rob@genrad.UUCP (Rob Wood) (12/06/83)
I received my USENIX distribution tape. The tape had the dull side out. I thought that this was wrong. I sent uucp mail to the office and was told to return the tape. I did. They sent the tape back to me, with no letter or anything, with the tape on the reel with the dull side out. I wrote a letter to them and enclosed it with my tape sending it back a second time saying I thought the tape was on backwards. Today I received back the tape. The same tape. No change. Still the dull side out. All tapes I have in my computer room, from 4 different manufacturers have the shiny side out. Am I completely wrong in this? Or is this another proof that our $300 dues is being misused. I requested a copy of the financial report of the association. No reply. No comments. Nothing. This net provides me with more programs than USENIX, and people here reply! Rob Wood (decvax!genrad!rob)
dhb@rayssd.UUCP (12/07/83)
Just one question before I agree/disagree about the incompetence of the USENIX people. Did you TRY to read the tape??? All tape is not created equal and I have seen several brands of tape that appear dull on the outside. -- Dave Brierley Raytheon Co.; Portsmouth RI; (401)-847-8000 x4073 ...!decvax!brunix!rayssd!dhb ...!allegra!rayssd!dhb ...!linus!rayssd!dhb
ldl@genix.UUCP (12/11/83)
I am not suggesting defending or accusing Usenix, but, I have seen tapes
that look 'backwards' and were NOT. If I recall, Scotch 'Blackwatch' tape
is of this class. The general rule that I follow is to try to load the
tape. If it turns out that the tape they sent you was GOOD, won't you feel
kind of silly? I sure would. Did you even try to load the tape? I sure would
have, prior to 'flaming'. Best to be sure, I figure. If on the slight
chance it is bad (Usenix wouldn't have any reason to 'delay' distribution
would it?), then file your 'lamentations'.
Made the same mistake myself,
Larry Landis
--
Spoken: Larry Landis
USnail: 5201 Sooner Trail NW
Albuquerque, NM 87120
MaBell: (505)-898-9666
UUCP: {ucbvax,gatech,parsec}!unmvax!genix!ldldmmartindale@watrose.UUCP (Dave Martindale) (12/12/83)
I have seen perfectly good tape which had the duller of the two sides out. The backing of the tape was actually duller than the oxide - it may have been some kind of coating to keep it from curling, or to reduce static electricity problems. In any case, given modern tape drives, it would be rather unlikely for someone to ship you a tape with the oxide on the wrong side. Since the drive reads what it has written after writing it, the USENIX people would have to either reverse the tape after writing it (!), or not bother writing on it at all. Most likely, you got a perfectly good tape that didn't match your idea of where the "dull side" should be. Did you, perchance, try reading it before sending it back?
rob@genrad.UUCP (Rob Wood) (12/14/83)
I posted an article about receiving the same tape back from USENIX with the dull side out. Today I received a call from their office explaining what happened. Each time, they sent me a new tape. They moved the label over to the new reel each time with my membership number, so the tape just appeared to be the same. I was able to read the tape on my machine. They, and many other responders to my article, pointed out that there are some manufacturers that make tape that way. The reel I have is Scotch 700, and a call to our dealer said that it is not the dull side, but appears to be duller than the inside. I have learned. I thought after 3 tries I was safe in posting to the net. Had a letter or note been returned with one of the replacement tapes, this might all have been avoided. If I had called them direct it might have been avoided. I am sorry for the insin- uaton in the title of my article. I also received a call from a Director of USENIX. She said that the office would be happy to send me a copy of the complete financial report. She also wanted to hear of any other problems I felt with USENIX and that the directors were interested in feedback. I shall send her my comments. The net works. I received many nice comments from people about the tape problem, and some response from 2 people within USENIX. I shall approach the organization with a more positive attitude now. Rob Wood (decvax!genrad!rob)