Other Platforms

[Tim]

We have been making decent progress on a Linux version of BC3, with a general strategy of releasing it at the same time as the Windows version. With any luck, we will be starting early beta tests on the Linux version in a month or so.

We also get a lot of requests for a native Mac version of Beyond Compare. While we'd love to offer it, an OS/X port would be difficult based on our current development environment and limited resources. After we get version 3 released and settled down, we'll take another look at the feasibility of a Mac version.

[blackpuma]

I have only one thing to say:


WWWWOOOOO HHHHOOOOO!!!!! :D :D :D

I'm still doing manual diffs on my Linux workstation. (I run Win32 within VMware virtual machines.)

Would a Windows version purchase also allow you to run a Linux version? Or would that be counted as 2 different items?

Wonderful program!!

[Tim]

Our current plan is that Linux and Windows pricing will be the same, although separate licenses will be needed to run on both platforms. We'll likely have a bundle price for getting both together.

Here's our tentative pricing for a single user:

BC3 Standard = $30
BC3 Standard Win32+Linux = $50
BC3 Pro = $50
BC3 Pro Win32+Linux = $70

Comments anyone?

[dlprice]

The prices seem very fair to me (especially considering the price of the competition). Any thought of an 'upgrade' price for existing users? Would there be a discount?

[Dave_L]

Comments anyone?



It's great that you're coming out with a native Linux version.

But I'm disappointed that I'll need to purchase two licenses. :(

A nice feature of the BC license is that with a single license, I can use BC on more than one computer (although I only use one computer at any given time). Since I dual-boot Windows and Linux, then I'll need two BC licenses to run BC on both the Windows and Linux partitions on the same computer.

[Tim]

I'm still working on the upgrade policy, but there will be a discount for BC2 license holders. I'll post more details in this forum soon.

[Tim]

Thanks for your feedback, Dave. Our pricing policy for BC3 is still tentative, so it's a good time to get everyone's opinion. :)

Anyone else?

[blackpuma]

A nice feature of the BC license is that with a single license, I can use BC on more than one computer (although I only use one computer at any given time).



This is what I liked about Borland's "like a book" license policy, i.e. install on as many machines as you like, if, like a book, you only use one at a time.

I'll still need two licenses, as I'm frequently using my Linux workstation and Win32 within a VMware virtual machine (at the same time, switching back and forth). If there were an OS X version of BC, then I'd gladly fork out for another license. It's not like the $800 we recently forked out for one software package, plus the other $400 for the other. :eek:

Thanks, guys, for making BC so affordable!

The freedom that BC Licences allow are very generous, and I would imagine generate sales itself.

I like the fact, that the licence is tied to ME, not my machine, so I can install BC where I need it, and as long as it's only me that uses, a single licence suffices.

This is very handy, as I use BC at work (my company bought a large number of licences), but it means I can use my licence at home for my own stuff. The licencing flexability is the icing on an already great cake, and the reason I recommend BC to so many people. Please don't lock it down..

[jkmccarthy]

The prices Tim mentions seem very fair to me. I also have a machine that dual-boots Win32 and Linux, but that's not the only Linux (or Win32) machine that I use, so for a quality product like Beyond Compare, I'm certainly willing to pay extra for the Linux license. This doesn't mean I won't appreciate the upgrade discount for registered BC2 users :) Hope I can have the pleasure of beta-testing the Linux version soon !

Did I miss something with the licencing here?

My company purchased a site-wide license. I bought a single license for use at home as I use it all the time at work (especially within Merant Dimensions - thanks to Michael Jelich for his plugin). Are you saying that I could have used the company license at home? I am not TOO worried since I bought it when it was half-price from DonationCoder!

Some time ago I remember reading something about if within one year of buying v2 a v3 came out purchasers would be entitled to a free upgrade. Is that still going to be true? If so would it be to BC3 Standard?

Cheers
Darren

[Tim]

Our license agreement lets you use BC on any number of computers, at work or at home. A company may let their licensed employees use BC at home if they like, but we feel it's up to the company to set that policy. The company is responsible for safekeeping the license key and may want to keep it inhouse.

I hope to finalize our BC3 upgrade policy soon, and post it in this forum. At a minimum, someone who buys a $30 BC2 license within a year (more likely 18 months) of BC3's release will get $30 towards the BC3 license. In other words, a free upgrade to BC3 Standard.

[jknacnud]

Woohoo!! A linux version is awesome and just makes a Mac version that much closer. :)

Is it a true native linux version using GTK, QT?
Or 'Wine' is required? http://www.winehq.com/

[Craig]

It's a native linux executable built on top of Qt3. Wine isn't required.

Qt works on OSX :)

I'm on my monthly quest to find a useable hex diff tool and figured I'd stop by and drop another request for OSX. BC2 is my benchmark for usable text/hex comparisons.

