wnp@iiasa.AT (wolf paul) (08/31/90)
In article <2950@anasaz.UUCP> chad@anasaz.UUCP (Chad R. Larson) writes: }In article <152@grumbly.UUCP> root@grumbly.UUCP (rb duc) writes: }+--------------- }| Microport is shipping v4.0 *right now* and has been for *over a month*. }| I wouldn't count out a v3.2 either. }+--------------- }I talked to them yesterday. They ("Brian") said there would be an }upgrade to SysVr3.2 for the 286 in the future, as the overseas market }(which is a big one for their 286 port) wants that more than SysVr4. }They have been shipping Release 4.0 for the 386 and 486 for about a }month (non-beta versions) and have shipped over 200 copies. They are }also shipping SysVr3 for the 386. It would be REALLY USEFUL if someone OFFICIAL from MICROPORT could comment on all this, posting from "uport" so we know it's from the horse's mouth. We've had randy@rls say there will be no 386/3.2, chad@anasaz quoting Brian@Microport as saying there will be a 286/3.2, etc. If Microport does not want to produce a 386/3.2 product, and if AT&T will not allow a discounted upgrade path from V.3 to V.4, they could at least make a bulk purchase of AT&T, Intel or ESIX 3.2 and offer that at a nominal price as an update to their old 3.0e customers. If they are not going to offer any kind of update/upgrade path for owners of their 386/3.0e product, then I personally think that we should all forget about doing business with them. With the exception of a few employees like John Plocher and John Sully, the "old" Microport has never done very much to develop or even retain customer loyalty, and it sounds like the "new" Microport is no better. -- Wolf N. Paul, IIASA, A - 2361 Laxenburg, Austria, Europe PHONE: +43-2236-71521-465 FAX: +43-2236-71313 UUCP: uunet!iiasa.at!wnp INTERNET: wnp%iiasa.at@uunet.uu.net BITNET: tuvie!iiasa!wnp@awiuni01.BITNET * * * * Kurt Waldheim for President (of Mars, of course!) * * * *
randy@rls.UUCP (Randall L. Smith) (09/02/90)
In article <863@iiasa.UUCP>, wnp@iiasa.AT (wolf paul) writes: > It would be REALLY USEFUL if someone OFFICIAL from MICROPORT could > comment on all this, posting from "uport" so we know it's from the > horse's mouth. Agreed. > We've had randy@rls say there will be no 386/3.2, chad@anasaz quoting > Brian@Microport as saying there will be a 286/3.2, etc. My comments were based on information I received from Peter Tostado, the sales manager at Microport. I'm not pretending to represent their views but just my understanding to contribute to uor mutual growth. Additionally, all I care to refer to is the 386 product in this news group. Ah, I see somebody has generously crossposted to the unix pc universe. > If they are not going to offer any kind of update/upgrade path for > owners of their 386/3.0e product, then I personally think that we > should all forget about doing business with them. Forgive my ignorance, and please explain the benefits of an "upgrade path" when 4.0 will deliver all that 3.2 has and more. If its price you're worried about, my guess is it should be announced when the "official" release comes out. Just curious. Cheers! - randy Usenet: randy@rls.uucp Bangpath: ...<backbone>!osu-cis!rls!randy Internet: rls!randy@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu %CC-I-ANACRONISM, The operator is an obsolete form and may not be portable.
