Why No Standalone Versions of Legacy Software

Mike Sutherland
Member Posts: 17 ✭✭
Your company’s insistence on forcing long time users of your software to have to connect to the internet, or they cannot use their software, is depriving them of the use of software that they have paid for over the years. Over the years, I have spent almost $400 on your software and now I cannot use it because my computer’s hard drive crashed and your company says there is no stand alone version to restore my software to its as bought condition since I have repaired my computer. Your policy is denying me the right to access that which I have paid your company for. It is a predatory practice by Logos that attempts to force them to continuously buy updates to products or lose the use of products they have already paid for. I realize that that predatory practice is used by most software peddlers, but that does not make it right. Furthermore, there was no time limit set on how long I could use the software. When I bought it, it was mine forever. I did not buy a version that would not work unless I continued to buy updates for it.
Your insistence on forcing users to have to connect to the internet and stay connected to the internet is especially wasteful of bandwidth, especially for those whose internet access is bandwidth limited. That is the case for anyone in a rural area that has to use bandwidth limited satellite internet services. I am one of those in a rural area whose downloads and data streaming are limited by my internet service provider. There is nothing I can do about it because there is no other competitive service available.
I had one of your technicians named Jacob who told me that one of the reasons to upgrade was because my software degraded over time. He is seriously mistaken. My Logos 2.0g/2.1g performed just as well as it did the day I bought it before my hard drive crashed. It would continue to do the same if I had a full stand alone version of it to reinstall to my repaired system. I tried Logos 4.0 and did not like it for several reasons. For one it wanted to connect to the internet and stay connected. Another reason is that the copy verses function in the later versions of Logos did not work as well (or, not at all) with my WordPerfect word processor. Jacob also said I would have to upgrade to the Windows 10 operating system in order to get my Logos software working again. Seriously?!? I have to spend $150 for an operating system so that I can get software working again that I have already paid you for. Then Microsoft will tell me that I cannot install Windows 10 because my hardware is not compatible with Windows 10. Then I will have to spend between $450 and $525 to buy another computer. That is hogwash. I am already starting to feel like the man who works a job so that he can buy cocaine, so that he can work a job to buy more cocaine. I feel like a rat on a circular treadmill. It is a vicious circle.
There is no reason why Logos/Libronix could not set up a download page that would have full up stand alone versions of all of the legacy software programs (not resources) that Logos/Libronix has sold over the years for when systems malfunction and must be restored. I know that you already have server space set up for resources. I am not asking for, nor do I need, technical support. Just make full up, downloadable versions of the software available to those of us who cannot afford to buy new software and computer hardware. I have all of my confirmation/install codes and purchase receipts available to prove that I have purchased the software.
I am running Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit and cannot afford to upgrade. According to the Libronix help screen, I am running Libronix Digital Library System version 1.0b. I cannot get the software to update. It needs to be restored to a 2.0/3.0 configuration to get it to work. Every time I try to do any search Logos locks up and the search button in the search dialog box is dead. It does nothing. It is totally useless.
Your insistence on forcing users to have to connect to the internet and stay connected to the internet is especially wasteful of bandwidth, especially for those whose internet access is bandwidth limited. That is the case for anyone in a rural area that has to use bandwidth limited satellite internet services. I am one of those in a rural area whose downloads and data streaming are limited by my internet service provider. There is nothing I can do about it because there is no other competitive service available.
I had one of your technicians named Jacob who told me that one of the reasons to upgrade was because my software degraded over time. He is seriously mistaken. My Logos 2.0g/2.1g performed just as well as it did the day I bought it before my hard drive crashed. It would continue to do the same if I had a full stand alone version of it to reinstall to my repaired system. I tried Logos 4.0 and did not like it for several reasons. For one it wanted to connect to the internet and stay connected. Another reason is that the copy verses function in the later versions of Logos did not work as well (or, not at all) with my WordPerfect word processor. Jacob also said I would have to upgrade to the Windows 10 operating system in order to get my Logos software working again. Seriously?!? I have to spend $150 for an operating system so that I can get software working again that I have already paid you for. Then Microsoft will tell me that I cannot install Windows 10 because my hardware is not compatible with Windows 10. Then I will have to spend between $450 and $525 to buy another computer. That is hogwash. I am already starting to feel like the man who works a job so that he can buy cocaine, so that he can work a job to buy more cocaine. I feel like a rat on a circular treadmill. It is a vicious circle.
There is no reason why Logos/Libronix could not set up a download page that would have full up stand alone versions of all of the legacy software programs (not resources) that Logos/Libronix has sold over the years for when systems malfunction and must be restored. I know that you already have server space set up for resources. I am not asking for, nor do I need, technical support. Just make full up, downloadable versions of the software available to those of us who cannot afford to buy new software and computer hardware. I have all of my confirmation/install codes and purchase receipts available to prove that I have purchased the software.
I am running Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit and cannot afford to upgrade. According to the Libronix help screen, I am running Libronix Digital Library System version 1.0b. I cannot get the software to update. It needs to be restored to a 2.0/3.0 configuration to get it to work. Every time I try to do any search Logos locks up and the search button in the search dialog box is dead. It does nothing. It is totally useless.
Tagged:
1
Comments
-
I totally agree with Mike. And that also applies to all the money I spent in WordSearch and you are not bringing ZipScript over to Logos. I paid for it and you are taking it away, if I ever have a hard drive crash or get a new computer.0
-
You should always keep a backup of the installers and data files at the very least.
Computer Best Practice has been to keep a full backup since the 90's, (because bad things can happen: virus, malware, crashes, bad updates)0 -
0
-
Hi, Mike,
I'm sorry you've had a frustrating experience. I don't think I can really give you the solution you want, but I can at least try to explain, and try to get to you to the next step to restore access to your library.
All software is like a garden: it must either be tended and grow, or it degrades and dies. Libronix was dependent on external technology that is no longer supported. To name just a couple of examples, it communicated with our servers using a security protocol that is outdated and no longer considered secure. To display resource windows, it required Internet Explorer 8, which was retired by Microsoft in 2016; and in fact the final version of IE will reach end of life next year. Even Windows 7 itself is no longer supported by Microsoft.
Now, could we put more effort into sustaining legacy software as long as possible? Sure, we could provide patches that would keep it working for a while (which in fact, we did for several years). But that effort robs us of the opportunity to take advantage of newer technologies that will serve our users for longer. Faithlife has made the intentional decision to focus on developing for the future, rather than spending time and effort trying to maintain past versions of the software. Our CEO Bob Pritchett has written on this theme many times; for example here: https://community.logos.com/forums/p/27908/207987.aspx#207987
So where do you go from here?
Our promise is that you will always be able to access your library and Logos notes and other content you've created, without having to purchase an upgrade. You can install our newest apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, which you can find at https://logos.com/get-started. If you install the desktop app, you can turn off "Use Internet" to use it completely offline.
I hope that helps.
Adam Borries
Product Manager,
Logos Bible Software desktop and web apps0 -
I used to be a Libronix 3.0g user and currently use Logos 9. For you to do what you want, you would have to have backed up your Libronix license and also the Resources (books and tools files). If you have both, you can reinstall the program on Windows 7, go to Restore License and simply throw your resources into the Resources folder. Did you do the backups?
____________
"... And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Ne 8.10)
0