They have this 72-day rolling upgrade schedule. If your install is over 72 days old, they want you to download the latest one with all the bugfixes. I've used this for many years, and I've updated it many times. Of course, now that I'm on the Mac, I use a different program, but for the PCs, it's been SmartFTP all the way.
So I went to help her with it, and it asked us to install the latest version. Cool. I did it. And then: Bing!
So they've converted to a pay version -- now you have to BUY it or it will STOP WORKING.
And they did this with no notice. It's another case of screwing the customer. I mean, I don't care if they want to convert to a pay version. It was a good program, they should make money at it. But to offer it for free for several years and then start charging with no notice, without giving folks an opportunity to just keep using the version they have? WTF?
Way to alienate your customer base, SmartFTP. Good job.
At least they responded in an apologetic, supportive way to customer concerns about it, and then provided alternatives to their long-time customers.
Oh wait. They didn't. They response was essentially, "F you."
... and then they closed the forum thread so no one else could express their anger.
I think this bloke sums it all up quite well:
The only thing worse than shareware is freeware that changes its mind and becomes shareware. ... Wonder how long smartftp will remain the most popular ftp client now? Not bloody long I would guess."
I am so angry.
Well, he recommends FileZilla, which I've seen before. I guess we'll try that. And not because SmartFTP is no longer free, but rather because their focus has changed from producing an excellent program to screwing the customer for a buck.
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