISA, MasterCard, American Express,
or purchase order (with appropriate credit references).
$50 discount (on software) when using VISA, MasterCard, American
Express or check-in-advance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pricing for individuals and BSDI Developer Program Members
These systems are not redistributable and are intended to be used by
individuals or by BSDI Developer Program members. They are not
licensed for resale.
Binary | -- Annual Support Costs -- |Source+Binary
License | Upgrades Upgrades Upgrades | License
Per machine | only +email +email+phone| Per Machine
------------|----------------------------------|-------------
$545 | $195 $295 $495 | $1045
Purchase via COD, MasterCard, VISA, or check in advance. $50 discount
on software when paying in advance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pricing for Educational Institutions and Students
BSDI offers educational discounts and site licenses.
Please call 800-990-2734 or e-mail: edu@bsdi.com for educational pricing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miscellaneous prices and charges
Rush shipping (after 4 pm by customer request): $25
FedEx two-day Domestic shipping: included at no extra charge
FedEx one-day Domestic shipping (aft): $20
FedEx one-day Domestic shipping (morn: $25
Foreign shipping (including Mexico, Canada): $50
Extra CDROM media: $15
Extra boot disk media (3-4 required): $5/each
Extra installation booklet: $15
Replacement CDROM complete box: $50
Upgrade former-student to personal source lic.: $300
Upgrade former-student to personal binary lic.: $200
Extra items always plus $10 handling plus actual FedEx shipping.
Colorado residents must pay state and local sales tax of varying rates.
Sales tax must also be paid by residents of other states.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
BSDI Direct: +1 719-593-2082 sales@bsdi.com FAX: +1 719-598-4238
Berkeley Software Design, Inc.
5575 Tech Center Dr., Suite 110
Colorado Springs, CO 80919
--
Christopher Mauritz | For info on internet access:
ritz@interactive.net | finger/mail info@interactive.net OR
IBS Interactive, Inc. | http://www.interactive.net/