Webmaster Forum / ColdFusion / Getting Started / January 2007

Are you going to host this site yourself, or do you need CF for strictly
development purposes, where you will upload your pages to web host?

The differences between the versions are clearly covered on the Adobe
ColdFusion web page, so no point in covering that here.

[quote]Is there any specific advantage of purchasing version 7? I
require it for a simple e-commerce website. Will versions 4.5 or even
version 5 be useful for running the application smoothly? [/quote]

Between Version 5 and Version 6 (MX) ColdFusion was completely rewritten
changing it from a C++ code base to a Java code base.  At every upgrade,
many fixes and enhancements where added.  I would suggest the newest
version, as version 8 is expected out this year, so even the earliest MX
(version 6) is nearly 5 years old now.

[quote]whats the difference between standard, professional and
enterprise editions?[/quote]

The three versions of ColdFusion are Development, Standard and
Enterprise.  IIRC Standard may have been called "Professional" in
previous editions of ColdFusion.

Development:  This is a free for download version that is all one would
need, if one is not hosting their own web server.  If you will be using
a Hosting provider, they are the one who would need to have the licensed
copy.  You can get by with a development version running locally.

Standard:  This one is for the smaller users of ColdFusion.  It does
nearly everything the Enterpise version does, except Gateways,
Multi-home and J2EE installations.  If you are running your own web
servers but do not need load balancing, multiple and completely separate
ColdFusion applications, or Gateways the Standard should be adequate.

Enterprise:  This the largest version.  This has the full capabilites,
including multi-home and J2EE installations, gateways and more.

Changing between one version and another is simple a matter of providing
an appropriate license key to any CF installation.

http://www.adobe.com/products/coldfusion/productinfo/product_editions/

For more details then I have time to write.

[quote]However from coldfusion website, version 6.01 is free to upgrade
for existing customers that have either versions 4.5 or v5.[/quote]

That is an incorrect statement.  The quote I believe you are referring
to is this one. "Free Upgrade to ColdFusion MX 6.1 For existing
ColdFusion MX customers, 6.1 is a free upgrade."  As the quote refers to
'ColdFusion MX customers', version 4.5 and 5 where NOT MX editions.  MX
started with ColdFusion 6.0.

As with all ColdFusion servers to date, incremental upgrades are free.
So it is free to upgrade from 6.0 to 6.1.  Just as it is free to upgrade
from 7.0 to 7.0.1 to 7.0.2, the latest version.

[strike]To upgrade from 4.5 or 5 to 6 will cost money.  Possible less
money then purchasing a new 6.1 license, but it is not free.  Now if you
can get a version of 4.5 or 5 for less then the savings on the upgrade
you may save a small amount.  But make sure this is going to work for
you.[/strike]

STRIKE that last paragraph.  I just found this passage on the Adobe Site

[quote]
Upgrade Pricing

While ColdFusion MX 6.1 can still be purchased from the Macromedia
online store, upgrade pricing is no longer available. For information on
upgrade pricing to the latest ColdFusion release—ColdFusion MX 7—visit
the ColdFusion MX 7 Upgrade Guide
[http://www.adobe.com/products/coldfusion/productinfo/upgrade/].[/quote]

I am not sure that buying an older version is any cheaper than the new
version... is it? Can you even buy version 5 anymore?

Not to mention the upgrade process can be completely avoided by buying the
current version.