Offer a simple, basic and less expensive version.
I used your product way back when it was Map Tech. Enjoyed and utilized it immensely. Then it started becoming more complicated. Features became more complex and consequently less intuitive, i.e. harder to use. Terrain Navigator became "Pro" and now it is described as a premium application. I suppose if I were in real estate, construction, or forestry business I would be apt to need, and actually use, some of the highly touted (but ultimately expensive) features. As a hiker, hunter, and fisherman, all I want is a topo application where I can upload gps data, measure distances, figure elevation gain, label a location, and print a map,etc. I can no longer do these things because the annual fee pushed me right out of the game. I may sound like a curmudgeon, but I long for the good old days. Simple is good - I can't be your only former customer who feels this way.
Everett Leland, Kittery, ME
shared this idea
Sadly, the economics of producing a low-cost PC desktop software product are not favorable. Maptech ultimately dissolved over ten years ago, in part due to attempting to offer a low-priced product. Under MyTopo’s ownership the recreational ‘standard edition’ was briefly revived; but was later discontinued. Finally, the current owner of Terrain Navigator, Trimble, closed its recreational/consumer division Trimble Outdoors in early 2016. We’ve tried three times to make the economics of a low-cost product work, and have no plans to try it a fourth time.
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An update to a previous comment:
Sadly, the economics of producing a low-cost PC desktop software product are not favorable. Maptech ultimately dissolved over fifteen years ago, in part due to attempting to offer low-priced mapping solutions. Under MyTopo’s ownership the recreational ‘standard edition’ was briefly revived; but was later discontinued. Finally, the current owner of Terrain Navigator, Trimble, closed its recreational/consumer division "Trimble Outdoors" in early 2016. During my 20+ year tenure as TNP's Technical Product Manager, we've tried three times to make the economics of a low-cost product work, and have no plans to try it a fourth time. Instead, we intend to continue to add features to the subscription (such as the high-resolution satellite photos now available in TNP 12.1) that increase its value and usefulness to those professionals who rely upon TNP for their work.
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Rick Roland
commented
I have been an account holder since TNP was first offered, it seems to me (an 81 year old user) that TNP would allow some sort of a discount for being a faithful customer since TNP conception.
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Evans Ralston
commented
I guess this lands in Ed Lecuyer's arena of things to be solved. I use two states of TNP. Like the fellow's comment below, I go back to Map Tech as a user though I guess that doesn't matter. I am a student and a hiker. I really couldn't afford to renew when it because $124/license a year, meaning 240. Now it is twice that. You have lost me as a subscriber. But it is something Trimble could fix if they wanted to, they just don't care. All the rest is in effective talk. So as you can tell, I am steamed to lose a helpful product that for me hasn't improved in alignment with the price increases. i.e. Trimble is milking this product for excessive pricing. $480 for what?
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Trey
commented
I am moving to Google Earth. I have used TNP for many many years bjut $240 per year is outrageous for a recreational user.