Established in 1984, Mistral is proud to be widely considered the 'generic' software system provider for the refrigeration & air conditioning industry. In its domestic market, Mistral software is used by more than 85% of UK refrigeration & air conditioning contracting firms and programs have been distributed to over 15,000 users in more than 100 countries around the world.

Q & A

Q Will Mistral send us a 'demo'?

A Sorry but no. Microsoft won't send you a demo of their software either. For a very modest fee you may purchase a short term trial if you wish and the cost of this will be refunded if you convert to a full licence but we have no interest in helping people* to win contract orders using Mistral software but never offering to pay for it. Nor do we wish to aid would be plagiarists and other similar parasitic free-loaders.

*As indeed nor do their competitors, our loyal customer base, who benefit from use of our product and which they have paid for.

Q We have seen Mistral software and are very impressed. Will you send us the source code so we can examine it for verification purposes?

A Yes, if you send 2 large trucks to collect all the data, along with cleared funds for 20 million US Dollars.

Q Does Mistral offer any guarantee?

A Yes, of course. Mistral meets and even offers to exceed its legal obligations. Against return to Mistral of the media upon which access registration to Mistral intellectual property is provided Mistral will refund in full the purchase price paid for any product that can be proven to not perform as stated. In Mistral's history to date no claim for refund has ever been demanded.

Q Why are Mistral licence fees based upon staff head count rather than actual number of users of your programs?

A Because with Mistral software one person can do work that would require perhaps scores of people to do manually. It is not fair on small firms with just two or three staff to pay the same as firms employing perhaps thousands of staff. Even though both companies have the same number of staff operating the programs. More

Q Does Mistral provide full technical support?

A Yes, of course. Twenty four hours a day, seven days a week and for every day of the year. However you will find it is seldom necessary. We cannot become involved though in actual case studies. Only in technical matters arising from use of our programs.

Q If we send an email asking for help, how long does it usually take Mistral to respond?

A Mistral usually responds within a couple of hours. Wherever you are located in the world! Our desks are managed 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. Even during our own national holidays. However, just as we suspect you might be, we are also very busy. If we provide a solution and you do not have the courtesy of letting us know within a reasonable amount of time that it worked then the next time you contact us our response might take as long as a week!

Q Does Mistral provide telephone support?

A Sorry no. Not normally anyway. Just like Microsoft. There is a good reason for this policy however. In the days when Mistral did provide a 'Telephone Help Desk' we were answering too many questions that had nothing whatsoever to do with our products. The cost to us for providing this was forcing us to increase the prices we charged you by around 15%. Since making people think about their perceived problem sufficiently to have to write about it requests for support dropped by a staggering 98%! If you really do feel you must talk to someone then email us with a brief description of your problem along with your telephone number and the best time (local time to you) that you can be reached (without risk of you being interrupted or otherwise distracted) and we will call you. Thus saving you the price of the telephone call!

Q Are Mistral programs supplied with Help pages or manuals?

A Yes. Both Help pages, which are 'dynamically focused' so the right help page should automatically appear (when F1 is hit) and also colour illustrated manuals.

Q What units of measurement do Mistral programs use?

A Both SI (metric) and Imperial. Converting every unit, every text description, every algorithm and equation, without accumulating 'rounding errors', instantly, at any time.

Q Who checks and verifies the proprietary data in Mistral programs?

A Of the hundreds of millions of individual items of (usually interactive) proprietary data accompanying all Mistral programs then the owners of that data always verify its accuracy and approve its release. Usually the manufacturers of products or their officially appointed representatives or distributors.

Q Can Mistral programs make a mistake?

A No. Not any technical error anyway. Literally hundreds of thousands of hours of highly skilled work at costs running into millions has been spent ensuring that sophisticated error handling routines work properly. It is not though possible to identify and intercept every possible human error but even then the programs will spot most and certainly all those that could be commercially damaging. Many other software developers cannot make or prove the same claim! If you don't believe us then ask them!

Q Can we make copies and give them to our friends?

A You can try but it is illegal and through sophisticated covert code tracking systems you will most likely be discovered. You will then face the prospect of a hefty fine, almost certainly a criminal record and in extreme, blatant cases even a jail term.

Q There must be dozens of different combinations of computer platform coupled with scores of different monitor types and keyboards, all using a wide range of different regional variations, even different decimal point systems (some using commas, some using full stops). Has Mistral ever encountered a computer set-up to which it couldn't successfully install the programs?

A Not 'dozens' of different combinations but thousands and the answer is still no. Mistral has never failed to get an installation working.

Q Who in our firm will be authorised under the licence to access Mistral software?

A If you purchase a licence for single user access then it will be just one person. If you purchase a 'Corporate Licence' then everyone in your organisation will be authorised. From the very occasional user (such as the Chairman) to each and every Engineer and Salesperson.

Q Do we have to pay for upgrades?

A Yes (and no!). If you purchase a 'Lifetime' Licence then if you change your computer's Operating System in the future and this renders previously written computer code unusable then you must pay to have the upgraded software. Naturally, it doesn't grow on trees! However, if you join Mistral's 'Corporate Licence' scheme then all future upgrade charges are amortised within a guaranteed fixed annual fee.

Q If we make a late payment for our annual Corporate Licence fee will the period run from the date you receive our payment?

A No. It will run from the anniversary of the original date you started the contract. If you were denied access to our intellectual property for any period due to late payment then you lose that time forever. You may start a new contract of course but this may (indeed most likely will be!) at a new and regrettably higher price. That way Mistral remains in business and you continue to receive the best software available to our industry.

Q Can we ask for a discount?

A Yes. You may ask.

Q If we ask for a discount will we be granted one?

A No. Our prices are already fair and considering how much time and money they will save you, are very modest.

Mission statement:

"Bringing the benefits of computerisation to our industry - without the historically associated problems."