rduc@uport.UUCP (Richard Ducoty) (09/02/90)
randy@rls.UUCP (Randall L. Smith) writes: >In article <863@iiasa.UUCP>, wnp@iiasa.AT (wolf paul) writes: >> It would be REALLY USEFUL if someone OFFICIAL from MICROPORT could >> comment on all this, posting from "uport" so we know it's from the >> horse's mouth. >Agreed. I'll try to answer some of these questions, I work at Microport - but I don't determine policy or products. >> We've had randy@rls say there will be no 386/3.2, chad@anasaz quoting >> Brian@Microport as saying there will be a 286/3.2, etc. There is a good possibility of a 386/3.2.2 upgrade and *upgrade path* as for a 286/3.2 ??? not that I know of. You must understand companies don't like to tell the world their game plan. Most companies wouldn't even tell you this much. So until product announcements are actually made - *all* of this is just speculation - and anyone who tries to tell you different is just guessing. >> If they are not going to offer any kind of update/upgrade path for >> owners of their 386/3.0e product, then I personally think that we >> should all forget about doing business with them. Where did you get the idea we wouldn't offer an upgrade path from 3.0 -> 3.2 if 3.2 becomes available? >Forgive my ignorance, and please explain the benefits of an "upgrade path" >when 4.0 will deliver all that 3.2 has and more. If its price you're >worried about, my guess is it should be announced when the "official" >release comes out. Just curious. Some people might not need all the power of 4.0 - version 3.x can still do a lot and it isn't a large as 4.0. If a person were upgrading from 3.0 he could go to 3.2 for less money than 4.0. Richard Ducoty Microport Inc. -- Richard Ducoty Microport uunet!{amdahl,amdcad}!netcom!uport!rduc Scotts Valley, CA claris!netcom!uport!rduc 408 438-8649
wnp@iiasa.AT (wolf paul) (09/04/90)
In article <341@uport.UUCP> rduc@uport.UUCP (Richard Ducoty) writes:
)There is a good possibility of a 386/3.2.2 upgrade and *upgrade path*
)as for a 286/3.2 ??? not that I know of. You must understand companies
)don't like to tell the world their game plan. Most companies wouldn't
)even tell you this much. So until product announcements are actually
)made - *all* of this is just speculation - and anyone who tries to tell
)you different is just guessing.
I realize this. But in light of the way the "old" Microport went out
-- amid a **LOT** of customer dissatisfaction -- it seems to me that
you could recover a lot of good-will from past customers by making
some announcement to your old users of what your plans are for
regaining their loyalty. If you don't attempt to regain their loyalty,
they could really hamper your effort to develop new customers.
)>> If they are not going to offer any kind of update/upgrade path for
)>> owners of their 386/3.0e product, then I personally think that we
)>> should all forget about doing business with them.
)
)Where did you get the idea we wouldn't offer an upgrade path from
)3.0 -> 3.2 if 3.2 becomes available?
I didn't mean to say that you wouldn't do this if you had a 3.2; there
seemed to be doubt from people who sounded like they knew what they
were talking about whether you would even produce a 3.2. I think you
owe it to customers of the 3.0e product to produce and offer 3.2
at reasonable terms.
)>Forgive my ignorance, and please explain the benefits of an "upgrade path"
)>when 4.0 will deliver all that 3.2 has and more. If its price you're
)>worried about, my guess is it should be announced when the "official"
)>release comes out. Just curious.
It is my understanding that AT&T might make it difficult for vendors
like Microport, SCO etc. to offer a 3.x -> 4.x upgrade path. They seem
to consider it a new product rather than a new release of an old one.
I am not expecting Microport to do more than other vendors -- but
all others offered 3.2 updates.
)Some people might not need all the power of 4.0 - version 3.x can still
)do a lot and it isn't a large as 4.0. If a person were upgrading from
)3.0 he could go to 3.2 for less money than 4.0.
Right, and for a personal system that might be all one needs,
especially if a 3.2 had such things as "#!/bin/sh" recognition, like
ISC's latest, and networking stuff like NFS.
--
Wolf N. Paul, IIASA, A - 2361 Laxenburg, Austria, Europe
PHONE: +43-2236-71521-465 FAX: +43-2236-71313 UUCP: uunet!iiasa.at!wnp
INTERNET: wnp%iiasa.at@uunet.uu.net BITNET: tuvie!iiasa!wnp@awiuni01.BITNET
* * * * Kurt Waldheim for President (of Mars, of course!) * * * *