SMART notebook becomes paid for software??

[RabbieBurns]

Notebook Advantage maintenance plan - SMART Technologies

 

Am I reading this right that for the latest version of SMART notebook we will have to start paying an annual license??

[GREED]

Clever... give it away free so it becomes embedded in every classroom... then you are forced to buy it.

[Vasriel]

Notebook Advantage maintenance plan - SMART Technologies

 

Am I reading this right that for the latest version of SMART notebook we will have to start paying an annual license??

 

Yeah you read it right, you have to pay now for the Smartboard software. We plan to just run with the last version of the free software.

[Mr_Jiminy]

what's the last 'free' version? 11.4?

[localzuk]

Yup. Their new model separates the software from the hardware - meaning people can use it on non-SMART hardware for the same price as using it on SMART hardware.

[SYNACK]

Yup. Their new model separates the software from the hardware - meaning people can use it on non-SMART hardware for the same price as using it on SMART hardware.

 

Um, wasn't that free before but pay for now. Are they not just punishing people who have brought their hardware? Glad the Mimio stuff is still free for now activated by the hardware.

[localzuk]

It was free for people who had bought their hardware. It was £800 a year per device for those who wanted to use it on non-SMART hardware.

[RabbieBurns]

It was free before to use on a SMART board, but we had already paid for a site license for it to use it on any interactive board / projector.

 

Seems this is now something EXTRA we will have to pay.

 

Although with our 4:3 boards and projectors due for replacement soon, I can see us looking elsewhere at other technologies..

[sted]

Yup. Their new model separates the software from the hardware - meaning people can use it on non-SMART hardware for the same price as using it on SMART hardware.

 

thats not entirely my reading A site license however, cannot include any rooms or devices that have non SMART IWBs, screens, etc. bit unenforceable and apita

[localzuk]

thats not entirely my reading A site license however, cannot include any rooms or devices that have non SMART IWBs, screens, etc. bit unenforceable and apita

 

That is not what SMART have told me. The license covers non-SMART interactive devices, it was one of the reasons they changed to this new scheme.

 

From their FAQ:

 

"A Notebook Site license allows you to standardize on SMART Notebook software across your entire school or district, regardless of the hardware you use."

Edited May 26, 2014 by localzuk

[RabbieBurns]

That is not what SMART have told me. The license covers non-SMART interactive devices, it was one of the reasons they changed to this new scheme.

 

From their FAQ:

 

"A Notebook Site license allows you to standardize on SMART Notebook software across your entire school or district, regardless of the hardware you use."

 

Yep. And we had paid for that site license. And now are having to pay again if we want to upgrade... pretty rubbish IMO

[localzuk]

Yep. And we had paid for that site license. And now are having to pay again if we want to upgrade... pretty rubbish IMO

 

The subscription is for upgrades, yes. Its like paying a yearly maintenance fee to get new versions. Like Microsoft offer. Or Adobe. Or, well, nearly every software company going.

[psydii]

But does it represent value for money?

 

The MS one does. The adobe EEA 1.5 does, (but for many EEA 1 very much did not)

 

With the whole tablet thing happening.. Smart et al need to be careful with their pricing not to encourage people to look to the alternatives.

 

I know a couple of schools whose IWB use is atrophying because of the pricing if replacement pens... If the software cost were added to that they'd walk away from the technology all together.

[SYNACK]

The subscription is for upgrades, yes. Its like paying a yearly maintenance fee to get new versions. Like Microsoft offer. Or Adobe. Or, well, nearly every software company going.

 

Its more like Apple with their hardware brand, it should be like iOS or if it must like OSX where the cost is minimal as you payed a bunch for the device to start with.

[flyinghaggis]

I'm never really seen the appeal of paying for dedicated notebook software. MS already have pen functionality within Powerpoint. The way things are going with tablets I think IWB's are going to be redundant technology soon for the majority of schools. There will always be some staff who want to stand at a board and write rather than using a tablet but I suspect they'll be the minority as using a tablet is far easier and more natural for most.

 

SMART have obviously realized their sales are going to tank in the next few years hence the mad rush to get companies signed up to subscription based models!

 

Does anyone have an idea of what the ball park pricing is likely to be?

