Poll: How often do you feel you should pay for updates of your CAT tool(s)?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Nov 22, 2019

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How often do you feel you should pay for updates of your CAT tool(s)?".

View the poll results »



 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 16:21
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
When I see major improvements is when I FEEL I should pay... Nov 22, 2019

In practice I pay every year, however.

That is a drop in the ocean, but regular payments enable the programmers to keep looking for ideas, contacting translators and other users, working on the feedback - and generally be there if I need help.

The fact that I have not needed help for several years actually confirms my belief that paying is a good idea. That means the CAT just runs without problems, whi
... See more
In practice I pay every year, however.

That is a drop in the ocean, but regular payments enable the programmers to keep looking for ideas, contacting translators and other users, working on the feedback - and generally be there if I need help.

The fact that I have not needed help for several years actually confirms my belief that paying is a good idea. That means the CAT just runs without problems, which is even better than instant help with bugs!

I send in suggestions when I have any.
Collapse


Marjolein Snippe
Arkadiusz Jasiński
 
B D Finch
B D Finch  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 16:21
French to English
+ ...
Every 2 - 3 years Nov 22, 2019

I think that given the price of CAT tools, one should expect at least 2 - 3 years use before paying for updates. However, I am currently using Wordfast Pro 5 and the last update (5.11.1) is so buggy that I really resent paying for updating. This CAT tool used to work really well and I was very happy with it, but the last few updates seem to have ruined it. 100% matches show as 99% and propagation is erratic, the progress bar shows that I am half way through a file, when I am actually only 20% th... See more
I think that given the price of CAT tools, one should expect at least 2 - 3 years use before paying for updates. However, I am currently using Wordfast Pro 5 and the last update (5.11.1) is so buggy that I really resent paying for updating. This CAT tool used to work really well and I was very happy with it, but the last few updates seem to have ruined it. 100% matches show as 99% and propagation is erratic, the progress bar shows that I am half way through a file, when I am actually only 20% through or shows 8 words to go when I still have about 200 words to translate. The terminology search shows completely irrelevant results even when I know the term I am searching for is in the terminology. Some of the bugs in the last update seem to have been solved at the expense of new ones being introduced.

Also, the hotline used to give much quicker and more effective responses than it does now. My licence is due for renewal in a few days and I am, for the first time, hesitating over whether to renew it or switch to a different CAT tool. If I knew that the bugs I have reported were being sorted out, I would not be hesitating about renewal. I think the problem is that the people doing the updates seem to value innovation and complexity over reliability. I prefer reliability and simplicity.
Collapse


Reed James
neilmac
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 15:21
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other Nov 22, 2019

The only CAT tool I have been working with is one of my client’s XTM online portal. So, if there are updates they are not my concern at all.

 
Fiona Grace Peterson
Fiona Grace Peterson  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 16:21
Italian to English
Honestly? Never. Nov 22, 2019

I don't think I should ever have to pay for updates, given what these things cost*.
However, CAT tool developers have stumbled on a nice cash cow, and it makes economic sense to draw translators in then keep squeezing them.

*Although from what I've seen of mechanical design software prices, CAT tools are actually pretty cheap.


Tom in London
Mónica Algazi
neilmac
 
Marjolein Snippe
Marjolein Snippe  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 16:21
Member (2012)
English to Dutch
+ ...
Not too often... Nov 22, 2019

I agree with Christine that payment helps developers ensure everything runs smoothly. I prefer a good, reliable CAT tool to a free one with bugs, or which is slow, or without support for users.

I tried Wordfast 5 when it came out, but I never liked it much, so I am still working in WF3 and have not had any issues for years. The two versions can be installed (and run) on one computer.


 
Hans Lenting
Hans Lenting
Netherlands
Member (2006)
German to Dutch
I wouldn't pay for updates ... Nov 22, 2019

ProZ.com Staff wrote:

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How often do you feel you should pay for updates of your CAT tool(s)?".

View the poll results »



I wouldn't pay for updates, but I would certainly pay for feature upgrades, e.g. when a new, for me important file format is supported.

However, since I have a Proz Plus Membership , I don't have to pay for any upgrades for my CAT tool at all.


Arkadiusz Jasiński
Philippe Etienne
 
Elizabeth Tamblin
Elizabeth Tamblin  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:21
French to English
Never Nov 22, 2019

Developers of apps for iPhones, etc. are expected to provide support and upgrades for life. Why should the same not apply to CAT tools, which have a much higher price and yet are relatively easy to programme?



[Edited at 2019-11-22 21:51 GMT]


ALPTranslations
neilmac
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 16:21
Spanish to English
+ ...
Other Nov 23, 2019

If my CAT is working for me, I don't want any gratuitous upgrades. "Not broke, don't fix it". And I consider them expensive enough to be an outrght purchase. However, if the only way to keep using it is to pay a tithe, I'll usually do so grudgingly, or find a workaround.

 
Jan Truper
Jan Truper  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 16:21
Member (2016)
English to German
yearly subscription Nov 23, 2019

I prefer a somewhat low entry price and then a yearly subscription, provided the software is kept bug-free and on par with new technological developments and system software changes.

 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 12:21
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
3-5 years Nov 23, 2019

I used to do it on a yearly basis in the beginning. Then I realized it was a big waste of money. The new features are rarely ever worth a new update so often.
Now, MemoQ has several bugs that are never solved by Kilgray. The worst one is all of a sudden consumming about 5-6 GB of RAM, and the only way to stop it is to close MemoQ and restart. Till this issue is resolved, I will not update the CAT.


 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Jared Tabor[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Poll: How often do you feel you should pay for updates of your CAT tool(s)?






CafeTran Espresso
You've never met a CAT tool this clever!

Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer. Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools. Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free

Buy now! »
Trados Business Manager Lite
Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio

Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.

More info »