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After purchasing BIAB I was excited about using the real tracks and revisited the website to purchase additional RealTracks. When I did I discovered RealBand and was really pumped. I then realized it was only available for PCs so I wondered what they had to pay for it. Keep in mind I had just purchased the program. When I found that PC users received the new version with RealBand included for a price lower than I paid for the old version without it, my excitement over my purchase diminished instantly. I called and spoke to BIAB reps, stated my case and expressed that I felt this situation was not a good policy from a PR standpoint. I don't think any company would want their customers to feel as I did when I made that discovery. I asked that if my comments might be passed along to the decision makers. They suggested I post my case in the forums.

My emotions probably got the best of me and I came on a bit strong. But that's exactly my point. I don't believe PG Music or any other reputable company would want to have a policy that would generate those feelings to new customers.

Though I was a loyal BIAB customers for years, I had not used BIAB for quite some time, in fact I couldn't even load my old version on my computer so in essence I was starting over.



Sigh......you can run older versions of Band in a Box on Mac. Version 12 still works fine on mine. Versions that require OS 9 though, no. Take that up with Apple. Though honestly, it's like trying to use the old tires you had for your 1965 Caddie with your 2010 Mustang......

And if you have the PC version, there is NO REASON why you cannot get something like Parallels and use it on your Mac. I used BinaB 2007 for PC for a while on my iMac under Parallels until PG Music came out with their new version 2009 for Mac. At that point, I ditched Parallels as the 2009 version had most all the features of the PC version.

Still, I don't see why you are having a hissy fit over RealBand. It's not that great. Honestly, using BinaB with Garageband is more powerful. True, you don't get Garageband able to load up a BinaB file and play it right off the bat, you need to use the ingenious drag and drop to drag the tracks over, but once in there you have access to all of Garageband's plugins and sounds, editing and recording abilities. Oh, and the plugin's that Garageband has.

I'm not moaning about RealBand......and you shouldn't either. Maybe they can ship you a candy cane or something.....

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I believe a much better policy would be for PG to offer the current Mac version, once the PC version has been released, for the price at which the new Mac version will be sold. Sort of a pre-purchase of the new version, and allow the buyer to use the current version until the new version is released. Otherwise the options for the buyer are to wait until the new version is released or face the possibility of having to pay twice. There is another thread in this forum dealing with this exact issue (see "When does the 2011 version for Mac come?) That just doesn't seem like good business to me.



Yeah.....good business to you. PG Music is one of the best companies I've dealt with. Period. This goes back to when I was a mere boy using the Atari version of Band in a Box. Their upgrade policies are very fair.

Look, if you want to buy it now or need it now, then get it. If you think they are coming out with a new version, then hold off buying it. Would you expect Apple or Dell to offer what you suggest for computers? Or maybe cars? No. If you buy it now, and they come out with a new version next month, then I'm sure that PG Music would have a very reasonable upgrade policy for you. Perhaps even free. But if you get like 3 months out of something and then they release a new version........should you expect a free update? I don't think so. Regardless, PG Music has always been very fair about upgrades, and I've never had to "pay twice".

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Who wins with the current policy? Not the customer considering purchasing who decides to wait and certainly not the one who does purchase unless the new version is released within thirty days. And not PG Music if the potential buyer waits and then cools on buying. It's a lose-lose situation. Why not make it a win-win situation and create positive PR vibes for PG Music at the same time?



Geeze. Seriously? There is absolutely nothing BAD about the current version of Band in a Box. 2010.5 is a great product. Your reasoning is rather flawed sir. One does not have to "pay twice"......where do you come off thinking this? Have you looked at the upgrade pricing from 2010.5 PC to 2011 PC? It's $100. Totally fair for all the features included in the new version. Hardly the paying twice......geeze.....

Keep up the work PG Music. And for anyone wanting to buy the Mac version of Band in a Box, get it. It is totally worth it and their upgrade pricing is very fair.

Musician, Polymath, Google Jedi, Apple Master, Windows Wrangler and Digital Wizard. High ratings in Nerd-fu & Geek-fu.

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