A humble suggestion for Faithlife

Now that I have had the weekend for everything to sink in and look at the FaithlifeConnect options, I have come to some conclusions. I am not interested in FaithlifeTV, only mildly interested in MobileEd, and not the least bit interested in presentation software, and a host of other things. I am ONLY interested in Logos Bible Software remaining viable in the foreseeable future. I fully understand that the subscription model must be the future and I know that I will have to pay money in order for the software to be updated, maintained, and made viable in future operating systems and hardware. Therefore, I would like to make a humble suggestion to Faithlife....

Give us a yearly subscription fee that would produce enough revenue to make ONLY Logos Bible Software viable for the long term.

I believe many would understand the need for this and be willing to pay it. I am perfectly willing to pay in order to help ensure my Logos investment remains viable. It's when you start asking me to pay for all of this other stuff that it bothers me.

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

[Y]

I feel I must post my less than humble reaction to your humble suggestion. I bought into Logos based on the promise that the software required to implement my resources would be updated to stay abreast with changes in various OS platforms. ... free of charge. I fully expect them to keep that promise. The only *features" added to the software were not requested by me. I have no interest in the cloud or subscriptions. If at some point the powers that be threaten to break that promise, I will attempt to rely on my backups, And totally sever connection with the mother ship. My goal has always been to have a Bible study program running on my computer independent of the cloud..

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958498#Comment_958498

My goal has always been to have a Bible study program running on my computer independent of the cloud..

That's exactly what I need...

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958498#Comment_958498

I bought into Logos based on the promise that the software required to implement my resources would be updated to stay abreast with changes in various OS platforms. ... free of charge.

As you know, there is a cost incurred to provide free updates, support, and bug fixes, year after year (especially to customers who stop making new purchases). The reason FL has been trying different subscription-type offerings like Logos Now and Faithlife Connect is to generate revenue to help pay for software/development costs (since they have given away the software).

We should expect that as revenue from book sales decreases (since longer-term customers have most of the books they need) that FL will eventually have to rethink giving away the software for free.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958498#Comment_958498

My goal has always been to have a Bible study program running on my computer independent of the cloud

But isn't that possible now? As far as I can tell, the FLC subscriptions don't impede that yet and FL is saying that you will still be able to buy all the new features in future releases.

My guess is that there would be almost no outcry here if LN had not existed. Some would be worried about FL going subscription only, but FL's own numbers from LN and Cloud suggest that will never happen.

People are just miffed because LN was taken away and replaced with something none of them want at a higher pricepoint. Simple soluton as many have said is to offer a features only subscription for those who want new features regularly. For the rest of us who can wait, it's no big deal.

I bought into Logos based on the promise that the software required to implement my resources would be updated to stay abreast with changes in various OS platforms. ... free of charge.

So it sounds like if they freeze the features and simply maintain the software going forward you are okay with that. Many people probably are, but that doesn't market as well [:D]

BTW, I own other programs which each have their strengths and weaknesses. I bought into Logos because it has the biggest library and generally better tagging and they do quite a number of things to help keep that expanding like giving free books every month.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958508#Comment_958508

People are just miffed because LN was taken away and replaced with something none of them want at a higher pricepoint.

Possibly you should say " Some People".

So it sounds like if they freeze the features and simply maintain the software going forward you are okay with that.

The reason it sounds that way is because That's exactly what I said.[:D] If unchecking "use internet" in the tools menu is the only way to keep a working copy of the software without subscribing to something. ... So be it.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958507#Comment_958507

As you know, there is a cost incurred to provide free updates, support, and bug fixes, year after year

My portion of that cost was paid when I made what i considered to be a substantial outlay of cash. Just because they have ventured off into unprofitable ventures, doesn't change their original agreement with me. Bad planning on their part does not constitute an emergency on my part.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958508#Comment_958508

But isn't that possible now? As far as I can tell, the FLC subscriptions don't impede that yet

But "yet" is the keyword. If F.L. adapts the OP'S humble suggestion, they would be breaking their commitment to supply FREE updates.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958510#Comment_958510

Possibly you should say " Some People"

Yes, "some people"

I must say that my only interest is that I want to protect my investment. I bought my library and want to keep it as long as possible, and not get strung along buying stuff I don't need (like is happening to me with Adobe) just to be able to use the product I already own going forward. But protecting my investment means I hope Logos is around for along time and succeeds, and of course, there is no free lunch there:)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958516#Comment_958516

Don't Yall see that the FL business model is privatize the profits and socialize the losses? Why is it that all development costs must be met by the customers before moving forward with a project? And with that massive head start they still manage to come up short. So who is responsible for supplementing those losses ..... via monthly subscription?

