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To: admin_at_scm.com
From: Stan van Gisbergen <vangisbergen_at_scm.com>
Subject: Information from SCM for ADF users
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 20:07:18 +0100
Sender: vgisberg_at_tungsten.chem.vu.nl

Dear ADF user,

The year 2001 is coming to an end. We take this opportunity to look
back and inform you on several issues that may be relevant to you.

New functionality, new versions, ADF-GUI, future plans
======================================================

The main focus for SCM this year has been to further increase the
functionality in the development versions of our software either
independently or by assisting the original developers in the main ADF
development groups in Amsterdam (Prof. Baerends), Calgary (Prof.
Ziegler) and Groningen (Prof. Snijders). We are very happy with the
improvements that have been made in both ADF (e.g. meta-GGA Exc
functionals, SAOP and GRAC xc potentials, linear scaling algorithms,
NMR spin-spin coupling constants, QM/MM improvements for large
biomolecules, new and improved basis sets, new NMR and EPR programs)
and ADF-BAND (time-dependent DFT). The ADF graphical user interface
has been further prepared for its initial release. All this and more
will become available to the ADF community in the next few months.

Also the number of independent scientists involved in further
developments of the ADF code (with assistance from SCM) has grown
during the last year. This makes us optimistic that the near future
will bring many more improvements to ADF and ADF-BAND.

In the next couple of months we also plan to extend our scientific
staff, so that we can spend more time on improvements to the
functionality, stability, and user-friendliness of the software.

Evaluation of pricing system
============================

This year also featured the introduction of a radically new pricing
system, which was believed to be more balanced, as it differentiates
between customers who use ADF intensively (as measured by the number
of CPUs on which ADF is used) and customers who make limited use of
ADF. Because of the large difference in the system with respect to
the past, the price settings had to be based on certain assumptions
regarding the number of CPUs that the typical ADF user would want a
license for. We know now that we have significantly overestimated
this number. As a result the prices for academic licenses are, in the
long run, too low to cover the personnel costs related to the
services that SCM wishes to provide to the ADF users. We therefore
decided that some changes in the pricing system could not be
circumvented. We apologise for any confusion and inconvenience that
may arise because of this.

Summary of main changes in pricing system
=========================================

We now briefly mention some of the main points of the new pricing system.

We have introduced a new type of license of which the status was
unclear in last year's scheme. This is the academic site license, or
a license for a computing center serving users of one university
only. Previously, this license fell formally in the same category as
the more expensive general computing center license. For certain
types of license we have adjusted the ADF prices downward somewhat
(especially computer center licenses).

We have also decided to let the users decide which functionality they
need (ADF, ADF-BAND, ADF-GUI, source code, ADF Cerius2 interface) and
charge each separately. In this way, it is avoided that a group
interested in ADF only, has to sponsor a group using ADF, ADF-BAND,
and the (upcoming) ADF-GUI. The price of the source code has been
relatively lowered, as have licenses with very many CPUs. The
regional discount scheme has been extended to give academic customers
all over the world the chance to (continue to) use ADF.

We trust that we now have a system that will not require further
strong modifications in the future. Because it is our conviction
that the current prices are realistic and fair, we now offer all
customers the possibility to take a license for up to 5 years. This
enables one to prepay for a number of years and thus be entitled to
all new releases during this period without the need for further
payments. For certain customers this may be more convenient than a
yearly payment, depending on their budget system.

Our new GUI will be made available for free to all ADF users during
the first six months of 2002. After that, the yearly prices in the
tables on our web site will apply for those groups who wish to
include this option in their license. Further improvements to the
ADF-GUI and extensions of its possibilities will be an important
focus for SCM and we appreciate all suggestions that you may have to
improve it.

The details of the new pricing system are available on our web site
at http://www.scm.com/Order/Welcome.html.

What does the new pricing system mean for you?
==============================================

Of course, the changes in the pricing system will apply to new
customers. For our current customers, the existing contracts will
apply until the end of the contract period, unless they choose
otherwise. However, they also have the option to switch to the new
system, which we encourage. New orders (for example for the GUI) can
also be placed on the basis of the new system. In addition, when your
next maintenance term is due, you will be informed in detail of the
options that SCM will offer (continuation of your current contract
versus a switch to the new system) and the financial consequences.

Comments and suggestions
========================

Should you have any questions or comments regarding this new price
system, please do not hesitate to contact me by e-mail at
vangisbergen_at_scm.com. Also, any suggestion as to where SCM should
focus its efforts to further improve ADF, ADF-BAND, our ADF-GUI and
the related utility programs can be sent there. We are dedicated to
making the ADF package increasingly useful for your research, in
close cooperation with yourself, our other customers and the academic
ADF development groups, and believe that we are now in an excellent
position to do so.

Very best regards,

Stan van Gisbergen
CEO of Scientific Computing & Modelling NV

PS. If you have obtained this E-mail only through the ADF mailing list,
    and not directly, please contact us so we can correct our internal
    mailing lists.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. S.J.A. van Gisbergen SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING & MODELLING NV
Phone: +31-20-4447626 Vrije Universiteit, Theoretical Chemistry
Fax: +31-20-4447629 De Boelelaan 1083
E-mail: vangisbergen_at_scm.com 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
                               http://www.scm.com
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Received on 2001-12-14 14:21:59