New build details

If would be nice if Acronis would be more specific about bug fixes and new features in new builds. Most companies do, it helps to know what to expect, especially if you are having problems with the program. Also for dial-up people it can tell them if updating is worth the hours of downloading, i.e. did the new build attempt to fix their problem. Even if you have cable internet access updating is still a pain. Updating ATI is a pain with having to delete the old build and installing the new build, and then hand copying two serial numbers.

A case in point is a very popular CD/DVD burning software recently had a new build. After reading what changed I decided not to bother with the update as the changes didn’t affect the functions I use and were minor changes anyway. Also I was not having problems.

It is a treasure hunt to check a new build of ATI for improved features and bug fixes. Usually one of the early posts with a new build is what changed? It is left to some brave souls to spend a lot of time checking it out for us mortal souls. Acronis please spend a little more effort in giving us more details on each new build.

 

I agree 100%! (And I've been saying this for a LONG time.)

If the Acronis internal bug tracking system and release notes are no better than "GUI fixes" and "Better hardware support", there is no way that they could release (or maintain) a program without introducing a number of bugs that would take tens or even hundreds of builds to (eventually) correct. Hmmm...

 

My take is this lack of specitivity in their release notes along with their, at many times, inability to have their download links actually point to the latest version are symptoms of lack of maturity as a development organization and as a going business. It also shows in the 'sloppiness' of the documentation. It all 'feels' like beta product.

It would appear that the company is dominated by their developers [who are producing very interesting results]. With the focus on the development org/community, processes for the rest of the business simply aren't well developed/paid attention to.

For me, it's a sign not to trust my data solely to TI. Currently, I'm using TI as a way to get familiar with the features/functions. But, I'm not ready to commit to TI as my sole backup. [I use another, 'file based' backup application].

 

Oops, I didn’t realize there was already a thread on this subject; re Change logs: utterly useless that was closed as not a proper subject.

If I overstepped I am indeed sorry.

 

I don't think you overstepped because IMO this is indeed a general support issue! Customers are saying there is a deficiency in the product and they want it corrected, maybe not a mis-directed archive byte, but a deficiency nontheless.

 

Nobody is overstepping.

The Acronis user community has been complaining for a long time about the "lack of maturity" in the way Acronis do things. And the general feeling of "nervousness" is common, not only with the non-technical but with those with many years experience.

Acronis potentially have a world-beating product, but the rough edges in the entire development cycle detract from what would otherwise be an outright winner.

Details of a new build should be presented in 2 formats. An overview presented in non-technical jargon for the non-technical user and a full technical data-sheet for the technical users. These documents must exist, otherwise how does anyone decide what the next build will include or exclude? It is just a matter of presenting those documents in a customer-friendly format.

 

I for one am glad that you have raised it again as the previous Change Logs thread has been shown a red card for reasons that I cannot fathom as I am unable to read the latest postings,

Xpilot.

 

I don't think it is too hard to see why the first thread on this subject was closed given the way most posts were written. I am very happy to see that almost all the posts in this thread had a lot more thought put into them and didn't include a lot of speculation. However, we really do feel that this issue should just be handled in the wish-list thread the way Xpilot just did in this post. I think that is really the best way to handle it without inviting some posters to get "out of hand" in regards to the way disgruntled posts are written with speculation sprinkled in.

I will close this thread for the above mentioned reasons, but I think it would be OK for interested persons to add to the wish list a simple message saying they agree with Xpilot's post.