kim@mips.UUCP (Kim DeVaughn) (11/27/85)
[ ... go ahead, eat my bits ... ]
I called Micro-Systems Software again to check on their copy-protection
policy for "Online!". Before I could ask, Bill Phillips told me he had
quoted me an incorrect price.
The price isn't $99.95 ... it's $69.00 + $3.50 for UPS! Also, they had
actually left me a message on Compuserve to let me know about this. Nice
people! The $99.95 is for a different product that was on Bill's mind when
I talked to him previously; it's called "AmigaMail" (which will be their
BBS program for Amiga).
BTW, the existing BBS package (for the PC) I refered to as "RBBS" is really
called (appropriately enough) "BBS-PC".
Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.
When I asked about "copy-protection", I was told that "Online!" is NOT
copy-protected {emphasis Bill's}. Matter of fact, he sounded almost
offended that I even asked.
[ Climbing up onto soapbox ... ]
Seems that these people subscribe to the same philosophy as Borland: provide
a quality product at a reasonable price; provide *good* documentation in a
form that makes it painful and not cost-effective to copy; provide upgrades
and "real-time" support to registered owners; provide special arrangements
for educational and corporate users, such as site-licenses, etc. (the policy
at Micro-Systems Software for site-licenses is to purchase 10 copies).
No strange sectors, no laser-burns, no key-disks, no worms, and no dongles.
Also no problems with hard-disks, clones, new/unusual h/w configurations, etc.
But alot of customer satisfaction and loyalty (assuming the product itself
is good, of course).
[ Climbing down from soapbox, now ... ]
Soon as I get my copy, I'll post a review ... I just sent them a check (and
I never even saw a spec-sheet or an ad).
For the record: No, I have no connection with Micro-Systems Software other
than what I've stated (which has only been to talk to them
twice about their product), and yes, these are really only
my opinions ... also without copy-protection. Whew!
/kim
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