[ACARS] Re: AirNav Products (maybe off topic)

Sat, 30 Mar 2002 19:09:17 -0600

Well said !!!

It seems over the last few months there have been a lot of people
complaining about this product on the list. Although I don't own AirNav, I
did notice that the common complaint has been lack of support.

Not speaking for all of their customers, I have had the same problem with
Aviation Databases. Late updates, no return on e-mails, mis-set expectations
about product modifications, bugs that were in the product for over a year
depsite repeated e-mails, data that was out of date etc. etc.

What's appears to be common between these products is exactly what Scott has
said. When software has gone from being freeware where there is little
expectation of support to a product that costs hard earned money from your
wallet, then there should be better support. It's going from amateur to
professional (Aviation Databases can cost as much as $150.00US to get
started). The owner of Aviation Databases said that they exist in a cottage
industry. Quite frankly, if you take someones money then you should provide
a certain level of service regardless of the size of industry you are in. At
the end of the day it's either manage the expectations or get out of the
market.

The similarities between the two products here seem to indicate that there
is a problem with software in this hobby but fortunately that is not true. I
was fortunate enough to start using Airline Data Unlimited who take a
customer focused approach to the way that they maintain and evolve their
product. In short, they have been hugely responsive and have bent over
backwards to help their customers.

Sadly I have to ask the question...is there an Airline Data Unlimited type
of product that can replace AirNav ???

Steve

----- Original Message -----
From: "kb2ytf" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2002 10:18 AM
Subject: RE: [ACARS] Re: AirNav Products (maybe off topic)

> the trouble is that some of the software venders weather free or pay don't
> support what they sell or give away. In the case of the freeware more
often
> than not is a hobbyist that had the talent to build the program and share
it
> with everyone to help along the hobby and neither has the time  or
resources
> to give tech help. but in a case like airnav you pay $50 for a program
there
> better be some good tech support. had a big error installing suite 3 on
win
> 2000 sent them a note about it. this was 2 months ago and more than one
> note, still waiting for a reply. therefore can't load or get tech support
> than I don't buy. you say "<they must keep "away" from the actual hobbyist
> people because there is a big deference between making money and making
your
> hobby..." to a certain degree your right (in the case you stated) but all
> software venders MUST give support for there products be they freeware or
> selling the program and listen to suggestions and tech support
> to improve the program If I can't get tech support than I drop the program
> for something I can.
>
> Thanks
> KB2YTF
> author of
> http://www.kb2ytf.com
> http://www.evhf.org THE ELECTCHESTER VHF CLUB
> owner:
> qslnet webring
> the shortwave radio ring.
> MGR
> ACARS E-MAIL LIST
> mailto:[email protected]
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On
> Behalf Of Elliott Kefalas
> Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2002 10:25 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [ACARS] Re: AirNav Products (maybe off topic)
>
>
> reading the above I get the opportunity to tell few things, that I was
very
> disappointed by many.
>
> There is a big "issue" regarding Airnav that is not the right time to
> discuss it.  Generally I can say that the software is great ( I am
register
> user in all programs)  but the people who assist the creation of the
program
> are passing a wrong image to the creators of the users and their ideas.
> I got a personal experience (and e-mails) from people telling me that I am
> passing a bad image regarding Airnav software because of my logs format
> posted on some lists!!!!!
> That is bad public relations.
> Those guys make a great job but they must keep "away" from the actual
> hobbyist people because there is a big deference between making money and
> making your hobby...
>
>
>
>
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