Download.com site feedback: VersionTracker Pro, a new CNET service
- 11/20/07 2:04 PM
Spin, spin, spin and we still get nowhere.
by LadySherotica - 4/25/08 9:30 PM In reply to: Re. VersionTracker Pro by CNET TechTracker Staff2Kris:
If you're monitoring this thread, you will see that 99% of us are experiencing difficulties, not "some posters" as you state. There is no spin CNET can put on this to make it sound like only a few are experiencing troubles. As one poster said, except for a few almost positive posts, there has been no help offered by CNET.
You're telling us to contact the support team. Again, read through the thread. We've told you what the issues are, yet CNET has not seen fit to offer help for the issues here on the thread where it is needed. We've told you the software not only doesn't work as you advertise, advising us to download drivers that are inferior to those we already have as well as downright crashing our systems. Where are your replies to those issues? Where are the solutions? Why has this software not been fixed? Better still, as has been noted, why are you still offering it at all and, in fact, heavily promoting it, when these issues still exist.
I guess the best question of all: why has CNET not fixed this faulty software and ensured that people who have paid for it's usage and are not ABLE to use it, are given a version that works?
I know I am not the only one who not only had to remove it from my system, but had to do a complete system restore to fix all the problems the software created. I'm out money, I'm out time and I'm out of patience. Your pithy "spin" smacks of false platitudes and offers no help to us. So, go ahead, assure us that you all monitor the thread, but I say that this means nothing. Monitoring, but not helping, makes you an inferior company. It can't be said enough: CNET has lost all credibility.
Application not working properly!
by difs - 7/7/08 5:40 PM In reply to: Regarding your support requests by CNET TechTracker Staff2This application does not live up to its billing. Virtually nothing downloaded properly, and most of the update recommends redirected me to the MS windows update site! I know there's a money-back guarantee; I'd like to collect on that. Unfortunately, when I try and fill out an email request, I continually get an error message saying the form is not filled out - which it is... Grrrr! Of course, there's no support phone number either.
It's never worked
by LadySherotica - 7/7/08 7:47 PM In reply to: Application not working properly! by difsdifs, CNET's only response so far has been to offer to set up a forum of users to tell them what's wrong, despite ALL the posts here that tell them this already. They are totally uncommitted to helping and your money spent is a loss.
CNET, if you're bothering to read any of this at all, at this point, your only response should be: We're sorry, it IS screwed up, here's your money back and we will take this off the site until it is up to any acceptable standards.
Repeat after me ...
Reputation: a lifetime to make, a moment to break
by difs - 7/7/08 9:49 PM In reply to: It's never worked by LadySheroticaIt's sad cNet would risk its excellent reputation on such a second-rate (and, in my case, actually damaging) product. Turns out I, too, am on a HP and NEVER would have purchased this if I had known there were serious incompatibilities with my system. Further, I gave my trust to an organization I trusted to test and stand behind the application. Never again...
Agreed
by LadySherotica - 7/7/08 10:23 PM In reply to: Reputation: a lifetime to make, a moment to break by difsIf you read back, you'll see that many of us sustained damage to our computers. I had to do a complete restore after installing it and that was even though I wasn't able to download or install any of the so-called updates. It's a piece of crap, but it's not just that it's crap that has damaged CNET's rep; it's the fact that CNET continues to let it stand as a viable piece of software, encouraging more users to install it and damage their computers while ignoring our issues with it.
At this point, CNET's refusal to acknowledge and fix the problem, encouraging new users to toss money at them shows that they know it's a scam.
I use CNET for nothing any longer; I don't trust them at all now and I actively encourage others to stop using them by posting my problem with this bogus software on every site I can. The more people who are made aware of this scam, the better.
CNET? You just plain suck.
Are they freaking kidding me???
by LadySherotica - 7/18/08 9:02 PM In reply to: Reputation: a lifetime to make, a moment to break by difsToday, I got an emailed announcement: Track iPhone apps with VersionTracker.com AND VersionTracker.com optimized for iPhone.
