Download.com site feedback: VersionTracker Pro, a new CNET service
- 11/20/07 2:04 PM
@Ann: Lack of editorial review
by peterbutler - 1/28/08 12:49 PM
In reply to: What I believe you must do to persuade us to try it by purple_reading_giraffe
Hi, Ann. Sorry that I didn't notice your comments sooner. I hope you get this reply.
Per current editorial CNET policies, we don't review products that we own any stake in, e.g. Webshots Desktop (formerly; and a great product), Chow widgets, GameSpot download managers, etc. CNET.com probably has many more examples.
Anyway, for those products, we let the users voice their reviews. And you have. Thanks for your honest comments.
A lack of insight on my part
by purple_reading_giraffe - 1/28/08 4:35 PM In reply to: @Ann: Lack of editorial review by peterbutler
Interesting I never even considered the obvious 'conflict of interest' review by cNet of a cNet product would be. I think it shows my deeply ingrained faith in cNet's impartiality and review ability - kind of amazing when talking about how this whole Version Tracker debacle undermines that faith.
What an awesome site cNet has created and maintains, what a loyal body of users it has attracted, what a shame it seems unable to extend this integrity to the handling of this Version Tracker problem.
I surely hope further remediation is undertaken soonest.
Best Regards,
Ann
Questioning Need for VersionTracker
by slaird46 - 1/18/08 6:35 AM In reply to: VersionTracker Pro, a new CNET service by peterbutler
About a year ago (before cnet's involvement?), I ran across VTPro and thought it sounded like a wonderful idea. I paid the $ and signed up for the service, and like many of the people who've commented in the downloads section, had a nightmare experience with it. It reported false versions on my installed software, misinformed me about latest versions available (often reporting a "new" version number several versions older than the one I had installed), mangled my drivers (yes, my equipment is mostly HP), etc. -- completely hijacked my machine.
My attempts to uninstall it only made a bigger mess, and I was using my golf vocabulary pretty freely. Going back to the last system restore point helped some, but there was still a mess of stuff still haunting the system. Fortunately, I'd made a new full-system backup only a few days earlier, and was able to get back to where I'd started with absolutely no loss of anything except time.
After that experience, I realized that what seemed like a great idea was really a very UNnecessary idea. All of my software which is critical to keep updated (security stuff) updates itself daily, without my ever lifting a finger. I have Windows Update set to automatic, which takes care of all my office applications as well. And virtually every other piece of software that I own checks for updates to itself at least once a month.
As for drivers, the ones that I have work. When I get one that doesn't work, or doesn't work properly, I check with the manufacturer's website which nearly always will have an update for me. If the drivers I have installed are being updated, they're being updated to fix issues that I'm not having with them, so what's the point?
This is a totally unnecessary piece of software that does nothing to improve the user experience that's not available for free, AND in its current iteration in fact can do a great deal to make that experience perfectly horrible.
I WANT to see cnet thrive and prosper. As I said above, it's a superb service. This fiasco and all the hyping that you're doing of what's basically an unnecessary piece of kaka has got to be hurting your reputation.
If I were you, I'd admit a mistake and pull the thing --at least until it's ready for prime time, and even then I'd focus my marketing efforts somewhere other than download.com, where surely the average user is clever enough to know how unnecessary it is. Maybe you could find out where all the former aol dialup users are hanging out and advertise it there. 
- Stuart
No need for this software with Windows Vista
by pugwashtizzie - 1/19/08 5:13 AM In reply to: Questioning Need for VersionTracker by slaird46Windows Vista informs you when a driver needs updating and does it for you if requested. It works extremely well and I have had no problems with it unlike with Version Tracker which constantly reports false information. I cannot understand that a reputable organization like CNET offers this dreadful software in its present state. They should take it off the market, fix it and then perhaps reintroduce it but if you have Windows Vista forget about it and don't buy it!
Updating programs
by Doctuh - 1/21/08 10:09 AM In reply to: VersionTracker Pro, a new CNET service by peterbutler
CNet catchup, a free offering from them in the past, worked fine and was withdrawn for no apparent reason. I'm still wondering why such a perfectly useful program was removed. From what it says elsewhere in this thread, filehippo has a free program (currently in beta) with much of the same functionality. The intro blurb from CNet was written by the marketing department. Let's be honest. CNet purchsed this sofware as a new profit center. CNet got taken, because the software was and is a dog (by report). CNet's program has gotten the worst possible reviews ON ITS OWN WEBSITE (which, to give them credit, CNet allows to be posted uncensored). Now, CNet wants help trying to turn around their mistake. However, CNet download.com currently has a free, useful, but imperfect watch list for tracking updates. If I were the absolute ruler of the universe, I would force CNet to bring back catchup as its base platform, and use whatever it bought from Version Tracker Pro to improve it. If they write off their loss with the useless Version Tracker, then maybe they could support an upgraded CNet Catchup with only advertising.