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958520#Comment_958520

I've made my pitch. I've also made my choice. I've decided to grant you folks the right to be wrong and just move on...... God Bless

I am sure they would take donations.[:D]

Give us a yearly subscription fee that would produce enough revenue to make ONLY Logos Bible Software viable for the long term.

I pretty much suggested the same thing, and Bob's reply was: I know, and I'm sorry that particular option is going away... but it wasn't solving the problem for the costs to support it.

See https://community.logos.com/forums/p/160552/957648.aspx#957648

-Donnie

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958615#Comment_958615

Maybe the answer is simply that Logos as a company needs to downsize.

Cutback in the areas that aren’t viable.

Maybe it’s time that Bob “fires someone today.”

Simon’s Brother

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958622#Comment_958622

Maybe the answer is simply that Logos as a company needs to downsize.

Cutback in the areas that aren’t viable.

Maybe it’s time that Bob “fires someone today.”

They have done that multiple times. The problem is FL is trying to be all things to all people and has gone off in too many tangents away from their core product and invested in ‘features’ in the core product nobody really asked for and are nothing more than marketing hype.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958643#Comment_958643

Goodness, guys, when’s the FL funeral?

- Now was $8 per mo per person. If it ALL went to salaries and benies, how many Now’ers needed vs experienced coders? Then subtract all the discounts and marginal freebies. It could never work, absent a MAJOR participation.

- Proclaim turned profitable a ways back.

- They bought a pretty decent church management position

- And they’re well into education and maybe Christian household teaching support

And for $8/mo you want it all trashed?

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958649#Comment_958649

If me withholding my $8 put them under, they were on life support already.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958498#Comment_958498

I bought into Logos based on the promise that the software required to implement my resources would be updated to stay abreast with changes in various OS platforms. ... free of charge. I fully expect them to keep that promise.

As a software developer myself, I believe this is unrealistic. It costs lots of money to maintain and update software. It is also not reasonable to expect them to keep a legacy, free version for you. Whatever promise you feel you were given should probably be forgotten. You don't want Logos to go out of business any more than the rest of us. Markets and situations change.

Anyways, you CAN upgrade to their latest version free so they are fulfilling their promise to you.

Like others, I don't care about presentation software, TV, or Mobile ed. There are better options for those things, in my humble opinion.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958699#Comment_958699

Whatever promise you feel you were given should probably be forgotten.

Anyways, you CAN upgrade to their latest version free so they are fulfilling their promise to you.

So which is it? A promise I "feel" I was given and should forget, or a promise they are keeping for the moment because They and everyone else concerned knows that it is a promise made from the early days to the present. (unless and until they can find a way to wiggle out of it)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958699#Comment_958699

As a software developer myself, I believe this is unrealistic.

You shoulda told Bob and the guys what you believe before they made us the promise.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958728#Comment_958728

As a software developer myself, I believe this is unrealistic.
You shoulda told Bob and the guys what you believe before they made us the promise.

It may feel unrealistic to some but Olivetree is always free, as is Kindle as are numerous other software. Logos resources are not cheap... if their books at their premium price can't pay for the software something is seriously wrong and things may need to change. A large minority are already paying for the software because I myself, along with numerous others buy the software when it is first out even though in a way we become late testers paying for the privilege of early adoption. I DO NOT have an issue with this and would not care if they pushed it further a long ie. 6 months, then it is free to all.. and as long as any critical errors are corrected in the previous version during this time. Bob may have to break that promise but as long as it is a relatively inexpensive price (Accordance software for example is $50-$60 on the same release schedule as Logos) I doubt most will have an issue paying for it as it is a blessing to most of us using it.

-dan

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958737#Comment_958737

You are far more understanding than I. Your peacekeeping efforts will be rewarded.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958793#Comment_958793

I agree with Paul C. Software updates for compatibility have been promised, and that promise should be kept. I'm very confident it will be. Let's be fair — they've kept that promise for twenty years. That's a very, very long time in the IT world. Do you know of any other application anywhere in the world that was available 20 years ago and has been updated for free hundreds of times since?

