Poll: How often do you upgrade your CAT tool? ناشر الموضوع: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How often do you upgrade your CAT tool?".
View the poll results »
| | | | | upgrade or update | Jun 25, 2021 |
I am currently using Studio 2019 and update it whenever suggested on my main desktop computer.
So far I am resisting all the invitations I keep getting to upgrade to the next version.
For some reason, when working with my biggest agency, their online memories are only compatible with a version of 2019 earlier than the one on my computer.
This means that when I have one of their jobs with an online memory or termbase, I have to do it on my laptop which has the version compatible... See more I am currently using Studio 2019 and update it whenever suggested on my main desktop computer.
So far I am resisting all the invitations I keep getting to upgrade to the next version.
For some reason, when working with my biggest agency, their online memories are only compatible with a version of 2019 earlier than the one on my computer.
This means that when I have one of their jobs with an online memory or termbase, I have to do it on my laptop which has the version compatible with them. So that is not to be updated for any reason!
The desktop's days are numbered, it has been on the go since 2014 and is really too slow, the laptop is much faster.
I may consider upgrading when I get a new computer, and maybe even get MateCat, another agency has been asking me to take jobs using it, but I don't want to overload this machine. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | No upgrade or update | Jun 26, 2021 |
I don't have this issue because i don't own any kind of CAT tool personally with me. As all of my clients provide me their online CAT tool platform to work. So i don't do this.
| | | | Philip Lees 
اليونان
Local time: 21:49
يوناني إلى أنجليزي
| If it ain't broke, don't fix it | Jun 26, 2021 |
My general rule for any tool, including software, is that as long as it does the job I want it to do I don't see any need to mess with it. If there comes a point where it no longer does the job I want it to do, then I will reluctantly do whatever is necessary to rectify the situation.
Every time I see the message "Update and shut down/Restart" appear as I go to shut down a Windows 10 computer, my heart sinks into my stomach. Back in the old days, software only needed to be upgraded ... See more My general rule for any tool, including software, is that as long as it does the job I want it to do I don't see any need to mess with it. If there comes a point where it no longer does the job I want it to do, then I will reluctantly do whatever is necessary to rectify the situation.
Every time I see the message "Update and shut down/Restart" appear as I go to shut down a Windows 10 computer, my heart sinks into my stomach. Back in the old days, software only needed to be upgraded every few years - and it really was an UPgrade, taking advantage of hardware developments over that period. We now seem to be stuck in an endless cycle of tweaking and reissuing every few weeks, in which the users get to do the debugging for free at each stage.
Imagine if you had to take your car back to the dealer once a month to have it "upgraded". Yet people are expected to put up with this nuisance when it comes to software. How did we get to this situation? How can we get out of it? ▲ Collapse
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| I don’t use CAT tools | Jun 26, 2021 |
With one exception: one of my very regular customers provides me their online CAT tool platform to work on, so it’s up to them to update it. Unfortunately for me, it was updated quite recently and a lot changed. I hate when this happens…
| | | | Samuel Murray
هولندا
Local time: 20:49
عضو (2006)
أنجليزي إلى أفيقاني
+ ...
| Depends on the tool | Jun 26, 2021 |
Well, does "upgrade" mean to buy a newer version or to install a newer version that is included in the original price? Whether I upgrade depends on the tool and on whether there are new features that I would want.
I'll probably upgrade MemoQ only when my current version stops working with agencies altogether (which I hope is not before 2030). This is because I use MemoQ mostly as a file converter, and I'm not really interested in little feature tweaks that make translation faster ... See more Well, does "upgrade" mean to buy a newer version or to install a newer version that is included in the original price? Whether I upgrade depends on the tool and on whether there are new features that I would want.