Agreed.
by LadySherotica - 1/21/08 10:11 PM In reply to: Updating programs by DoctuhCatchup was a nice little piece of software and VT in no way lives up to half the potential it had. I still cannot believe that CNET is hosting this garbage nor that they are ignoring the complaints about it. I purchased two years before testing VT because I trusted CNET. Guess how much trust I have for them now? Zero. Ditto for any respect for what used to be a top-notch service. Right now, they rank right up there with ... well ... Microsoft which released the worst operating system ever: Vista.
VersionTracker Pro
by pugwashtizzie - 1/22/08 5:28 AM In reply to: Agreed. by LadySheroticaNothing wrong with Vista. For instance, it advises you when a new version of your drivers are available and downloads them on your request.
CNET...SHAME ON YOU for associating with VersionTracker Pro
by Ron Robertson - 1/23/08 10:37 AM In reply to: VersionTracker Pro, a new CNET service by peterbutler
I thought the CNET site could be trusted.
I bought VTPro and I'm thoroughly disgusted with its performance.
It caused me much grief when I tried to act on its recommendations which proved to be misdirecting, inaccurate, and downright WRONG.
The advertisement states "Your satisfaction is assured with a 30-day, no questions asked money-back guarantee".
I've tried unsuccessfully to get a refund via repeated emails to various sites I could glean from its ads. While they claim to offer a refund, they don't make it easy to find out where/how to make a claim. My emails so far have not been acknowledged.
Can this forum provide me with a solid lead on making a submission for a refund???
Nuffyfluts
cNet and VT team - You keep digging yourself a deeper hole
by purple_reading_giraffe - 1/23/08 11:00 AM In reply to: CNET...SHAME ON YOU for associating with VersionTracker Pro by Ron RobertsonThis poster has a very valid point. Go to:
http://support.versiontracker.com/cgi-bin/cnettechtracker.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=5_HScvWi&p_lva=1850&p_li=&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_page=1&p_cv=&p_pv=2.1034&p_prods=1030%2C1034&p_cats=&p_hidd en_prods=&prod_lvl1=1030&prod_lvl2=1034&p_search_text=&p_new_search=1&p_search_type=answers.search_fnl
looking for info on refunds, and you will find ONLY results for canceling auto renewals.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Everything is screwed up
by sagotillo - 1/23/08 11:16 AM In reply to: cNet and VT team - You keep digging yourself a deeper hole by purple_reading_giraffeI went to the above link, I went to "my support" and my email and password were not recognized.
I tried to send an email message from thatr site and my e mail is already is use.
I log on to macfixit and Versiontracker with no problem.
I do not receive email alerts, I do not receive replies from the support people.
I don't believe joining CNET has improved Versiontracker's poor support history.
I use a MAC - 10.4.11
CNET TechTracker Support and our support website
by CNET TechTracker Staff2 - 1/23/08 5:10 PM In reply to: Everything is screwed up by sagotillosagotillo, the e-mail address and password for the support site is unfortunately not automatically linked with your VersionTracker login (this was mentioned by someone earlier in this thread). However, there are password recovery links right on the support page to get you back in.
So far as response, our records indicate that the question you posted in our trouble ticket system one evening was responded to the next morning by a support representative. Unfortunately, we have no further news for you regarding the mailings. Most have been fixed, some have not been restored yet.
I encourage you to continue to use the support website (http://support.versiontracker.com) for your inquiries. A history of your support ticket is available to you there.
Regards,
Kris
CNET TechTracker Support
Refund source
by Ron Robertson - 1/23/08 6:18 PM In reply to: CNET TechTracker Support and our support website by CNET TechTracker Staff2Thanks Kris...
I'll send an email to the address you specified.
Ron
A couple leads...
by John.Wilkinson
- 1/23/08 11:15 AM
In reply to: CNET...SHAME ON YOU for associating with VersionTracker Pro by Ron Robertson
* The 'standard' path is to click here and choose the refund option from the drop-down menu.
* If that doesn't produce results, info-at-versiontracker-dot-com should be able to forward your request to the appropriate individuals.
Make sure you white-list @versiontracker.com in your spam filters.
Good luck.
John
Version Tracker Pro Refund
by pugwashtizzie - 1/23/08 2:55 PM In reply to: CNET...SHAME ON YOU for associating with VersionTracker Pro by Ron RobertsonI sent an email to cnettechtracker@mailca.custhelp.com asking for a refund and they replied promptly on 16 January as follows: "This confirms that we have cancelled your VersionTracker Pro subscription and issued a refund of $29.95 to your credit card. It may take anywhere from a few days to about a week for the refund to be reflected on your bank statement". I have yet to check my credit card statement to see if the refund has been made but I am confident that they will keep their word.
Refund
by Ron Robertson - 1/23/08 3:38 PM In reply to: Version Tracker Pro Refund by pugwashtizzieHow did you contact VersionTracker Pro to get an acknowledgement?
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