boris3161 Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Can someone advise me on the pros and cons of buying the Bridgemaster deals in BBO v buying the standalone product - I'm thinking about functionality and cost. I've done all the free deals on BBO and I think I need a lot more to improve my declarer play! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 Thanks for your interest in Bridge Master. It is indeed good for your declarer play (and most people seem to find it to be a fun way to learn). Pros of buying online: - You pay slightly less per deal- You only have to buy deals from the skill level(s) you are interested in (when you buy the CD you get deals from all 5 skill levels) Pros of buying the CD: - You do not have to be connected to the Internet to play the Bridge Master deals- You can install your CD on more than one computer (when you buy online you can only play on the computer from which you made the purchase)- The CD comes with the 2 ACBL LTPB programs (but these programs are available for free elsewhere) I think that's about it, but if I think of something else I will make another post. Fred GitelmanBridge Base Inc.www.bridgebase.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrothgar Posted June 2, 2006 Report Share Posted June 2, 2006 I think that's about it, but if I think of something else I will make another post. How could you neglect that glory that is the Bridge Master cover art! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boris3161 Posted June 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2006 So, if I buy the CD, I can get my partner to learn how to play the cards too. That sounds like a good deal to me! B) Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred Posted June 3, 2006 Report Share Posted June 3, 2006 So, if I buy the CD, I can get my partner to learn how to play the cards too. That sounds like a good deal to me! B) Thanks! You *could* do this, but you shouldn't do this. Not only is this illegal, but more important, it is wrong. The people who work hard to create quality non-free software (me in this case) should be paid for each copy of their software that is used. I presume you would not buy a book, photocopy every page, and give a copy to your friend and that you would understand that this is not fair to the author of the book. The same principle applies to software. We could have put various copy-protection methods in place in order to make it impossible for most people to do the sort of thing you describe, but: 1) Some of our customers want to use our CDs on more than one computer (at home and at the office for example). We do not want to prevent our customers from being able to do this. 2) Most copy-protection schemes result in some kind of inconvenience for the user. Since we like to think that the vast majority of our customers are honest people, we do not like this idea of making them jump through hoops in order to use our CD-ROMs in an effort to thwart the efforts of the small (I hope) % of our customers who are software pirates. Now I am not suggesting that you are dishonest or that you are a pirate. Most likely you did not know any better when you made your post. There are a lot of people out there who do not really understand copyright law (especially as it pertains to software) and the moral issues involved in making copies of CD-ROMs. What it comes down to is that, if you think a program like Bridge Master is good enough to share with your friends, let your friends buy their own CDs. The ultimate result of rampant copying is that the software companies who are victims of this will suffer and lose their incentive to create other products for you to enjoy (or simply go out of business and be unable to create such products). In this particular case, all BBO members have a vested interest in making sure that our company is paid the money we deserve for the products we create and sell. The freeness of BBO and our ability to spend a lot of time improving and supporting our site is in part made possible by CD-ROM sales. Fred GitelmanBridge Base Inc.www.bridgebase.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigpenz Posted June 3, 2006 Report Share Posted June 3, 2006 yes and Alberto Gonzalez and the dept of justice now want ips's to keep records of our browsing for 2yrs so they will come after you for the Digital Millenium Act violation ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceptic Posted June 3, 2006 Report Share Posted June 3, 2006 I got the Cd it is great fun, get that, then buy some more ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcLight Posted June 3, 2006 Report Share Posted June 3, 2006 >1) Some of our customers want to use our CDs on more than one computer (at home and at the office for example). We do not want to prevent our customers from being able to do this. OOPS - BUSTED! ;) I've done all the Mike Lawrence software at work, twice.Soon I'll bring in my Larry Cohen and Kit Woolsey CDs and install them too. I even have the software on both the net work drive and my local drive at work. Just in case ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boris3161 Posted June 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Fred, Please accept my unreserved apologies. My post was intended in fun but it obviously hit a raw and very understandable nerve. Your points are well made. Thanks for the time you took to respond - and for all the time you put into BBO and associated efforts. It is much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andych Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Can someone advise me on the pros and cons of buying the Bridgemaster deals in BBO v buying the standalone product - I'm thinking about functionality and cost. I've done all the free deals on BBO and I think I need a lot more to improve my declarer play! :) As an owner of BM2000 (CD version), FunctionalityBBO online content version- the chat window could not be get rid of. Bridge master only occupy the upper half of your screen.- Could not play offline- Could only play on 1 fixed IP? Does it mean one even could not play on another PC with same login ID used? - Chat message (broadcast) or friend logins message floods around- Offer 'use felt'- remember your setting (e.g. large deck)- All subseq BBO enhancements should be applicable to online BM2000 CD version- Unsure if you have downloaded the demo verison. Wide screen is indeed possible with BM2000. But the demo version lacks the wide screen capability.- Use all your screen i.e. no chat window message flood around- Do not support 'use felt'- It does not remember some of your preference setting. When you switch to wide screen, big deck is the default. I like wide screen/small deck and have to change it every time.- Offer progress tracking. Maybe it is also available in online verison.- A fun picture showing up after you solve each hand, the picture could be any bridge star e.g. Fred ;) , and a message reads "Your level - Fred Gitelman'- Offer sort by type e.g. careful play/avoidance play. And sort by result e.g. unplayed/incomplete/correct- Use offline / anywhere- Could launch BBO playing with people and playing BM2000 at same time- Some latest BBO feature not available in CD version e.g. online colours. Cost- The CD version sells at 59.95 (36 deals * 5 levels). So it is 6 sets of 30 deals quantitatively. - As you know there is 6 demo hands for each level free in BBO. Not sure if the 6 deals are from the 1st ever 36 deals of each level in CD version. If not so, CD version is rougly the same price as online verison. $10/30 deals in BBO online contents.- CD version contains level 1 deals which is for novice / beginners. Players who are willing to spend the money may usually be at higher level. The levels are quite correctly stated i.e. Level 2 easier than 3 than 4 than 5. Level 2 would already offer something useful even for experienced players.- Refill sets for CD version sells at $14.95/30 deals. There is a buy 3 get 1 free offer. i.e. ~$45/4 sets. - Online version $10/set.- Overall online version is a bit cheaper than the CD version. But you would see there is sth different between the CD version/online version. Please post if you have further query.... :lol: :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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