I want to make sure I understand this correctly - which I think I do.  If you buy new MC 3.0 software for $2,495, you get the components from Studio Toolkit included.  If you upgrade from 2.x via download for $400, it's not included.  If you buy the boxed upgrade for $500, it's included.  So an extra $100 gets you all this additional Toolkit software.

Now, if you have an Assurance contract, you get tech support and software upgrades.  MC 3.0 is available for download, but it does not include the Toolkit software.  You pay $2,000 a year and don't get it.  It might make sense to charge an additional $100 for a boxed upgrade that includes this software, just like non-Assurance contract customers would do when upgrading.  But that's not an option, right?

I have the Assurance contract, but I'm supposed to pay the full $500 non-Assurance rate to get the additional software that now comes standard with MC?  This doesn't seem right.  Please tell me I'm wrong.

I don't think Assurance has ever upgraded 3rd party software, has it?  Assurance covers the Avid software and hardware only.  You'll probably need to upgrade through the actual company that makes the 3rd party software (Boris, Sorenson, etc...).

Michael.

Butcher:

You'll probably need to upgrade through the actual company that makes the 3rd party software (Boris, Sorenson, etc...).

Assurance is an area that seems to be constantly ignored by the new thinking as it was (at least publicly) by the old thinking.