[Chris]

Thanks for the suggestion. We are considering an OS X port. At the moment our development team has their hands full working on BC3 for Windows. Once BC3 for Windows is released, we'll take another look at the possibility of an OS X port.

For now, some of our users have reported good luck using CrossOver Mac to run BC. See the discussion thread at:
http://www.scootersoftware.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Number=6704&page=0

[LiquidL]

Our current plan is that Linux and Windows pricing will be the same, although separate licenses will be needed to run on both platforms. We'll likely have a bundle price for getting both together.

Here's our tentative pricing for a single user:

BC3 Standard = $30
BC3 Standard Win32+Linux = $50
BC3 Pro = $50
BC3 Pro Win32+Linux = $70

Comments anyone?



Pricing seems very reasonable.

Hint Hint patiently at a OSX universal version.. just my $0.02 Great software use it all the time!

[Chris]

Thanks for the suggestion. Once BC3 for Windows is released we'll consider the possibility of an OS X version of Beyond Compare.

If you have an Intel Mac, a number of our users have reported good luck using CrossOver Mac to run BC.

http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/

[PhilAlanThompson]

Will you also be compiling a Vista x64 version (if necessary)?

[Chris]

It will probably be like BC2. With Beyond Compare 2, we released a 64 bit shell extension that works on Windows XP x64 and Windows 2003 x64. The main Beyond Compare 2 program is still 32 bit, but it works well through the Windows x64 32 bit compatibility support.

Beyond Compare is written in Delphi, and Delphi doesn't currently support 64 bit programs. When Delphi adds 64 bit support, then we'll consider making a 64 bit release.

A Mac version would be extra sweet. Especially considering that I switched to a Mac a few months ago and was coming here specifically to request a Mac port. :-) I have an Intel Mac and am running Windows in a Parallels VM almost exclusively for Beyond Control.

Yes I would love to see a Mac version too, as I'm in the process of switching.

Another dime for a native mac version. There are a lot of competitors for windows - for shure, BC is the best. But there is not a single product for the mac roughly as useful as BC.
http://osx.iusethis.com/tag/diff

[peterl]

I'd also gladly pay for an OS X version...I looked at the beta of Araxis merge for OS X, and it's good, but I like BC better.

Another vote for a native OS X version of BC. I purchased CrossOver Mac just to run BC on the Mac, and have also tried using using BC on a Windows machine to access a Mac with SMB file sharing. The big problem in both cases is with filenames that BC cannot handle (names that are not legal under Windows, usually due to special characters). While it will happily list such files, it will not do a binary comparison of them. It will claim to do a CRC comparison of them, but cannot open them (so I suspect the checksum comparison is actually failing, but the error is not getting trapped).

[ncr100]

Same goes for me, BC3 on Mac woo hoo!

Beyond Compare is rad. I tried running it in emulation on various platforms (Mac/Linux). The BC code can't be that stanky to be able to be ported. Porting is fun. I do it all the time. Port port port.

Seriously, BC is a sexy application and the Mac dev environment is kinda sorta sexy. I am guessing Scooter Software could get revenue from the Mac community; shareware is very popular. I don't know the porting cost though; u might have to sell 500,000,000 copies to recoup...but plz consider it?

MOST Customers are telling you there's no comparable solution out there, inviting you.

Whine Whine,
Nick Richards :cool:

[Chris]

Nick,

Thanks for the suggestion. We are keeping a Mac port in consideration.

The big issue with porting to the Mac is that Beyond Compare is written in Delphi. Delphi isn't available for OS X, so it would be quite a project. We'll revisit the possibility of a port once version 3 for Windows is released.

[scarnie]

Would you be interested in help with an OS/X port? I do have the environment, would like to learn OS/X dev and would be willing to devote some free time to do it :) I'm sure coming from linux to OS/X wouldn't be that bad.

[Chris]

Stuart,

Thanks for the offer of help. At this point we just can't take on another platform, but if we do in the future we'll post an announcement in the forums.

Please consider MAC OS X version. Beyond Compare is the best out there and we mac developers can definitely use BC.

Awesome utility. I am also switching to Mac from MS and BC2 is one of my critical apps - it's just beats everything. Would LOVE to pay for and instruct all of my release managers and QA developers to purchase a copy as well new copies of native OSX version. Please, please, please! :)

[Aaron]

We have gotten requests for a Mac OSX version before. It is something we are interested in, but will need to re-visit/investigate at a later date after work on version 3.

Thanks for expressing interest in seeing our product on another OS. If you would like to try, a few of our users have had good things to say about running BC on Intel Macs using CrossOver Mac.
http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/

Also, here's a forum thread where our users discussed using CrossOver Mac to run BC:
http://www.scootersoftware.com/ubbthread...page=0&vc=1 (http://www.scootersoftware.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Number=6955&an=&page=0&vc=1)

I am happy to see the progress you made in Linux version.
I will definitely ask the company to buy this software.
We are using perforce under linux. I will check how good it handles the 3-way comparison.

