MacHeist II and Speed Download 5 resolution

We've commented on the MacHeist / Speed Download 5 saga before, and the entire episode clearly led to some heated passions. As a recap: Speed Download 4 was included in the MacHeist II bundle, and shortly thereafter Speed Download 5 was released. However, Yazsoft required MacHeist customers to pay an upgrade fee even though MacHeist II ran during a period where purchases of SD4 direct from Yazsoft were eligible for a free upgrade.
Anyway, after much controversy back and forth it appears that the matter is headed towards an equitable resolution. MacHeist's John Casasanta has posted in the Macheist forums that Yazsoft is now willing to offer free SD5 upgrades to MacHeist II customers until March 27. You need only enter your MacHeist details at this webpage. Alternately, for $15 you can get two SD5 licenses plus a free upgrade to SD6. Finally, if you're already paid the $15 you can request a refund, or just keep your two SD5 licenses plus free upgrade to SD6. See Yazsoft for full details.
In any case, it's good to see this matter resolved. Just remember that if you're a MacHeist II customer you have to act by March 27 to claim the free upgrade.
Thanks Phill!
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We've commented on the MacHeist / Speed Download 5 saga before, and the entire episode clearly led to some heated passions. As a recap:...
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I just sent this to the developer, but I want to put it here too as a public statement, since it covers my feelings:
"I just wanted you to know that I just took advantage of your upgrade offer to MacHeisters. Thank you. I hope that this was not prompted by the bitching of some of the MacHeist crowd (or depressing upgrade adoption rates) -- either scenario is a bit of a bummer and you deserve neither.
"My expectation when I purchased the bundle was to get the full current versions of the software in the bundle, with upgrade policies depending on the individual developers. Speed Download met this expectation and I was quite satisfied.
"I admit that I disabled using Speed Download on a daily basis due to the age of my system (I'm on an iBook G3 with 10.4.11 -- serviceable but with limited capacity for add-ons). Luckily, I'm upgrading to a new MacBook this week, so this will no longer be an issue. I seriously considered upgrading, but deferred that due to the age of my system and the fact that I'm a student and finances are tight. I know you understand.
"Next week, when I have my new system and it's all set up, I will have version 5.x of Speed Download as part of my set-up. I fully expect it to be a nice addition to my workflow. In fact (depending on its fantasticalness and whether I can think of any Mac-using friends that would appreciate Speed Download), I'm seriously considering the $15 extra-licence-and-upgrade-to-SD6.x offer.
"I wanted to let you know that your offer is obviously well thought-out, carefully considered, and both fair and generous. If shrill MacHeisters did prompt this offer, I just wanted to share a positive appreciation to offset any of the negativeness that seems to float around."
They probably didn't handle this whole thing the best way possible from the outset, but I don't think there was any malicious intent or desire to extort their customers. Seriously, the MacHeist message boards leave a bit of a sour taste in my mouth as some members jump to the worst conclusions immediately. But, nowadays, so many large companies have an adversarial relationship with their customers it is sometimes hard to remember that not all companies are like that.
Macheist sucks. I paid last year for the full bundle, and still 200+ days later I do not have a response as to WHERE the hell are my other license, from any of the companies. I've only gotten to of the products, when I was supposed to get 5.
They can go to hell. It doesn't take 200+ days to NOT respond to dozens of emails.
(just a test 2)
March 15 2008 at 11:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyapplestar, can you email me your customer information to phillryu@gmail.com? I have a feeling it has to do with an accent in your name, which I can take care of for you.
March 15 2008 at 11:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHmmm.
My name and serial do not work on their MH upgrade site. Strange.
I'm glad they resolved the issue and decided in the end to offer up the license for "free". After the forced update that rendered my copy of SD version 4 license useless I had stopped using SD b/c I wasn't about to pay another red cent for version 5 after I had just installed version 4. Yazsoft should not have pushed out version 5 as an update that you then found out you had to pay for after the update.
Well I just got my license for V 5 and its working again... Phew!
this is why i pirate their software
March 15 2008 at 5:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply+1. I do the same with Watanabe. Screw 'em. As that's their attitude, it's mine too.
March 16 2008 at 4:42 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyJust lucky you posted this as I would have also missed out. I was surprised I couldn't upgrade my Mac Heist license. I had already purchased SD4 so I wasn't using the license I got with Mac Heist. I thought.....now with this update I can use the newly purchased license to upgrade. No such luck...until this solution was worked out. But how are the Heisters going to learn of this? Shouldn't Mac Heist send out an email? Thank you TUAW.
March 15 2008 at 5:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDave F - just enter in a password and then use that password every time you post a comment.
March 15 2008 at 4:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyArtifex: Thanks, I see that the bottom of the reg email has a random password. Never read far enough to see that.
Christina: I'll try the password again -- previously that didn't seem to work. (fingers crossed).
Thanks! I don't frequent the MH forums and wouldn't have learned about this except for your posting. So I've got it SD 5 and it's working.
On a side note: how do I "register" with TUAW, so don't have to respond to a verification email for every comment?
Your verification email should have your password in it. Use that next time.
Also, if you use Twitter, Phill sent the notice out on the 13th:
http://twitter.com/MacHeist
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