Thanks, but no thanks, I'll stick with NewsGator 2.0
I bought NewsGator Outlook Edition (or whatever it was called at that time) about 2 years ago for around $30 and plugged into Outlook and have been very happy with it to this point. Since that time, NewsGator has switched from a “selling” model to a subscription model.
I received this from NewsGator on Wednesday:
NewsGator Outlook edition 2.5 has been released. This is a major release, with a lot of major changes under the covers. ...
This is a free upgrade for all existing customers. More details are here. If you're not yet a subscriber, create an account and enter your existing 2.0 license key - you'll get a free business account.
I thought to myself, “Cool, I'll have to check this out.” But when I followed the link I found this:
NewsGator is offering all of its current Outlook Edition license holders a very sweet deal. Basically, we’re offering up to two years free for users who are interested in getting the 2.5 release (and all future releases) by upgrading to one of our subscription plans.
While it is technically a free upgrade it does require becoming a subscription member. No thank you. I guess I'll have to stick with my “tired old” version of NewsGator. I don't really like subscription models. I'd rather pay for something I want/like/need once and only once unless I feel the need to pay for an upgrade at some point. Subscription models leave a bad taste in my mouth, like the local Curves who keeps charging my bank account $30 each and every month even though my wife hasn't been there in well over six months.