It's reasonable, therefore, for customers to expect that as long as Faithlife is producing Bible Study software, that previous customers can run a version on modern operating systems without charge. It's obviously not reasonable that we should expect new tools, datasets or books, without charge. The promise only was that we could read and search our own books and use the tools we've paid for (or any newer equivalent).

Marshall Harrison

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958507#Comment_958507

I bought into Logos based on the promise that the software required to implement my resources would be updated to stay abreast with changes in various OS platforms. ... free of charge.

As you know, there is a cost incurred to provide free updates, support, and bug fixes, year after year (especially to customers who stop making new purchases). The reason FL has been trying different subscription-type offerings like Logos Now and Faithlife Connect is to generate revenue to help pay for software/development costs (since they have given away the software).

We should expect that as revenue from book sales decreases (since longer-term customers have most of the books they need) that FL will eventually have to rethink giving away the software for free.

Well said Petah.

Not counting my Now subscription I only spent a little over $500 last year. This year i'll strategically add books and maybe L8 when it becomes available. I'm not much of a revenue stream at the moment.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958797#Comment_958797

I agree with Paul C. Software updates for compatibility have been promised, and that promise should be kept.

Thanks. It means a lot that you would agree with my point of view. .... in public [:D]

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958973#Comment_958973

I agree with you too Paul, but am pragmatic enough to say paying is better than FL going under and having no support.

-dan

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958983#Comment_958983

I agree with you too Paul, but am pragmatic enough to say paying is better than FL going under and having no support.

-dan

I can't even spell pregmituk.[:P] Seriously, I read somewhere that pragmatism begins at home. Seems to me that if FL had been more pragmatic about their "business ventures" they wouldn't have to be running all kinds of scams promotions so the customers can bail them out.
paying is better than FL going under and having no support.
-dan
They are holding support over our heads like a bludgeon....almost to the point of extortion. There are folks around who are able to keep Libronix running eons after support was halted. There will be life after Logos.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958997#Comment_958997

There are folks around who are able to keep Libronix running eons after support was halted. There will be life after Logos.

Non-geek folks too! Libby's now in junior high, since her last feature update (13yrs ago). And she moved away from home about 5 yrs ago (no Logos support). She's already planning on college.

Since she's planning, I keep telling her not to worry ... she still has more key (and total) resources than A-Company sells. Just no maps.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/959032#Comment_959032

Now what made you think I was speaking of you?

[:P]

OK, I admit it. It was an honorable mention.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/959035#Comment_959035

Well, you COULD have been thinking of Mr Paul. He's far more militant. Brandishing the sword of Libby.

When I got Libby, I targeted her amortization for 'death at 70' (my CPA bad habits). But then my Dad kept his PC Bible going till about 80 or so, and that meant re-thinking. Now, Billy Graham was almost 100. The pictures don't show a PC next to his porch rocker at their cabin, so maybe only 90. Life is tough these days.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/959044#Comment_959044

Speaking of 3 score and 10, I reach the magic number in a few days. Feel free to wish me an early happy b-day, just in case we are out of touch on the big day.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/959054#Comment_959054

I thimk we're badly off-thread, though Logosian longevity IS indeed the concern.

So, happy future 30th ... oops 70th! Statistically, you have 10 more years to treasure the future ... good health. Then, a re-tread. Guess on it. And can't tell exactly from your avatar, but maybe memories of burning oil and dusty sunsets will remain.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/959069#Comment_959069

~

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/959074#Comment_959074

Good gracious ... where's my Lincolnian calculator?! Your discussions sound far younger! I guess we're in the same mystery-boat concerning the future. The past is far easier. (I updated my reply, it's so embarrassing).

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/958819#Comment_958819

Not counting my Now subscription I only spent a little over $500 last year. This year i'll strategically add books and maybe L8 when it becomes available. I'm not much of a revenue stream at the moment.

ONLY $500? To some of us $500 is not an only. I know that for whatever reason, FL has fallen on hard times. But they are not the only ones. Things are tough all over. If I were to contribute to FL's deficit, it would increase my own. I will not attempt to tell them how to invest their money. So when those investments fail, It's not my responsibility. All I ask is that they honor their promise.

Check out Bob's announcement about the new migration plan for Logos Now members.

Quick Links