Hello,
In the past we had
Solidworks SolidWorks Office SolidWorks Office Professional
Each was distinguished from each other with the inclusion of SW Add-Ins and in the case of Professional - PDMWorks. You bought the package you needed and paid the applicable price to do so.
Recently, Solidworks has discontinued SW Office. This forces new users to decide either to buy the basic package (SolidWorks) or make the jump to Professional (With the associated price increase).
In essence, you are now choosing between the two extremes of minimal package or everything but the kitchen sink.
Am I the only one to think that SW is trying to put the new user in the difficult positon of trying to upsell their bosses on the more expensive product even though they might not need all the "extras" that are offered?
Also, if you need a company or enterprise PDM system you have to pay for PDMWorks (Which, according to SW's own adds is an individual or Workgroup PDM)and then never install it. Or buy SW and then get nickled and dimed by purchasing individual "Add-Ins".
I'm having a difficult time taking the marketing types "Our customers want it this way" reason. Is this really a customer friendly thing to do or is it just a cash grab to increase revenues now that parametric modelers are mainstream and annual revenues are flattening?
Can't figure out why I'm so beat up about this -
What is your opinion?
Len