I'll probably upgrade MemoQ only when my current version stops working with agencies altogether (which I hope is not before 2030). This is because I use MemoQ mostly as a file converter, and I'm not really interested in little feature tweaks that make translation faster inside MemoQ. I upgraded Trados recently from 2019 to 2021 but that was because I fell for a bait-and-switch tactic in which I was promised a certain feature that turned out to be a temporary feature. If I had known that that new feature was only temporary (i.e. that I would have to buy an additional annual subscription specifically for that feature), I would not have upgraded Trados this time. I use Trados also mostly as a file converter, but I have paid for every upgrade since 2011 because each new version had a feature that I felt would increase productivity to such a degree as to justify the price. Wordfast's licensing model requires one to buy a new license every 3 years (at a discount), so I obviously do that, and I install the latest version of WFP3 and WFP6 within a week or two after it becomes available. I haven't upgraded WFC to the latest version in about 5 years because the newer versions broke some functionality that I prefer to retain. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kevin Fulton
الولايات المتحدة
Local time: 14:49
ألماني إلى أنجليزي
I gave up on Déjà vu (DVX) after version II when it became clear that the developers' heart was no longer in producing a competitive product. I was an unenthusiastic user of Trados and only reluctantly upgraded over the years. I've used the program only a few times since upgrading from the 2011 version to 2019. I've kept up with MemoQ, since it has been my CAT tool of choice since abandoning Déjà vu. Last year I decided not to update the program since it now offers features that I will never... See more I gave up on Déjà vu (DVX) after version II when it became clear that the developers' heart was no longer in producing a competitive product. I was an unenthusiastic user of Trados and only reluctantly upgraded over the years. I've used the program only a few times since upgrading from the 2011 version to 2019. I've kept up with MemoQ, since it has been my CAT tool of choice since abandoning Déjà vu. Last year I decided not to update the program since it now offers features that I will never use. Since I've rarely relied on official support, there's really no reason to continue paying the renewal fee.
On the whole, I've stopped investing in my business. Once pandemic-related restrictions ease, I plan to spend my remaining days traveling, depleting my daughter's meager inheritance and drinking wine until my liver gives out. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
المملكة المتحدة
Local time: 19:49
عضو (2008)
إيطالي إلى أنجليزي
In my experience, software upgrades/updates are just tweaks that serve to justify the need to keep on paying a monthly subscription. Often they actually make the software worse rather than better.
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Mario Freitas
البرازيل
Local time: 15:49
عضو (2014)
أنجليزي إلى برتغالي
+ ...
| Not necessary; not a good investment if done regularly | Jun 26, 2021 |
CAT's are pretty expensive. They are an excellent investment, with fast return, but if you upgrade them in every new version, you'll be cutting that very same amount from your ROI, because it's not worth it to upgrade regularly. A few new features and ornaments are not a good enough reason to spend anoter, let's say, 150 Euros, every year. You don't do that with your car, with your home appliances, etc., why should you do it with the CAT, if it works perfectly forever in the old version?
P... See more CAT's are pretty expensive. They are an excellent investment, with fast return, but if you upgrade them in every new version, you'll be cutting that very same amount from your ROI, because it's not worth it to upgrade regularly. A few new features and ornaments are not a good enough reason to spend anoter, let's say, 150 Euros, every year. You don't do that with your car, with your home appliances, etc., why should you do it with the CAT, if it works perfectly forever in the old version?
PS: I'm amazed that 13% of our colleagues STILL don't use a CAT. Unbelievable!
[Edited at 2021-06-26 15:51 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Stepan Konev
الاتحاد الروسي
Local time: 21:49
أنجليزي إلى روسي
| Only 1 workday | Jun 26, 2021 |
Can’t understand what you mean by saying that CAT tools are so expensive. Isn’t it one or two workdays? I heard translators in Europe work for 20 euro per hour as a minimum. If that’s true, you can earn 150 euro over less than one day. Even I can do that in Russia where pay rates are lower than those in Europe. Ok, let it be not one but two days (a conservative scenario). I upgrade my main CAT tool every time the new version is released: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021. Every two years ... See more Can’t understand what you mean by saying that CAT tools are so expensive. Isn’t it one or two workdays? I heard translators in Europe work for 20 euro per hour as a minimum. If that’s true, you can earn 150 euro over less than one day. Even I can do that in Russia where pay rates are lower than those in Europe. Ok, let it be not one but two days (a conservative scenario). I upgrade my main CAT tool every time the new version is released: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021. Every two years in average. Two workdays vs two years. Expensive? Er...
