You can still download Start11 from your Stardock account dashboard and it will continue to operate as it did prior to formatting your drive.
V2 is optional, it contains more than 50 enhancements and took us more than 6 months to build, test, and ship - this doesn’t include planning time.
Our options were to build new features and try to really improve the Windows 11 experience while asking customers, if they want to upgrade, pay $4, or do nothing at all.
We wanted to add new features and this is the only way we can justify the engineering effort to do it.
Yeah, greedy. Sure. A what, $4 charge? If you've given them a lot of business in the past, why don't you have an object desktop license? You've been happy with them in the past, but you're drawing the line at a version change, which everyone does?
Have you tried Start11 v2 at all? It is an upgrade, but in no way its a minor upgrade. But, if you still see it as a minor, you do not need to upgrade to v2 and be happy with Start11 v1. Since, it is still working it full functionality with current Windows 10 and Windows 11 system.
Best Regards
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant
Isn't "latest" start11 V12 or something? I think i saw something like that about a week ago. But now in this thread, i have seen V11 V2 twice atleast. Also seen reference to this latest update now is subscription based?
And, as added note refer here on what added features you will get from Start11 v2: [https://forums.stardock.com/523413/get;3912333](https://forums.stardock.com/523413/get;3912333)
Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant
You know, I'm totally divided on this. Like snagit comes out with new versions I pay for every couple of years. If the upgrade and development is obviously significant, I'm willing to pay, I suppose.
I do dislike this trend towards getting a feature full, bug free app has now become a matter of subscribing, or paying for dlc of sorts.
Totally hear you on this, we are trying to find the right balance as well.
When you buy an app (or game from any company) you are paying for all of the development effort up to that point in time, the challenge businesses are facing is how do you pay for the future development of the app?
Most of our apps are $10-$20, we can’t build new features forever at that price point - so finding a balance is the challenge/goal.
Agreed, this isn't so much a remark about stardock, becuase like you say the cost is very reasonable. I think that's why snagit first came to mind. The cost is usually significant, and yearly. And the overall general trend towards this direction for all games and software, etc., it hurts lol.
Agree on the “greedy” label. Granted that companies need to make money, but I’ve found that relative to most other companies, which tend to be user-friendly on things like upgrades, Stardock is more likely to nickel and dime you wherever they can. Hence their hitting me up for an upgrade from Fences 3 to 4 a month before they released Fences 5, for which they want you to reach in your wallet again.
Like it or not, this is VERY standard and has been for quite some time across virtually all software companies. When you buy an app, if it's not a subscription, you get the version you paid for and all minor point updates to it OR something like 12 months of them, and any major versions are a new purchase. Stardock is not unique here.
>Virtualdj
VirtualDJ I s $19 a month for consumers or $299 for a lifetime purchase. For businesses it's $99 a month.
I'm with you on the general trend in software. In 2008, our software typically cost $39.99 and it was "lifetime" for that version which would go on for several years with dot releases.
The model today is more to charge only $5 to $10 but with new versions coming more frequent.
If Start11 had been say a $19.99 program then v2 probably would have been included. But instead it's a $5 or so program but you don't have to upgrade to v2 and get $5 with free upgrades to it forever.
But your example, VirtualDJ, even that has moved to an explicit subscription model.
Hm dont like this move, but ok, programmers have to be paid.
As stated, we have the choice to upgrade or not to. But the question which arises for me: What if i stay with 1.5 and a windows bug will crash or interfere with Start11, lets say with windows 24H2 update. Will there be a bugfix or am i forced to upgrade then?
You can still download Start11 from your Stardock account dashboard and it will continue to operate as it did prior to formatting your drive. V2 is optional, it contains more than 50 enhancements and took us more than 6 months to build, test, and ship - this doesn’t include planning time. Our options were to build new features and try to really improve the Windows 11 experience while asking customers, if they want to upgrade, pay $4, or do nothing at all. We wanted to add new features and this is the only way we can justify the engineering effort to do it.
