Comments on: Trial Software Survey: You could win a $50 Amazon gift card!

By: Trial Software Survey: You could win a $50 Amazon gift card! Software Rss

Trial Software Survey: You could win a $50 Amazon gift card! Software Rss — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:40:59 +0000

[...] is the original: Trial Software Survey: You could win a $50 Amazon gift card! By admin | category: trial software | tags: all-know, compares-the-current, [...]

By: blankreg

blankreg — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:55:30 +0000

At least three pieces of software we are currently using were originally downloaded as trials. It was the only way I could show management that it functioned and was useful in our network. I doubt there are many companies these days that have budget available just to buy any software for evaluation, so trials are the only way that developers will sell their wares to a lot of places.

Most trial software is not crippleware, but only works for a limited time period. If it doesn’t have full function, then I agree, the trial is useless, but most commercial software is fully featured, and has to be if it is going to be trialed properly.

My concern with most sites that do this, for software that is not their own, is how up to date are the copies available ? I usually prefer to go to the original site to make sure I get the latest version, rather than sometihng that may not have all the features or bug fixes. Maybe a section with links to the main sites, and rather than hold the software here, have recommendations and reviews by people who contribute elsewhere on this site, and we know them (at least a bit) their experience and expertise will add extra weight to the review ?

By: andreaf

andreaf — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:39:34 +0000

I have researched software solutions for clients as well as our own operations – and the trial version is often the last piece before a decision is made. I have been influenced in decision making both by the opportunity to test drive the software, as well as having a chance to evaluate the support services behind that software.

By: timdoyle

timdoyle — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:39:11 +0000

Trials can have a tremendous value. I think we’ve probably all been oversold on a product by a vendor at one point or another. A 30 day trial of an application can give you the opportunity to play and expose flaws that may or may not be a big deal in your unique environment.

Frequently I use trials as a near last step in my eval process, not early in the process. If I have a need I often present that to my vendor group, discuss possible solutions and then move to the 30 day trial to evaluate the top contenders for my $.

My time and that of my staff is too valuable to be spend downloading and installing eval and trial copies of new applications in our test environment. I’d rather rely on my vendors to spend their time doing the basic reserach and help me find the products that are most liekly to meed my needs.

I evaluated Solarwinds Orion in my environment based on recommendations from one of my trusted vendors, I bought the product based on my experience with the 30 day trial.