lauren@Rand-Unix.ARPA (04/17/84)
I'd like to open up a new topic for discussion -- that of software distribution issues. I'd be extremely interested in people's opinions as to when the options of: a) direct ordering from software sources or b) ordering through distributors are most desirable -- and in what sort of cases for each. I'm interested in this both as a consumer as as a software source -- I need to decide whether or not to deal with distributers for some of my upcoming releases. I'm also curious as to how people would feel about receiving software updates by phone (assuming the appropriate facilities were available) rather than by disk or tape. I've heard of attempts to do something like this, but I never heard how they turned out... Thanks much. --Lauren--
ABN.ISCAMS@Usc-Isid.ARPA (04/17/84)
Lauren (et al), I don't buy software from computer stores since (1) I don't believe their descriptions of product capabilities, (2) The demonstrations are specifically tailored to show the STRONG points and NEVER the weaknesses, (3) the salesmen usually know less about the software and my system/applications than I do. I do buy software from wholesale houses because (1) I assume (perhaps most stupidly) that they're more likely to have stacks of the product and manuals on their shelves than a cottage-industry programmer, (2) they're more likely to have someone "on duty" at a telephone when I call. I don't quite understand the definition of a "software source" -- would that be the programmer/author himself, or a software development firm like Borlund with their Turbo Pascal? I wouldn't mind buying from an individual, but would kind of anticipate him (1) being a little slower to respond to queries and orders IF he were doing well, (2) knowing his product very well, (3) being somewhat sensitive and defensive about complaints/criticisms, and (4) being much more likely to "disappear" if he didn't do well. I would also expect the individual to be somewhat unsupportive (read bored) with his older products. Of course all these cynical/pessimistic expectations about the individual would depend an awful lot on his actual performance/actions. Receiving updates (and even the original software code itself) via telephone: HECK, YES! I don't need a lousy floppy. I DO need the documentation or manual but via phone is fine for software, and might save us all costs (eliminating production and storage costs for dozens of different disk media). Would be most convenient two-way to correspond with the author with suggested patches a la our public domain world. How to pay? That question recently came up on the net when a fellow wanted to sell hardware and asked for arrangements. He didn't want to send hardware without money, and a buyer wouldn't want to send money without hardware! Donno - darned sure ain't gonna send MY credit card number over the net! I guess - send a check; when validated, the author/company calls you up and coordinates the download (or provides an RBBS for that). You coordinate download, and do it! Don't like it, rippedoff, buggy product, etc.: call the local Better Business Bureau, FBI (interstate, don't you know). Don't have Post Office support "interstate use of the mails" to help with cheats. Hope this gives you input to what you were asing... Regards, David Kirschbaum Toad Hall
farber@UDEL-EE.ARPA (04/18/84)
From: Dave Farber <farber@UDEL-EE.ARPA> I have had extensive problems dealing with distributors of most software and hardware. Usually they are inadequately informed about their product (software distributors being much worse in that aspect) and one ends up having to access the people who know via a very indirect route. My personal recommendation is NEVER to use a distributor if one can deal direct. I would have no problems with telephone update. It cannot be ever worse than people like Microsoft who charge for "expedited" service yet have taken two weeks after they received my money for Word and still NOTHING. Dave