edusoft@ecf.toronto.edu (Educational Software) (02/18/88)
Does anyone out there have any idea what Softsmarts new phone number is? The number I have for them is (415)327-8100 and has been disconnected. I need the number to find out about development contracts, etc. Thanks, Rick...
ken@pdn.UUCP (Ken Auer) (02/22/88)
In article <479@mv03.ecf.toronto.edu> edusoft@mv03.ecf.UUCP (Educational Software) writes: >Does anyone out there have any idea what Softsmarts new phone number is? >The number I have for them is (415)327-8100 and has been disconnected. >I need the number to find out about development contracts, etc. > Thanks, > Rick... Steve Burbeck (Director of R&D, Softsmarts) has informed me that he has been trying to post an article explaining Softsmarts predicament, but his news feed has been having problems. He did send me a hardcopy of the article he has tried to post. Last I heard, he was still trying to post it, and I would rather not type it in (it's three full single-spaced pages long, and I think Steve should be the one to post it -- there's some fairly controversial stuff). However, I think many of you may like to find out what the first couple of lines say: "As of Jan 22, 1988, Softsmarts, the company that brought you Smalltalk-80 for PC/AT's, has ceased to do business. We are reluctantly filing for bankruptcy." Steve went on to give a lengthy description/analysis of the reasons for this predicament... I'd rather not go into it, however, at the risk of starting a major discussion without Steve (or any of the representatives of Softsmarts) being in on it... If you don't like my reluctance to do so (fill in here with your favorite insult :-). I will say that the people of Softsmarts sincerely regret any inconvenience they've caused to any of their customers... they just couldn't take the financial strain any longer. DISCLAIMER: I am not affiliated with Softsmarts in any way other than being an ex-customer -- anything I stated above is totally unofficial. (I hate legal hassles -- of course, no disclaimer can guarantee anything :-(. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ken Auer Paradyne Corporation {gatech,rutgers,attmail}!codas!pdn!ken Mail stop LF-207 Phone: (813) 530-8307 P.O. Box 2826 Largo, FL 34649-9981 "The views expressed above do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer, which by no means makes them incorrect."
dont@xios.XIOS.UUCP (Don Taylor) (03/03/88)
Its really sad to see a ST company go out of business, but I guess I am not surprised because they were charging a ludicrous amount of money for a PC/AT language package. I bought ST/V from Digitalk, I would have much preferred a 'real' ST-80 implementation, but there is no way that I can justify $1000 for it. I might have sprung upto $250, maybe... I am sure that I am not alone in this. Does anyone know why they charged so much? Is it because Xerox were outragious on their $ demands on Softsmarts, or did Softsmarts simply misjudge the market? If it is the former, then I guess we will never see a reasonably-priced ST-80 until someone straightens Xerox out. cheers, don. -- Don Taylor, XIOS Systems Corporation, ...!uunet!mnetor!dciem!nrcaer!xios!dont 1600 Carling Avenue, Suite 150, Ottawa, Ontario. K1Z 8R8 613-725-5411 Canada.