Edited May 27, 2014 by flyinghaggis

[jallsop]

The way things are going with tablets I think IWB's are going to be redundant technology soon for the majority of schools.

 

This is the reason that we're not replacing the SmartBoards we have when they develop faults. That and the fact we have tables 1 to 1 next year. They are too expensive and very limiting, and this is a last gasp attempt to draw money out of a rapidly dwindling market. Out here, a smart board starts at around CHF7500. Thats almost £5000, now plus another XX CHF for the software. Jog on boys. Bye Bye Smart

[Cache]

Does anyone have an idea of what the ball park pricing is likely to be?

 

Steljes have put out an FAQ about it: http://www.steljes.com/mysmartspaces/images/smart_software/smart_notebook_advantage_faq.pdf

 

What is the pricing for Notebook Advantage Classroom?

Pricing is as follows:

• 1 year per display - £34 SRP
  
• 2 year per display - £62 SRP
  
• 3 year per display - £75 SRP
  
• 4 year per display - £96 SRP
  
• 5 year per display - £100 SRP
  

Can I buy a site license for Notebook Advantage?

 

You will have the option of purchasing Notebook Advantage on a site license basis. Customers will be able to renew their site license

for multi-year durations of up to 5 years. Users must maintain 100% Notebook adoption to qualify for site license pricing

 

What is the pricing for a Notebook Advantage Site License?

Pricing is based on the number of rooms in the site.

• 1 year - £16 per display
  
• 2 year - £28 per display
  
• 3 year - £36 per display
  
• 4 year - £44 per display
  
• 5 year - £45 per display
  

 

[snagrat]

It was free for people who had bought their hardware. It was £800 a year per device for those who wanted to use it on non-SMART hardware.

 

It'll still cost £300 per non-Smart device to run Notebook on.

[Gongalong]

We've hit the same problem. I went to install the latest update, and got told our license was no longer valid. We have several new smartboards, so have started using up the serial numbers to license the software, but the update tool suggests we'll only get a year of software updates as well before that runs out. A big change from our previous site license key that just worked. Also, we're only getting 3 or so licenses per serial number before we're told they are used up. Another change.

 

The frustration for us is that (a) we've been using SMARTTech throughout, so it would be extremely costly to switch to an alternative and (b) surely the hardware is the big cost here anyway, which we've already paid for. The software is just a nice-to-have, and hardly feature rich.

 

If anyone from SMARTTech is listening, this is a great way to upset your customers.

[sted]

.

 

The frustration for us is that (a) we've been using SMARTTech throughout, so it would be extremely costly to switch to an alternative and (b) surely the hardware is the big cost here anyway, which we've already paid for. The software is just a nice-to-have, and hardly feature rich.

 

If anyone from SMARTTech is listening, this is a great way to upset your customers.

 

thats the think you buy hardware once every what 6+ yesrs and thats all they make from you. I honestly think they will give up the hardware side in the near future and just rent you the software that way people cough up every year

[Gongalong]

Although surely interactive whiteboards are there main business, and people will be changing them on an ongoing basis. Unless as mentioned the interactive whiteboard market has become that poor an earner? Surely upsetting your customers in a dwindling market is not the way forward! Do they really think the software is going to be that big an earner? Short-sighted to say the least.

[sted]

Although surely interactive whiteboards are there main business, and people will be changing them on an ongoing basis. Unless as mentioned the interactive whiteboard market has become that poor an earner? Surely upsetting your customers in a dwindling market is not the way forward! Do they really think the software is going to be that big an earner? Short-sighted to say the least.

 

i susoect they think most people like the software and you can buy a big tv cheap these days and in my experience above y2 they seldom use the board for anything other than a white screen and with tablets you can get the interactivity on that so yo can face the class with tablet in hand and the kids can see the big tv

[SYNACK]

Having dealt with rubbish IWB software I can say that decent stuff that you can standardise on is worth some money. We have gone with Mimio which for the moment is free. This is the exact time where that OSS IWB software would be able to gain traction if anyone could remember what it was called.

[weathmatth]

I will be sticking with 11 for now then

[truebluesteve]

I think this has just become an issue for me too so I'm on the hunt for a replacement for Smart Notebook. Has anyone had any success finding a replacement or used a piece of software called Open Sankore which appears to be designed for IWB's?