[comp.sys.mac] International Adventures

Mike_G_Newman@cup.portal.com (02/01/89)

Those of you following this column know that I have had a variety 
of adventures of late dealing with vendors of Mac products.  An 
update:

I finally got my Jasmine Direct Drive 45 -- about 60 days after I 
ordered it.  It came via DHL, with no hint as to the reason for 
the delay.  Anyway, it is heaven compared to my old serial HD-20.

I received a second copy of Lishtspeed Pascal 2.0.  Both were 
mailed on the same day (12/8/88), both had international postage 
(not necessary) and both had customs declaration forms (also not 
necessary) filled out by the same clerk.  I still haven't 
received Just Enough Pascal, although I ordered it the same time 
as I ordered the LSP 2.0 upgrade.  However, Symantec has charged 
my credit card for JEP.  (Actually, they charged, credited and 
then charged again!)

No written word yet from Microsoft on an upgrade to Word 4.0.  
(You'll recall that I received an early AM phone call from a MS 
marketing rep who told me that international customers don't get 
upgrade notices from MS.)  Interestingly enough, our local 
dealer, back in the States to attend MacExpo, reported that he 
attended a meeting with Bill Gates at which Gates expressed 
surprise at our dealer's report that his customers don't get 
upgrade notices.  I wonder if Gates will get things fixed for us?

I just received today my copy of the October 88 APDA Catalog in 
which it is announced that Apple is taking over APDA.  I kind of 
wondered why I got the second APDA enrollment form from Apple 
earlier this year.  Incidentally, both Apple and APDA think I'm 
foreign, too.  I was required to fill out the 'Product End-Use 
Questionnaire' and sign the 'Letter of Assurance'.  (Note, 
however, that Jasmine had no trouble shipping DEScryptor to me.  
This makes me think that our rather unique status might make good 
fodder for a spy novel: Evil Russian agents steal Jasmine Hard 
Drive with DES encryption software enabling Ministry of 
Agriculture to securely encrypt data about failed wheat 
harvest....)

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*   Michael G Newman          |  Mike_G_Newman@cup.portal.com     *
*   Now or Never              |  sun!cup.portal.com!Mike_G_Newman *
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