They don't have an actual working piece of software that doesn't break users' computers and screw us totally up, and now they want to screw up our iPhone and iTouch? Yeah, no way.
Seriously, CNET? Fix the darned thing already! Read the posts here! We've told you exactly what it does as well as what it doesn't. Try fixing it before you screw up more of our devices!
I urge everyone to post everywhere you can about this piece of junk. CNET is not paying attention and we have to do what WE can to warn other users since CNET is more than willing and eager to continue peddling this piece of junk, raking in the cash and screwing up more computers! Post, people, post like the wind! I myself have ensure that every blog I have, every group I belong to and every forum I visit hears about this so they are forewarned.
thanks Grahamrice from me to
by safesearch - 8/21/08 2:07 PM In reply to: Thanks Grahamrice for that informative post by huffmanvajust read your post about Version tracker, I made the mistake of buying
4.0 yesterday downloaded it and found it caused nothing but problems
on my laptop,now I have called their customer service number twice
1-(503)227-2571 fax 1-(503)227-2573 and gotten the standard recording
I guess I will try faxing them.I just want my money back,anyway thanks
for the info. when will I ever quit falling for this kind of scam
What I STILL believe you must do
by purple_reading_giraffe - 4/25/08 10:54 PM In reply to: VersionTracker Pro, a new CNET service by peterbutler
Original Post Repeated, but with a few changes to reflect potential conflict of interest in having cNet review their own software, and remarks on actions taken since this post. However, the meat remains basically the same.
What I believe you must do to persuade us to try it
by purple_reading_giraffe - 1/1/08 9:07 PM
In reply to: VersionTracker Pro, a new CNET service by peterbutler CNET
1. Take it down, with an explanation that it is being worked on by cNet. cNet's name and reputation are on the line here, don't squander the trust you've built in the name of $30. Don't do it. Don't.
2. Have it actually tested by competent, independent cNet utilities reviewers on HP products (as most of the specific complaints I have read involved HP products).
2a. Follow all the recommendations of those competent, independent cNet testers to get the program working correctly.
3. Enlist those users who have cared enough to post reviews as beta testers with full functionality. Be sure to have fixed the problems with HP before you mess up anyone's system.
3a. When you have fixed beta-tester identified issues have the cNet reviewers retest it to be sure it is up to cNet standards.
3b. When the software is trustworthy, post the cNet test results, and the new download, with explanations and the original user reviews linked to, but filed under a prior version so the ratings of the new version will be fair. Ask your beta testers to post their reviews of the new version.
4. Minimal absolutely necessary step: Have a full functionality trial version of at least 30 days to allow us to actually test drive it. We will be hesitant to test it anyway due to reported problems; there is NO WAY anyone sane and informed will pay $30 to risk exposing their computer's setup to havoc.
5. Post on all links that suggest we try this the terms and costs, up front, with a link to find the reviews without separately searching for them. Actually, it was the utter lack of upfront information that made me hesitant to try what sounded like a good idea. The appearance of sneakiness is never advisable. <-- this advice has been somewhat followed.
Let's hope the Team listens and takes severe and immediate steps to salvage the situation and repair the damage to our trust in cNet. This has been one of my favorite organizations on the internet since I got my first home computer in 1995. I hope that need not change. . .
Almost 4 months have passed, and still no request for beta testers. Still no real changes have been made. Still no functional trial version.
Ann Harlan
Indiana
Its because its rubbish software
by stempy - 6/13/08 5:41 PM In reply to: What I STILL believe you must do by purple_reading_giraffeAnd they dont want to admit it.
