Austhink - switch and bait.

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Posted by Frederick Wahl
Feb 29, 2016 at 03:36 PM

Some may remember a couple of mind-mapping programs from this company, Rationale and bCisive - different flavors of the same program, geared for ‘argument’ and ‘decision’ mapping respectively. I owned both programs and would have continued to do so (probably), until they switched to a subscription based model. I can understand why they might want to do that, but I didn’t feel like paying a subscription for what would most likely amount to only cosmetic changes to the same functionality over the years.

I only bring this up because I recently tried to run the copy of the older versions of these programs, and they didn’t work. During of an email exchange I had with Timo ter Berg of Austhink (which I will provide copies of to anyone interested) trying to resolve this problem - his only solution was to offer me a 1-year license key for the perpetual license versions of the programs I already own.

To anyone interested in this type of software - I would suggest a better alternative: Flying Logic Pro. Their management is savvy enough to still use the ‘perpetual license’ model, and their program offers the same if not better functionality (their mind-map balloons auto-arrange, etc.).

My two-cents.

Posted by Paul Korm
Feb 29, 2016 at 04:52 PM

I’ve used Flying Logic Pro for a long time and find it highly useful. It is on a very slow development cycle—but I don’t think there’s much that needs to be enhanced, either. The developers are helpful and responsive.

Posted by Bernhard
Mar 1, 2016 at 06:42 AM

I would second all of the statements. FlyingLogic is very userfull. Alas, they could be a little bit more informative about the planned new version.

Posted by Andy Brice
Mar 1, 2016 at 08:39 AM

Frederick Wahl
>until they switched to a subscription based model.

From a vendor’s point of view a subscription model is very attractive. It smooths out your income and makes it much more predictable. But it is tricky what you do with existing customers when you are switching from a one-time payment to a subscription model.

Bernhard
>Alas, they could be a little bit more informative about the planned new version.

The history of software products is one of over promising and under delivering in terms of features and shipping dates. So I sympathize if they don’t talk much about features until they are ready to ship. I never promise features or release dates.

Posted by Hugh
Mar 1, 2016 at 10:42 AM

Yes, I like Flying Logic. I’ve used it for plotting stories (an idea I borrowed). One plot, when printed, was about four feet long, a long way from “evidence-based planning” or “effects-based analysis”, which are two of the conventional purposes for which the software can be used, but helpful to me nonetheless. I trialled Rationale in the same role, but as far as I can remember it didn’t quite click.

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