Thoughts on new Mac Preview version of RowPro?

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slnm
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Thoughts on new Mac Preview version of RowPro?

Post by slnm » May 2nd, 2015, 11:59 am

I just noticed that there is a preview version for the Mac. I downloaded it and took it out for a spin. There's no online rowing yet and I can't figure out how to upload my rowing session into my online logbook assuming the Mac version can do that. I'm disappointed that they are asking people to pay $6/month for a year (you pay $72 when you buy the license) for beta software with missing features. It does get cheaper if you pay for more years up front. I already paid $100 for the PC version which I've had difficulty with, probably because my PCs haven't been up to the task. The help menu item takes you to the RowPro site where I've not been able to find any documentation for this Mac beta. And, the first time I started rowing the PM4 on my erg started but RowPro didn't notice. I had to tell RowPro to stop and restart my session. I suppose there could be a problem with my PM4 or USB cable but overall I'm not impressed with this new license model and them charging for beta software.

Does anyone else have thoughts or experience with the new Mac version?

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Re: Thoughts on new Mac Preview version of RowPro?

Post by DavidA » May 4th, 2015, 4:11 pm

slnm wrote:I just noticed that there is a preview version for the Mac. I downloaded it and took it out for a spin. There's no online rowing yet and I can't figure out how to upload my rowing session into my online logbook assuming the Mac version can do that. I'm disappointed that they are asking people to pay $6/month for a year (you pay $72 when you buy the license) for beta software with missing features. It does get cheaper if you pay for more years up front. I already paid $100 for the PC version which I've had difficulty with, probably because my PCs haven't been up to the task. The help menu item takes you to the RowPro site where I've not been able to find any documentation for this Mac beta. And, the first time I started rowing the PM4 on my erg started but RowPro didn't notice. I had to tell RowPro to stop and restart my session. I suppose there could be a problem with my PM4 or USB cable but overall I'm not impressed with this new license model and them charging for beta software.

Does anyone else have thoughts or experience with the new Mac version?
They give you a trial version for a month or so for free - you don't need to pay at first. They do mention that not all feature are available on the Mac beta version.
I have been using it okay, and enjoying it.
I do, however, often have problems with the graphics freezing part way into a session. (The session still continues okay, just no boats/rowers/changing scenery.

David
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roger910
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Re: Thoughts on new Mac Preview version of RowPro?

Post by roger910 » May 6th, 2015, 6:10 am

Not having had any experience with the PC version, the Mac version was my first time using RowPro.
I liked it, and the graphics for me worked nicely, but I'll have to agree with sinm here: my free month is already expired, but I am not going to pay $6 a month for the status that it is currently in.
It might be worth to check again once online rowing is in, but for what it brings at this moment it's not worth it.
Unfortunately I now have used up my free month, so I need to find out a way to get another trial version once the software is complete.

I think it would have been a better marketing decision to let people just use it for free in this stage. You collect additional feedback and you get people hooked to the software. Once you can offer online rowing, it is the time to ask for a fee.

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Re: Thoughts on new Mac Preview version of RowPro?

Post by Carl Watts » May 6th, 2015, 5:24 pm

It needs the Online rowing, that's the whole point of it really, without it I wouldn't have paid out the USD$99 for a lifetime licence for the PC.

Unfortunately you need to be computer savvy to get this up and running on older hardware or else you have to just go out and buy a new gaming PC that has a decent graphics card.

If they can get the Mac version to the same level as the PC version, its now an outstanding bit of software, as long as you have a reliable internet connection ! Really only still waiting for one more change from Pete at Digital Rowing, that's an option to choose your relative position during a row that's updated say every 5 seconds or so rather than the current fixed lane format on screen.
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Tallahassee
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Re: Thoughts on new Mac Preview version of RowPro?

Post by Tallahassee » May 13th, 2015, 4:24 pm

I tried it for the first time yesterday. I have the latest software on my PM5, and it works as it is supposed to work.
I am using a late 2011 MacBook Pro with 4GB ram; connected the MacBook Pro with a USB cable (can RowPro connect wirelessly, by the way?)
RowPro worked the first time I used it- I set up a short 500 meter row with a pace boat. It seemed to work fine, although it did seem to be a bit laggy at times, as if my system didn't have enough horsepower to keep up, but it saved that row in the logbook.
After that first row, RowPro failed to function. It let me set up a row, would give me the count down, and tell me to start, but when I began to row, the screen image remained exactly the same, as if no data were being transmitted from the PM5. I closed RowPro, disconnected, reconnected, and restarted RowPro, and it did the same thing.
Also, on the PM5 screen, no data was being registered, so I assume it may be an issue with the interface with the PM5. It occurs to me that I didn't try rowing without RowPro being connected, so there may be some glitch with my PM5 caused by - something - after the first row was completed. So I need to go back this evening and see if the PM5 works, by itself. If not, I guess I'll pull the batteries, or see if I can reset it...
In the meantime, has anyone else encountered something similar?

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Re: Thoughts on new Mac Preview version of RowPro?

Post by kiwi pete » June 4th, 2015, 3:18 pm

Kia ora everyone,

I have just replaced my PC with an iMac and thought I'd download RowPro for Mac. Currently running the free trial. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer online rowing, which is the main reason why I started using RowPro back in the day. I have two questions and wondered if anyone could help?

1. When will the online aspect for Mac be available?
2. Having paid for a lifetime licence several years ago and then having paid again for a V4 upgrade in May 2014, am I seriously expected to pay for another upgrade to switch to the Mac version? Seems very strange if so, especially as I have been able to load Mac versions of pretty much all of my other paid-for software for free....

Cheers in advance

Pete

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