Comments on: SFDC Marketing Kudos and Vendor Lock-In… What it really means, really. http://sfdc-heretic.warped-minds.com/2006/10/16/sfdc-marketing-kudos-and-vendor-lock-in-what-it-really-means-really/ The Salesforce Heretic - Pushing the limits of On-Demand CRM Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:16:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Peter Mitton http://sfdc-heretic.warped-minds.com/2006/10/16/sfdc-marketing-kudos-and-vendor-lock-in-what-it-really-means-really/#comment-2684 Fri, 20 Oct 2006 18:47:17 +0000 http://sfdc-heretic.warped-minds.com/2006/10/16/sfdc-marketing-kudos-and-vendor-lock-in-what-it-really-means-really/#comment-2684 I couldn't agree more. The Apex concept sounds great, but I have a list of "features" that haven't come out since I first started using Salesforce 2+ years ago. These guys definitely get Kudos for their marketing, it is top notch. But I want the actual product, and I don't need 6 months of notice about their ideas, I would prefer to see what is coming now. I am conflicted about APEX. My original reaction was much like yours, yet another language to learn, why couldn't they improve what we could do with javascript, or some other already supported language. My second thougt has to do with being able run the code more efficiently, and have it run on their systems. So, I guess I have to pay a price for that. In the end, I think I will just wait the year till it actually is available to use, and make a more informed judgement then. I couldn’t agree more. The Apex concept sounds great, but I have a list of “features” that haven’t come out since I first started using Salesforce 2+ years ago.

These guys definitely get Kudos for their marketing, it is top notch. But I want the actual product, and I don’t need 6 months of notice about their ideas, I would prefer to see what is coming now.

I am conflicted about APEX. My original reaction was much like yours, yet another language to learn, why couldn’t they improve what we could do with javascript, or some other already supported language.

My second thougt has to do with being able run the code more efficiently, and have it run on their systems. So, I guess I have to pay a price for that.

In the end, I think I will just wait the year till it actually is available to use, and make a more informed judgement then.

]]> by: E.J. http://sfdc-heretic.warped-minds.com/2006/10/16/sfdc-marketing-kudos-and-vendor-lock-in-what-it-really-means-really/#comment-2605 Mon, 16 Oct 2006 06:13:19 +0000 http://sfdc-heretic.warped-minds.com/2006/10/16/sfdc-marketing-kudos-and-vendor-lock-in-what-it-really-means-really/#comment-2605 This is the exact same thing they pulled last year. Let me jog your memory: 1) Sandbox, announced as if it would be included in the release. Surprise, surprise, it costs 20% of your existing license or is included as part of the new "Unlimited" licenses. Those of us with Enterprise licenses thought we were already unlimited as that's generally how Enterprise editions of software work. 2) Territory Management, announced but only went into pilot with that release. You had to be accepted into an extremely limited program to use it. Will finally be released with Winter '07 a year later. 3) Agent Console, same as TM, announced but only in limited pilot after release. Will finally be released with Winter '07 a year later. The only major announcement last year that actually went live with the release was the App Exchange. This year the only major announcement is Apex and there's no ETA for even a pilot program, though the beta is due to start in Q1 '07. Whether or not that's the same as a pilot to them I'm not sure. I also found that they're planning on making major enhancements to the support portal and then charging for it separately like they're doing with the PRM, though the pricing scheme hasn't been finalized yet. That will make two SFDC modules now that aren't even included with the "Unlimited" package. Perhaps when they come out with "Super Unlimited"... I really like the software but they're nickel and diming us to death when they aren't choking us with relentless advertising. This is the exact same thing they pulled last year. Let me jog your memory:

1) Sandbox, announced as if it would be included in the release. Surprise, surprise, it costs 20% of your existing license or is included as part of the new “Unlimited” licenses. Those of us with Enterprise licenses thought we were already unlimited as that’s generally how Enterprise editions of software work.

2) Territory Management, announced but only went into pilot with that release. You had to be accepted into an extremely limited program to use it. Will finally be released with Winter ‘07 a year later.

3) Agent Console, same as TM, announced but only in limited pilot after release. Will finally be released with Winter ‘07 a year later.

The only major announcement last year that actually went live with the release was the App Exchange.

This year the only major announcement is Apex and there’s no ETA for even a pilot program, though the beta is due to start in Q1 ‘07. Whether or not that’s the same as a pilot to them I’m not sure.

I also found that they’re planning on making major enhancements to the support portal and then charging for it separately like they’re doing with the PRM, though the pricing scheme hasn’t been finalized yet.

That will make two SFDC modules now that aren’t even included with the “Unlimited” package. Perhaps when they come out with “Super Unlimited”…

I really like the software but they’re nickel and diming us to death when they aren’t choking us with relentless advertising.

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