VersionTracker Pro Advisory Board
by smedleyd - 6/13/08 11:23 AM
In reply to: VersionTracker Pro, a new CNET service by peterbutler
The VersionTracker Pro Product team is in the process of forming an advisory board. The advisory board will provide forward moving guidance and feedback into the design and advancement of the next version of the Pro product. Advisory board members may be asked to sign a NDA (non-disclosure agreement). Board members will be an important part of the development process; we will communicate via email and meet as needed using Live Meeting and conference calls. We are looking for a variety of attributes: Some existing customers who have a willingness to communicate issues about the product both positive and negative, former CatchUp customers and potential new customers. As a team we will try to optimize the time we spend with the advisory board being mindful and prepared when we meet. To be effective the board will be limited to approximately 12 – 18 people. If you are interested please send us a note through our support site at: http://support.versiontracker.com click on the “Email Support” tab and use “Advisory Board” as your subject line. Please take a moment in the “questions area” to describe your usage. We will be reaching out to customers in several different venues. Once we have gathered a good mix of interested customers we will send out more detailed information on requirements and the development process. We expect this to take 2-3 weeks. Thank you for your support.
Promises, promises
by jbenowl16 - 7/7/08 10:50 PM In reply to: VersionTracker Pro Advisory Board by smedleyd
OK! So you are "going to do sometning". BUT you still advertise this piece of mal-ware (I use the term advisedly in its true sense). Why cannot you see that there are significant problems to a large nunmber of users?
I would go as far as to say you are being disingenuous at best and downright dishonest at worst.
Many folk have said "Reputations take years to build up" and yours has been very good - until this fiasco. Your reputatation is now lost - except to those who do not read this discussion: these poor, trusting folk are being taken for a ride.
Do you REALLY care? The answer is plainly "No" because you still rake in the 30 pieces of gold as often as you can and don't give a fig if people suffer major poroblems with their systems and much heart-ache as a consuquence. Statistically, it is likely that many of these victims are fairly new to computing and are trusting the name and reputation. Do you REALLY care?
Why cannot you "do the decent thing" and mend your tarnished reputationin one sensible act? Take it down now, before anyone else suffers.
Do you REALLY care? So far, the answer is clear to all - "No, we are making too much money from these fools who download and run our program. This is business" seems to fit your attitude to this problem.
Shame on CNet! But, then I now know that you do not care what a few of us think. you are nor actually DOING anything - sitting on the fence and saying "We are considering....." does not equate to "doing".
Advisory Board is NOT ACTION
by purple_reading_giraffe - 7/9/08 6:41 PM In reply to: VersionTracker Pro Advisory Board by smedleyd
I would have volunteered my services as a beta tester had the other steps I outlined been followed - but they were NOT. I own an HP Tablet that I am VERY fond of, and I would not risk it to help people who cannot follow the basic decent step of NOT ADVERTISING MALWARE.
No action yet - will there ever be any?
by jbenowl16 - 7/9/08 10:05 PM In reply to: Advisory Board is NOT ACTION by purple_reading_giraffeQuite right! I expect that there would be many who would have volunteered but for the clear risk in messing up their systems - for nothing.
Where are the "fat cats" who peddle this obnoxious software? Sitting back and laughing all the way to the bank?
CNet - is there a shred of decency left in your organisation? Why do you coprorately and individually refuse to take any blame?
I now appeal directly to the Management - take this malware off right now; make sure that the eventual replacement "does what is says on the box"; be honest - just for once: you never know, it might become a habit!
Needs Work
by UpperWs - 6/24/08 6:22 AM In reply to: VersionTracker Pro, a new CNET service by peterbutler
I had the same problem mentioned by others. VersionTracker tells me that a driver needs to be updated, but the manufacturer's site tells me I have the latest version. VERY CONFUSING.
I'm not sure Windows Update is accurate either. Too many times it has told me everything is up-to-date, but the manufacturer's site said I needed to update. This process of updating drivers is very convoluted. Unfortunately, VersionTracker doesn't solve anything.
Version Tracker Pro
by BroJohn - 9/3/08 4:08 PM In reply to: VersionTracker Pro, a new CNET service by peterbutler
I tried to update some software today, including Version Tracker Pro, which I purchased last year. It told me my subscription had expired and I had to renew my subscription. When I clicked on the button, it took me to a site with MacOS and Version Tracker Pro. When I paid my money it did not say anything about any subscription, so I don't know what this is all about. After reading all the negative posts about this software and being told that it is not a purchase but a rental that needs to be renewed I don't think I need to be involved with this piece of software.
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