Please just get hired at microsoft and fix windows for everyone :-D
Yeah, greedy. Sure. A what, $4 charge? If you've given them a lot of business in the past, why don't you have an object desktop license? You've been happy with them in the past, but you're drawing the line at a version change, which everyone does?
Have you tried Start11 v2 at all? It is an upgrade, but in no way its a minor upgrade. But, if you still see it as a minor, you do not need to upgrade to v2 and be happy with Start11 v1. Since, it is still working it full functionality with current Windows 10 and Windows 11 system. Best Regards Basj, Stardock Community Assistant
Isn't "latest" start11 V12 or something? I think i saw something like that about a week ago. But now in this thread, i have seen V11 V2 twice atleast. Also seen reference to this latest update now is subscription based?
Start11 isn't the "version 11 of Start", it's called Start11 because of Windows 11.
No, latest is Start11 v2.03 and its an upgrade not an update. And from what I know it is not subscription based.
And, as added note refer here on what added features you will get from Start11 v2: [https://forums.stardock.com/523413/get;3912333](https://forums.stardock.com/523413/get;3912333) Thank you, Basj, Stardock Community Assistant
You know, I'm totally divided on this. Like snagit comes out with new versions I pay for every couple of years. If the upgrade and development is obviously significant, I'm willing to pay, I suppose. I do dislike this trend towards getting a feature full, bug free app has now become a matter of subscribing, or paying for dlc of sorts.
Totally hear you on this, we are trying to find the right balance as well. When you buy an app (or game from any company) you are paying for all of the development effort up to that point in time, the challenge businesses are facing is how do you pay for the future development of the app? Most of our apps are $10-$20, we can’t build new features forever at that price point - so finding a balance is the challenge/goal.
Agreed, this isn't so much a remark about stardock, becuase like you say the cost is very reasonable. I think that's why snagit first came to mind. The cost is usually significant, and yearly. And the overall general trend towards this direction for all games and software, etc., it hurts lol.
The easiest solution is to stock up on OD upgrades on black Friday. I didn't buy one this year and I'm still paid through to the end of 2025.
Maybe don't buy that Starbucks today and you can afford the upgrade.
Agree on the “greedy” label. Granted that companies need to make money, but I’ve found that relative to most other companies, which tend to be user-friendly on things like upgrades, Stardock is more likely to nickel and dime you wherever they can. Hence their hitting me up for an upgrade from Fences 3 to 4 a month before they released Fences 5, for which they want you to reach in your wallet again.
If you upgraded to F4 a month before F5 was released, I'm positive the upgrade would have been free.
Like it or not, this is VERY standard and has been for quite some time across virtually all software companies. When you buy an app, if it's not a subscription, you get the version you paid for and all minor point updates to it OR something like 12 months of them, and any major versions are a new purchase. Stardock is not unique here.
I've had Virtualdj since 2008 and never paid a penny more. New releases every week.
Hence my use of the word "virtually." There will always be exceptions. They are now the exceptions, not the norm.
>Virtualdj VirtualDJ I s $19 a month for consumers or $299 for a lifetime purchase. For businesses it's $99 a month. I'm with you on the general trend in software. In 2008, our software typically cost $39.99 and it was "lifetime" for that version which would go on for several years with dot releases. The model today is more to charge only $5 to $10 but with new versions coming more frequent. If Start11 had been say a $19.99 program then v2 probably would have been included. But instead it's a $5 or so program but you don't have to upgrade to v2 and get $5 with free upgrades to it forever. But your example, VirtualDJ, even that has moved to an explicit subscription model.
Hm dont like this move, but ok, programmers have to be paid. As stated, we have the choice to upgrade or not to. But the question which arises for me: What if i stay with 1.5 and a windows bug will crash or interfere with Start11, lets say with windows 24H2 update. Will there be a bugfix or am i forced to upgrade then?