karl@sugar.UUCP (Karl Lehenbauer) (03/28/88)
I don't think these ad hoc usenet projects are stable enough in the long term to support something like this. Also, I don't think we can speak as Usenet - we'd have to call it something else. Further, what incentive does a software vendor have to get their products approved? None, unless software purchasers demand it (and they probably won't, at least not on their own) or the vendors are made to feel the heat in other ways, like by being continuously flamed in AmigaWorld and Amazing Computing for writing badly behaved, buggy software. -- "Weekends were made for programming." -me ..!uunet!nuchat!sugar!karl, Unix BBS (713) 438-5018
peter@sugar.UUCP (Peter da Silva) (03/28/88)
I've been staying out of this discussion because I have the same problems with it as Karl. Who's gonna care about the USOA? Perhaps Fred Fish can help. He's got an in at Amazing Computing. If AC starts publishing the USOA ratings for programs that are already out there (who wants to review TextCraft? :->), then we can start pulling in manufacturers. We need someone to write an article setting down the criteria and send it to AC (or maybe Transactor, even). Then next month we start the reviews. The published reviews should merely consist of a list of things wrong with the program, perhaps some scaling, then a final score. Low scores are better. -- -- Peter da Silva `-_-' ...!hoptoad!academ!uhnix1!sugar!peter -- Disclaimer: These U aren't mere opinions... these are *values*.
ain@s.cc.purdue.edu (Patrick White) (03/30/88)
In article <1770@sugar.UUCP> karl@sugar.UUCP (Karl Lehenbauer) writes: >I don't think these ad hoc usenet projects are stable enough in the long >term to support something like this. I disagree.. moderation is pretty stable despite the fact that it is usenet based and the moderators change... in fact, it is probably even *more* stable to the outside now because we are a group rather than a single person. So, I think this *can* work, but it may require some fairly dedicated people to get it started... but at least it is being started as a group project rather than one person trying to do it all. >Further, what incentive does a software vendor have to get their products >approved? None, unless software purchasers demand it (and they probably >won't, at least not on their own) True, but if the requirememnts are made well known, it might become a point that the purchasers use when selecting software.. I know that a rating that says if a program will multitask, or runs with extended memory would have some bearing when *I* decide to purchase a piece of software. >"Weekends were made for programming." -me :-) -- Pat White ARPA/UUCP: k.cc.purdue.edu!ain BITNET: PATWHITE@PURCCVM PHONE: (317) 743-8421 U.S. Mail: 320 Brown St. apt. 406, West Lafayette, IN 47906
joe@lakesys.UUCP (Joe Pantuso) (03/30/88)
have official backing. Expires: References: <503@cunixc.columbia.edu> <1770@sugar.UUCP> Sender: Reply-To: joe@lakesys.UUCP (Joe Pantuso) Followup-To: Distribution: na Organization: Lake Systems - Milwaukee, WI Keywords: In article <1770@sugar.UUCP> karl@sugar.UUCP (Karl Lehenbauer) writes: >I don't think these ad hoc usenet projects are stable enough in the long >term to support something like this. Also, I don't think we can speak >as Usenet - we'd have to call it something else. Further, what incentive >does a software vendor have to get their products approved? None, unless >software purchasers demand it (and they probably won't, at least not on >their own) or the vendors are made to feel the heat in other ways, like >by being continuously flamed in AmigaWorld and Amazing Computing for writing >badly behaved, buggy software. >-- >"Weekends were made for programming." -me >..!uunet!nuchat!sugar!karl, Unix BBS (713) 438-5018 Admittedly it could be unstable, that's why I'm being careful. Concern has be voiced over funding, I will take care of it (plus any kind souls out there) and I have had offers from potential reviewers to pay their own shipping, they don't mind. Somone said they beleived there could be sticky legal implications involving the net; I have not been flamed by any Netgods, and several higher-ups have offered to review. My node administrator has consulted a lawyer as well, there are no problems. You aren't considering the way a company sells their product. NOONE goes out to the store to buy a product they never heard of (though they do browse). When a company submits an item to us they know that several hundred to several thousand people will read the reviews (I've had quite a few offers to post on bbs's, some 20 bbs's now with 80-400+ users on each). So for only the cost of thier product they get BIG advertising return. The actual cost to a company for a product is quite a bit smaller than the shelf price, and their return is that many times greater. I think we can speak for the net, we are the net. If you think you are the net and aren't being represented then say so... We might call it somthing else anyway, but U-R's is so catchy ;-) -Joe