Dear Stardock. I hope you are not moving over to a subscription for your software.
Looks like Fences and Object Desktop are.
Stardock Software Subscriptions - Documentation - Stardock Help Center
The following line is scary!
"If the subscription lapses, the software will stop working until the subscription is renewed."
Glad I have a "Lifetime License" for Fences 4. I won't be upgrading.
Ditto.
Looks like you can get a non-subscription license, but it's about 3 times the price of the subscription. They are calling it a Lifetime License but it's only for the single version I'd bet. Correct me if I'm wrong on this. Other softwares I have purchased with LIfetime Licenses include future updates. I'd pay $8-10 to upgrade to 5 but not if they are going to stop functionality after a year. I won't be paying 3 times what I have paid in the past for this software for a single version without upgrades.
Please refer here for definition of "Lifetime license" https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1544388616/Stardock+Software+Subscriptions
A ‘Lifetime license’ is a one-time purchase for the version purchased. For example, if you purchased a lifetime license for Fences 4, it would be a one-time fee and you would receive Minor updates for that version’s ‘lifetime’ (4.1, 4.2, etc).
However, unlike subscription versions of select products, you will not receive Major updates (4 → 5 → 6 etc) at no charge.
Business customers have multiple options that can be either non-reoccurring or reoccurring, depending on their preference. Please contact Corporate Sales for additional information about how each product is licensed.
Do know that version your purchase will work forever as long as the user do not upgrade to a Windows version that no longer work with that version you purchase. For Example. Fences 4 should work forever as long as the user is using Windows 10 or 11 that are compatible with Fences 4. For now, Fences 4 work with Windows 11 v23H2. Unless Microsoft do a major changes on Windows 11 in the future, it is safe to say Fences 4 work on Windows 11.
Thank you,
Basj,Stardock Community Assistant
No thanks ... neither option makes sense to me.
I'll stay on version 4 then.
Windows 12 will surely give us a better user experience than 11 currently does.
If so, then I can abandon Fences.
I too will be not renewing/upgrading this version.
I repurchase your upgrades most years, but to force a subscription on me has failed.
Goodbye
Okay, I paid ObjectDesktop in 2019, and it was the announce to use this version as long as I want. But I can't install it any more. This sucks, it is paid. I don't want the new one, and I should pay to geht my old one again working.
Is this your real thinking? Or are your kidding me?
Please help me.
What Basj explained is as I expected. When I upgraded from version 3 to version 4, it cost me $7.99 and it was a Lifetime License for the one version that I am still using. However, now it's about 3-1/2 times that cost if I want a Lifetime License for version 5. There are a few important things that SaaS (software as a service) makes sense for like Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware software. But as much as I like Fences, I can live without it, so it is not on that list.
I agree if this is going to subscription then no thanks. I been a loyal customer for years. I am willing to pay for the very small upgrades but NOT a subscription! This is just nuts and greed! Do I have to have this product no, it just a useful added on that is affordable at it current price point but to push the value to subscription totally not worth it. I will not be recommending this product at this point to my friend's any more.
Do know that version your purchase will work forever as long as the user do not upgrade to a Windows version that no longer work with that version you purchase. For Example. Fences 4 should work forever as long as the user is using Windows 10 or 11 that are compatible with Fences 4. For now, Fences 4 work with Windows 11 v23H2. Unless Microsoft do a major changes on Windows 11 in the future, it is safe to say Fences 4 work on Windows 11.Thank you,Basj,Stardock Community Assistant
Ty
You only repeated what Basj said already and so you haven't added any new information. That is unhelpful to anyone. I understand Stardock's definition of a Lifetime License. I am also ok with it as that's what you normally get buying software. It's just that others I've purchased from don't call it a Lifetime License unless it includes upgrades. What I am NOT ok with is the hugely increased cost of version 5. I spent $7.99 for Fences 2 in March of 2013. I spent $4.99 to upgrade to Fences 3 in September of 2016. I then spent another $7.99 to upgrade to Fences 4 in December of 2021. So, I have used Fences for over 11 years at a cost of about $21.00 + tax. Now a subscription is $9.99 a year or $8.99 currently. Fences is a great little utility software, but in no way is it worth paying $99.00-110.00 to use this software for the next 11 years. Even if I purchase a lifetime license, assuming I would need to upgrade 3 more times in the next 11 years as I did in the past, it's still about the same cost as the subscription. As I said before, I like the software, but it's not worth the cost anymore and I can easily live without it. This is just my opinion and I am voicing it toward Stardock and not anyone else.
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