CS656@OUACCVMB.BITNET (04/17/88)
> >I've tried several terminal programs, including ProTerm. I borrowed a friends > >copy, just to check it out. This really doesn't work. If you want to borrow a copy of a piece of software to see if it's worth buying then borrow the manual too. I've never used ProTerm but I know a guy who "borrowed" a copy of Appleworks to see if he liked it. He not only decided that Appleworks was worthless but spread that news all over his lab and the campus. His complaint? You can't do block deletes or move data between different files. When I asked him about using the clipboard his reply was; Huh? what's a clipboard.
davidbrierley@lynx.northeastern.edu (05/22/89)
I think borrowing software is a great idea in deciding whether or not
to buy it (as long as you don't make your own copy). Unfortunately the
software publishers of the United States don't think so. They have spent
quite a bit of money lobbying Senator Hatch to create a bill that makes
any and all borrowing of recorded media (computer disks, cassette tapes,
etc.) illegal. (And I always thought that conservatives like Hatch
opposed "big government" legislation - I suppose Hatch needs the software
publishers' campaign contributions more than the contributions of his
constituents.) I don't know when this bill is scheduled for debate/voting -
I think it is still in committee.
I find it disappointing that software publishers (probably not all of
them) have thought it better to spend money on lobbying to create laws
against consumers instead of adding to the funds for customer support of their
products. Perhaps its time to create legislation for the direct benefit of
sotware users, like requiring software publishers that have substantial
numbers of a product in circulation to have toll-free numbers for customer
support. Too bad the software users don't have enough lobbying funds as the
publishers do!
davidbrierley@lynx.northeastern.edurs.miller@pro-sol.cts.com (Randy Miller) (05/22/89)
Network Comment: to #7482 by pnet01!crash!lynx.northeastern.edu!davidbrierley David, You might think of the fun this creates for libraries (or those libraries that have software that they will allow patrons to borrow). I don't advocate piracy myself (I work for a developer and THAT pays my bills every two weeks). However, libraries are caught in the middle of this debate right now. If the bill passes, a good many libraries are going to have one humongeous problem on their hand! (Since I'm a full-fledged MLS holder, I don't want to see this happen either, ESPECIALLY when it comes down to intellectual freedom issues, a can of worms that I as an overworked technician/librarian don't want to get into at this time.) Randy Miller rs.miller@pro-harvest
rs.miller@pro-harvest.UUCP (Randy Miller) (05/24/89)
Network Comment: to #1069 by pnet01!crash!pro-sol.cts.com!rs.miller As a postscript to my comment to !lynx.northeastern.edu!davidbierly about the mess libraries would be in if Senator Hatch has his way: the latest (May 15, 1989) issue of Library Journal has a blurb in its news column stating that an exemption for libraries has been included in this bill; therefore, while piracy may still be rampant, at LEAST non-print media may still be borrowed (that is, unless a library's board restricts borrowing privleges, which would be a crying shame if they do.) Randy Miller rs.miller@pro-harvest