The post is actually more than a year ago. :(
Do you have Linux Beta on the way?

#6574 - 08/14/06 01:32 PM Edit Reply We have been making decent progress on a Linux version of BC3, with a general strategy of releasing it at the same time as the Windows version. With any luck, we will be starting early beta tests on the Linux version in a month or so.

We also get a lot of requests for a native Mac version of Beyond Compare. While we'd love to offer it, an OS/X port would be difficult based on our current development environment and limited resources. After we get version 3 released and settled down, we'll take another look at the feasibility of a Mac version.

[Chris]

We're in private beta for the Linux version right now. Right now the private beta is limited to registered users of Beyond Compare 2. If you're registered and you would like to join the beta, send an email to support@scootersoftware.com.

I haven't talked with the manager about license purchasement.
some more questions:
#1. Does the linux beta support 3 way merge?
#2. How about the perforce integration for merge?
#3. If we buy 2 or 3 copies for the time being and later we buy more license if we are happy with BC, do we still get the same rebate as we buy all the license at the same time?
Thank you.

1. Yes
2. BC3 has the same Perforce commandline support as BC2, with the expanded options available via the Command Line with 3 files (3way merge).
http://www.scootersoftware.com/support.php?c=kb_vcs.php
Is that what you mean when you refer to Integration, or this:
http://www.scootersoftware.com/support.php?c=kb_scc.php

3.Here is a page describing our policy on pricing: http://www.scootersoftware.com/shop.php?cartid=102822923&c=upgrades
Basically, once you hit a certain number, the benefits pertain to that, or any future, orders. So if you order 5 up front, you would get any discounts associated with 5. If you order 2, then 3, the later 3 get the discounts associated with 5.

-Aaron. Scooter Software. Original posted when not logged in.

Thank you. I will go and ask my manager on this. Happy new year!

OS X for me as well, please! Can't live without BC! Convinced two companies, so far. About to persuade number three (although, not much persuasion needed; just show them a pdf/doc/xls diff). Looking forward to the linux version. Can't wait for a native Mac version. I will buy my first personal license.

Regards,
Klaus

[heimi]

Add me to the list of OS X Votes.
I switched to Mac OS X a while ago and there are two apps I really miss on OS X. One is Picasa from Google and the other is Beyond Compare. I read through the thread and found the hint with Crossover and I will definetly give it a try on Crossover but its nasty to buy a 50$ software to run a 30$ software on a mac.
Beside that I believe that you are able to build a fast and reliable version of BC on a Mac as soon as you find the time.
Thanx
Andreas

Whooohooo!

I would also vote for an OSX version of BC. I read in a thread here that the only reason BC is provided for Linux is because of Kylix. And, since there is an Delphi for OSX (I wish!!), may I suggest http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org/ as a possible solution.

I typed too fast, sorry. The above should read "since there is no Delphi for OSX" instead of "since there is an Delphi for OSX".

It's great that you're coming out with a native Linux version.

But I'm disappointed that I'll need to purchase two licenses. :(

A nice feature of the BC license is that with a single license, I can use BC on more than one computer (although I only use one computer at any given time). Since I dual-boot Windows and Linux, then I'll need two BC licenses to run BC on both the Windows and Linux partitions on the same computer.



See the first post in this thread - http://www.scootersoftware.com/ubbthread...page=0#Post9320 (http://www.scootersoftware.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=9320&an=0&page=0#Post9320)

You can run BC2 under WINE.

I noticed the tentative prices for BC3, for new versions. Are there any tentative prices for upgrading to BC3 as a 'Win/Linux' upgrade ?

The Win part for me would be an upgrade, as I now have BC2. The Linux part would be a 'new' BC3.

Where is this Linux version about which you wrote first in August 2006?

[Tim]

http://www.scootersoftware.com/beta3/download.php

[Aaron]

Tentative pricing information is available here:
http://www.scootersoftware.com/beta3/shop.php

There is also more information available via the left-hand side menu.

[Tim]

I'm still considering a "dual-platform" license, at 1.6 times the single platform price. I'm pretty sure we'll offer it, but I need to work through the details.

I'm still considering a "dual-platform" license, at 1.6 times the single platform price. I'm pretty sure we'll offer it, but I need to work through the details.



That seems to suit my needs, as I'd need an upgrade for the BC2 on Win, and a 'new' for BC3 on Linux, so ..

Win upgrade - half price of $30 = $15
Linux new - full price = $30

Total $45 , or 1.5 times the single platform price.

[Tim]

The price for a new Dual Platform, Standard Edition will be $48, which is 1.6 times the single platform price of $30. The Pro Edition for both platforms will be $80 ($50 x 1.6).

If you have an old, single-user BC2 license to upgrade, you'll basically get $15 off whatever BC3 license you want. So in your case it would be: $48 - $15 = $33