Autodesk FMDesktop

[#1]

I just received a FedEx stating that Autodesk is "no longer making the AutoDesk FMDesktop software product commercially available."

What's up with that?

[#2]

Dave, any more news on this?

[#3]

I'm curious as well if anyone has any more news on this...

jaynesworth@west-bend.k12.wi.us wrote:
> Dave, any more news on this?

[#4]

I've heard the same...

[#5]

We are currently loking to move to FM Desktop and are concerned about this. Please keep us informed when info is available.

Thanks

James Wisa

[#6]

I have still not heard anything official. One e-mail from one person (after I sent numerous questions to numerous people over there) that told me that Autodesk was implementing some cut backs and would no longer actively sell or support FMDesktop.

So....the end of FMDesktop as far as I can see.

I was seriously worried when I heard that this product was moving to Autodesk and expressed those fears at the time. Of course everybody assured me that all would be wonderful at Autodesk and I fell for it. Now, after spending a year or so getting a number of clients convinced that this was the product for them I know have had to tell them all that I was wrong.

I think the worst part is the complete lack of communication. Who sends out a one line FedEx and then doesn't bother to explain or provide any additional information. I was getting a little tired of the complete lack of sales support that was provided but even this surprised me.

I set up trial versions of the system for 4 different clients so they could see the product at work in their facility and gave 7 other presentations and proposals. All this was for current (and valuable) customers. 5 of these customers were ready to set up their facilities in FMD this year. This really pisses me off. You people at FMD should be ashamed of how you have mishandled this - I hope you all made big money when you sold out to Autodesk. Now you can enjoy that cushy severance package while your former "valued clients" scramble to find a new solution and to try to salvage our relationships with our own clients, bosses, etc.

[#7]

There's obviously been no official word, but... I was given something to
ponder; when I was speaking with some folks last week about my concerns
on the product, they were of the opinion that the features might be
moved into another product to reduce the sheer volume of software
packages being offered. ~shrug~ I'm not sure which product this might be
a good fit in, but, I'm certainly curious now if that's the way things
will play out.
(there were evidently some pointed comments made by Carl Bass at AU
about how they just have too many products and need to merge and prune
them. I don't know exactly what was said, as I wasn't there)

I've invested quite a bit of time and effort and some money to try to
learn and pilot test FMD, so I really really hope it's not all for
naught, that I might still be able to apply that experience elsewhere.
:-/



Cheers!


Melanie Perry
***not all who wander are lost***
http://tech-tea.com
http://augi.com/autocad
http://mistressofthedorkness.blogspot.com

SDave1 wrote:
> I have still not heard anything official. One e-mail from one person
> (after I sent numerous questions to numerous people over there) that
> told me that Autodesk was implementing some cut backs and would no
> longer actively sell or support FMDesktop. So....the end of FMDesktop as
> far as I can see. I was seriously worried when I heard that this product
> was moving to Autodesk and expressed those fears at the time. Of course
> everybody assured me that all would be wonderful at Autodesk and I fell
> for it. Now, after spending a year or so getting a number of clients
> convinced that this was the product for them I know have had to tell
> them all that I was wrong. I think the worst part is the complete lack
> of communication. Who sends out a one line FedEx and then doesn't bother
> to explain or provide any additional information. I was getting a little
> tired of the complete lack of sales support that was provided but even
> this surprised me. I set up trial versions of the system for 4 different
> clients so they could see the product at work in their facility and gave
> 7 other presentations and proposals. All this was for current (and
> valuable) customers. 5 of these customers were ready to set up their
> facilities in FMD this year. This really pisses me off. You people at
> FMD should be ashamed of how you have mishandled this - I hope you all
> made big money when you sold out to Autodesk. Now you can enjoy that
> cushy severance package while your former "valued clients" scramble to
> find a new solution and to try to salvage our relationships with our own
> clients, bosses, etc.

[#8]

We all knew this would happen. Although I've seen countless products bought up and destroyed by Autodesk, I really thought this time would be different. Twenty years I've been a customer and at this point, I can't see a reason to spend any more money with Autodesk.

Its one thing to remove the dealer relationship and discount structure - charging a loyal customer insane prices for AutoCAD and Revit. It is entirely another to annouce to an industry that you're buying up a new, powerful FM product and then to slowly destroy it with neglect and indifference.

This pair of videos came my way and they illustrate perfectly how Autodesk sees themselves. Get your high boots on before you watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzSePhyp93w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q0lVE8HM98

[#9]

"neglect and indifference" yep - pretty much sums it up!

[#10]

Another product built from FM Desktop code back in Version 5 or 6...

If you had to leave FMD...this might be an option. Edited by: Discussion_Admin on Feb 20, 2009 1:22 PM