Xara dead - is it true?

[davezub]

Lets put this in perspective:

My company, through programs like early retirement, just reduced our work force by several hundred.

Enron, Worldcom, massive layoffs (several thousands) here in the states and around the world.

Most world economies are not doing very well.

Companies, especially those in the IT, software, hardware restructure more than I shave <grin>.

I just say, Xara has great products that will continue to sell if we support them. I'm glad Kate commented and basically closed this subject, becasue many users thinking about purchasing Xara come here and lurk. If I were a newbie, I would think twice about purchasing Xara products after seeing the initial post/rumor.

Serif = Yuck
Kate/Xara = Great!

Dave Zubrowski

Xara FAQ

[rheaton]

It's everywhere in the technology sectors. I saw a news report last night stating that around 6000 people have been laid off in the Research Triangle Park here in NC over the last month or so.

[joroho]

I, for one, would much rather hear from you with bad news than no news.

.joroho.

http://www.joroho.com/initials.gif

[carygee]

Well, I had dismissed all the second-guessing about XaraX's assured future. Then I read this:

"...Yes, Xara Group made some redundancies in May but NO, we have not laid off all our developers and yes, we are continuing to develop software, including client side graphics software..." (Kate Moir)

IMHO, not exactly what I would call a ringing endorsement of the continued development of XaraX.

It's what wasn't said that makes me think that all the hub-bub may just have a kernel of truth...

[carygee]

Well, I had dismissed all the second-guessing about XaraX's assured future. Then I read this:

"...Yes, Xara Group made some redundancies in May but NO, we have not laid off all our developers and yes, we are continuing to develop software, including client side graphics software..." (Kate Moir)

IMHO, not exactly what I would call a ringing endorsement of the continued development of XaraX.

It's what wasn't said that makes me think that all the hub-bub may just have a kernel of truth... [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]

[RAMWolff44]

That's good enough for me. Still didn't hear from Serif about what's going on on their end. Silence is deafening sometimes.........but I am relieved to hear that all is well in Xara Land!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Richard [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

---Wolff On The Prowl---

[Sheff]

Thank you Kate for your response. The only reason I said that the website hasn't been updated since May is that the May 30th news entry is the last one.

As a user of Xara X, I don't need to go back to the Xara website unless I'm purchasing something.

Sheffield Abella
sheff@sheff.com
www.sheff.com

[RAMWolff44]

Hi Richard,

Thanks for your enquiry.

As you would probably expect I can't make any official comment about what we
know of Xara's development capacity at the moment as it wouldn't be
particularly fair or ethical. I can confirm that Serif is expanding its
development team due to our continued growth and, while I cannot disclose
the employment history of any of our employees for confidentiality reasons,
our timing has been fortunate in that we have been able to recruit some of
the best talent in the industry.

Naturally, as a fellow UK-based software business, we wish Xara and its
customers well. The company has a well-deserved reputation for the quality
of its software and we do not relish the thought of any other British
products potentially disappearing from the shelves.

Having said all that, we're in the business of creating more best-selling
titles so if you, or any of your fellow 'Xarans' want to let us know what
you would like us to add to our products to win you over to the Serif-side,
let us know and we'll work on it!! ;-)

Kind regards,

Dale

Dale Cook
Serif (Europe) Ltd.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

---Wolff On The Prowl---

[roman]

Why this thread is still unlocked... .

[stlewis]

Having been through difficult times in various companies, I feel sorry for management. If they keep quiet everybody says they are trying to hide something, if they say something people say they are not giving the whole story. However, often they just don't know, it hasn't been decided etc.

People here have made reasonable assumptions - that Xara are not rolling in money, that they have just some to the end of a major development cycle, etc.

Keep the thread open, be positive about the products and let's help Xara sell them too.

www.bricksandbrass.co.uk