Re: Solid edge .. progress... new laptop

jon_banquer wrote:
> On Aug 13, 7:25 am, Pat <pkelecy@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> jon_banquer wrote:
>>>> The var made another interesting comment.  According to him Siemens
is
>>>> no longer offering trials.  Apparently they have a 45 day return
policy,
>>>> so you essentially buy it up front, and return it if you don't like
it.
>>>> This also is different from what Phil had indicated.
>>>> Pat
>>> My Siemens VAR wrote this to me about a month ago in regards to Solid
>>> Edge with S/T:
>>> "Trials will not be available until this version is released."
>>> Jon Banquer
>>> San Diego, CA
>>> http://jonbanquer.blogspot.com/
>> So trials are still being offered?  I wonder why my var said otherwise.
>>     There seems to be alot of confusion within Siemens over this -
>> either that or the local vars can set their own policies.  If that's
the
>> case, I may look for a different one to work with.
> 
> Pat,
> 
> What SolidWorks Corp is really good at is marketing. Solid Edge has
> always been a decent product but UGS didn't know how to market with
> VAR's to small businesses and that's why Solidworks really dominates.
> The SolidWorks VAR network is the best in the industry by far at
> selling product. No one even comes close.
> 
> I think it will take sometime for Siemens to get their act together
> marketing wise. You can't build a great VAR network in weeks or
> months. It takes years. It seems to me that Siemens still has a lot to
> learn. Not matter what Siemens says it's not going to be easy to gain
> market share and they are going to have to offer major incentives for
> people to buy Solid Edge with S/T. SolidWorks market share was hard
> won and they used gorilla-marketing techniques for years with Joe
> Dunne and Vic Leventhal who I think was Joe Dunne's boss back then.
> It's not easy to gain market share and Siemens will sooner rather than
> later have to offer incentives for people to switch... even to people
> using Ashlar Vellum Cobalt. :>)
> 
> Just wait a little and let the market come to you. When it does make
> sure to send me a nice consulting check. ;>)
> 
> In the mean time read Matt Lombard’s blog, it's hilarious watching
> Siemens get Matt Lombard to beg and beg and beg for a free copy of
> Solid Edge with S/T. I can't remember the last time I laughed so
> hard.
> 
> BTW, I do think you have the right idea shopping VAR's.
> 
> Jon Banquer
> San Diego, CA
> http://jonbanquer.blogspot.com/
> 
> 

I was talking to my var yesterday, and he reiterated almost these exact 
same sentiments.  I agree. I know a number of people who went with 
SolidWorks without ever bothering to check out other alternatives. 
"It's what everyone else uses and I want to stay compatible...". 
Given that, plus the fact that the CAD market is so crowded and the 
learning curve is so steep, people aren't going to switch without some 
significant incentive.  Siemens definitely has their work cut out for
them.

Thanks,

Pat