A Free Upgrade to Family Tree Maker 2009
Registered Owners of Family Tree Maker 2008 can obtain a free upgrade to the new version released this week. The following was written by The Generations Network:
For our valued Family Tree Maker 2008 customers:
As we announced in an email to you earlier, we’re giving our loyal Family Tree Maker 2008 customers a free upgrade to 2009. Last year around this time we released Family Tree Maker 2008. There was some initial customer dissatisfaction with the functionality in that release. We heard from customers who felt they didn’t receive what they were expecting. Over the past year, we’ve listened carefully to their feedback and have added many new features in the form of free patches which have been enthusiastically received. Family Tree Maker 2009 has even more features and functions that were not in previous patches. We listed some of these features in a previous post, along with additional features that will be part of Version 2009 when they become available.
In the next few weeks, Family Tree Maker 2008 registrants will receive an email with a one-time-use coupon that can be redeemed for a free version of Family Tree Maker 2009. We want you to be completely satisfied and delighted with the product you have purchased. The family history work you do is important, and we want to support you the best we can.
Sincerely,
The Family Tree Maker Team
No email yet from FTM or Generations network about free 2009 edition. I hope they have put the Book feature back in where you don't have to use Ancestry.com.
Posted by: Nancy | August 30, 2008 at 02:45 AM
FTM says "as we announced in an email to you earler..." in this release. The last email I have on file from them is "Thank you for registering your copy of Family Tree Maker..." in May 2008. Prior to that a communication in Aug 2007. I wonder where that notice about a free upgrade is?
Posted by: Harry | August 30, 2008 at 06:05 AM
To date, I haven't received any info from FTM re updating my 2008 version with a free copy of FTM 2009. And, I wrote to them about their offer. So, in anticipation of the 2009 version, I'll still muddle through the 2008 version. By the way, FTM mentions a 'one-time-use coupon'. How long does this coupon last?
Posted by: Pat | August 30, 2008 at 07:15 AM
I only just bought FTM 2008 a few weeks before 2009 was announced and only because I had a new computer which has Vista now. I am still trying to find things in both FTM and Vista. My jury is still out on both. However, I did receive an email offering a free upgrade to FTM once 2009 came out. Nothing on a coupon yet.
Posted by: Ann | August 30, 2008 at 07:25 AM
STill nothing here yet for the new FTM 2009. Using 2008 version, I am curious on how the coupon redemption is going to work, if it will just be a downloaded upgrade over the internet, or if will receive a CD 'hard copy'.
Posted by: Debby | August 30, 2008 at 07:30 AM
I received the following e-mail on August 9, 2008. Apparently FTM 2009 has been released. Maybe The Generations Network conveniently forgot their promise of a free copy. One would think that those of us who have already paid for FTM 2008, which was a miserable failure and ripoff (I uninstalled it months ago), would have been the first to receive the new release. I have installed Legacy 7, and like it better with each passing day.
"We’re giving you Family Tree Maker® 2009. Free.
Dear valued customer,
We’ll soon be releasing Family Tree Maker® 2009. When we do, we’ll send you an email that will tell you how to get this latest version for FREE.
We want you to have a wonderful experience with Family Tree Maker. Because you registered Family Tree Maker® 2008, we’re giving you this new version at no cost so you can enjoy all the latest additions and improvements.
Look out for an email with instructions in the coming weeks. Enjoy the new software.
Sincerely,
The Family Tree Maker team"
Posted by: Bob | August 30, 2008 at 09:17 AM
Still waiting . . . I love the new 2008 interface and recognize the potential it offers. I do miss many of the old features, especially the BOOK feature, and I hope that this is resolved. In the meantime, I am using Charting Companion by Progeny Software (a free copy came with the FTM 16 I bought). This program does a great job on books, and I like it just a tad better than FTM's old version because I can add a nice index with the click of a button. However, I cannot "build" a book in it like with FTM, so still needing the FTM version. ONE NOTE: Ancestry.com should recognize why we all are demanding the book feature. It's not that we just love it, it's that we DO NOT TRUST ANCESTRY.COM to handle our genealogy work properly. In the past, they have posted our work without permission, refused to remove trees once posted, and do not correct the information when corrections are submitted. This has resulted in a LOT of misinformation still rampant on the internet. Therefore, we do not trust them to handle tree info we submit for publishing books, posting, or anything else. I wish it weren't so, but I know firsthand. Still trying to get them to remove something submitted by mistake -- since 2000!
