MOLTA@VAXB.ACS.UNT.EDU (01/09/90)
>>I assume you are referring to Ethernet on twisted-pair. The 10BaseT standard >>is unofficial at this point, but most people think it's pretty much set and >>several vendors are shipping 10BaseT equipment. PC cards are available from >>Networth and Cabletron, concentrators are available from Networth, Cabletron, >>David Systems, and probably several others. 3Com has also recently announced >>10BaseT products, but I'm not sure whether or not they're shipping. I expect >>to see a flood of product announcements from other major players in the next >>month or two. >Can someone explain to me how vendors can claim to be shipping 10BaseT >equipment when the standard is not yet set? Yes we all have a good idea as >to what the standard MAY be from the work of the 10BaseT committee. >However, until the standard IS set, no vendor can legitimately claim to be >shipping 10BaseT compliant hardware. So beware of vendor claims! They're >all jumping the gun claiming compliance to a standard not yet set to get a >jump in the marketplace. From what I understand in talking to people familiar with the IEEE procedures, it is fairly common for vendors to begin releasing products during the late draft stage of a standards setting process (10BaseT is now in Draft 9). Most of the major issues have already been agreed upon, and I don't think anyone is expecting any dramatic changes in the spec. However, just to be on the safe side, we're planning to add a clause to our bid specs that would require the vendor to make any changes necessary to bring the product into full 10BaseT compliance, if any changes are made prior to the final standard, at THEIR cost. We have talked to several vendors of 10BaseT products that have agreed to this provision. Dave Molta University of North Texas
acm@RELAY.PROTEON.COM (01/09/90)
Can someone explain to me how vendors can claim to be shipping 10BaseT
equipment when the standard is not yet set? Yes we all have a good
idea as to what the standard MAY be from the work of the 10BaseT
committee. However, until the standard IS set, no vendor can
legitimately claim to be shipping 10BaseT compliant hardware. So
beware of vendor claims! They're all jumping the gun claiming
compliance to a standard not yet set to get a jump in the marketplace.
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Well, that is marketing for you!!!
"Let the buyer beware!"
-Al