What regards desktops vs laptops, this is decisive for me: I can’t work on laptops. Those things they weirdly call computers are just toys for me. I have three monitors attached to my main computer. And I can place them at any distance and angle of my choice while laptops always have their screen hard-attached to their keyboard. If my main CAT tool chooses to deprecate the desktop version one day, it will be the last day I use it.
To be honest, I am pretty surprised to know how many translators are so reluctant in keeping their tools up to date. I seem to be the only one here in this thread who upgrades his CAT tool on each new release
[Edited at 2021-06-26 22:11 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Philip Lees
اليونان
Local time: 21:49
يوناني إلى أنجليزي
| Service not product | Jun 27, 2021 |
Tom in London wrote:
In my experience, software upgrades/updates are just tweaks that serve to justify the need to keep on paying a monthly subscription. Often they actually make the software worse rather than better.
As has already happened in the area of entertainment, software companies have been changing their business model from product-based to subscription-based. So you hand over your hard-earned dosh and the company gives you something in return, but you don't actually own it: what you are purchasing is just the right to use that product for a specified period.
Where we used to buy a music CD or a DVD with a movie or TV series, companies like Amazon now try to push us to subscribe to their streaming services instead. That's all very well until you find that the music collection you've been building for the last decade or so is suddenly not accessible any more, at least not until you fork out for a newer model iPod (this happened to a friend of mine - I wouldn't touch Apple products with a barge-pole, for this kind of reason).
Software has lagged a little behind, but the launch of Windows 10 moved this policy into the mainstream.
We no longer own the software on our computers and the corporations that do own it can change their T&Cs at any time and can oblige us to install other software of their own choosing on our computers via mandatory updates.
I see no solution to this, largely because it's so convenient that most people prefer not to think about the wider implications, even as the "mission creep" continues to expand into other areas.
| | | | Tom in London
المملكة المتحدة
Local time: 19:49
عضو (2008)
إيطالي إلى أنجليزي
| the solution | Jun 27, 2021 |
Philip Lees wrote:
I see no solution to this
So far I've solved it by not subscribing to anything. I can't afford to have my monthly outgoings eaten into like this.
[Edited at 2021-06-27 14:10 GMT]
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Mario Freitas
البرازيل
Local time: 15:49
عضو (2014)
أنجليزي إلى برتغالي
+ ...
| Investment vs. unnecessary expense | Jun 28, 2021 |
Stepan Konev wrote: ... To be honest, I am pretty surprised to know how many translators are so reluctant in keeping their tools up to date. I seem to be the only one here in this thread who upgrades his CAT tool on each new release [Edited at 2021-06-26 22:11 GMT]
You can use the word "reluctant" if the translator refuses to buy a CAT tool. But if they don't upgrade and pay again at every new release, they are only being financially smart, as the novel functions and features of a new release are hardly ever worth 50% of an entirely new CAT, and that's what they charge.
You are the type of client they love and pray every day to get. But as you well noted, part of a small group who don't really make all calculations they should before buyng anything.
[Edited at 2021-06-28 00:34 GMT]
| | | | Jan Truper
ألمانيا
Local time: 20:49
عضو (2016)
أنجليزي إلى ألماني
ProZ.com Staff wrote:
"How often do you upgrade your CAT tool?"
Immediately, ***but never in the middle of a job***.
| | | | Tom in London
المملكة المتحدة
Local time: 19:49
عضو (2008)
إيطالي إلى أنجليزي
We should start some kind of movement and march along the street shouting the catchy slogan
END MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION APPLICATIONS !
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