Posted by: Karen Howell | August 30, 2008 at 09:33 AM
I just decided to upgrade to FTM08 (have used but havent't had the time to download it yet. And now I find out that FTM09 just came out GREAT.
I wonder if I will be included in any of this????????/
Posted by: Joyce | August 30, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Karen, who is this "we" you are claiming to represent? How about if you speak for yourself and I'll handle the job of speaking for me?
Posted by: Zadruga Guy | August 30, 2008 at 09:54 AM
I have been using FTM Version 10 since it came out. I now have it installed in Windows Vista Ultimate and it seems to work fine, but I would like to eventually upgrade. The thing that keeps me from doing so is that I'm afraid that I won't be able to import my data files to the new version.
I've been checking and I have never seen any info on any backward compatability. Does anyone really know??
Posted by: Michael Sawyer | August 30, 2008 at 10:01 AM
What's wrong Zad...
Too much caffene?
Posted by: Michael Sawyer | August 30, 2008 at 10:10 AM
FREE UPGRADE ? I'll believe that when I see it.
Posted by: Charles Osterby | August 30, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Have received nothing about the 2009 update
Posted by: helen andrews | August 30, 2008 at 11:41 AM
For Michael Sawyer: Yes, FTM 16 and FTM 2008+ will import an FTM 10 file. It has been that way now over many versions.
Posted by: Lawrence Bouett | August 30, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Just wanted to be sure. Thanks Lawrence...
Posted by: Michael Sawyer | August 30, 2008 at 12:59 PM
I have FT 2008 and have not received a coupon yet. I am a registered my copy and wish that you would confirm this fact. I did use the 3 monthsfree to ancestry com.
Posted by: KEN FOX | August 30, 2008 at 04:52 PM
I have not received my coupon for the upgrade. I am registeed because I used the 3 month free Ancestry. Please confirm and when can I expect the coupon.
Ken Fox utha@aol.com
Posted by: KEN FOX | August 30, 2008 at 04:55 PM
I will add one comment: The Generations Network announced ON FRIDAY that they will be offering free upgrades and coupons and all that. This newsletter carried the news within a few hours of the announcement's release. I doubt if ANYONE has yet received the upgrade or the coupon as they probably haven't been sent out yet. It's too early. But I have no doubt that they will be sent some time within the next few weeks.
- Dick Eastman
Posted by: Dick Eastman | August 30, 2008 at 05:14 PM
This all makes me glad I have a MAC; and use Reunion.
Posted by: Wayne Gibson | August 30, 2008 at 06:10 PM
I'm still operating on version 16 since one of your reps advised against upgrading to version 08 when it first came out and had several problems. 16 has been working just fine and since I have 39,000 in the database, I hesitate to mess with anything else. I also have a paid membership to Ancestry. Maybe it's time to go to version 08 and 09??? What are your recommendations?
Posted by: Maynard Hiller | August 30, 2008 at 06:13 PM
I am still waiting for a reply about my dis-satisfaction with Family Tree Maker 2008. I will believe it when I see it also. I think that would be the least they could do after feeling SO cheated after purchasing that software!
Posted by: joanne willians | August 30, 2008 at 08:34 PM
Well, I heard so many bad things about FTM 2008 that last week I purchased and upgraded to FTM version 16 (is that 2007?) Looks like I won't be among those to get the free 2009 upgrade. Always a day late and a dollar short (or should that be a few days early!) Anyway, I did get the free 6 month supscripton to Ancestry.com with the version 16, so that was worth the price.
Posted by: Kate Foote | August 31, 2008 at 04:19 PM
Great!! I can hardly wait. PLease hurry.
Thank you,
Jackie Harper
Posted by: Jackie C. Harper | August 31, 2008 at 09:49 PM
Onen again, they talk the talk but fail to walk the walk.
31 Aug. 2008
Posted by: Paul | September 01, 2008 at 01:26 PM
I have a premium family tree legend, I'm not sure if it is a 2007 or 2008. Can I get a free upgrade to either the family tree maker or a upgrade to the family tree legend?
Bsrb
Posted by: Barbara Graser | September 01, 2008 at 01:37 PM