Xref: utzoo comp.unix.xenix:9582 comp.sys.ibm.pc:42607 comp.os.misc:1080
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!uw-entropy!dataio!pilchuck!ssc!fyl
From: fyl@ssc.UUCP (Phil Hughes)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.xenix,comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.os.misc
Subject: Re: Seeking opinions on ESIX
Keywords: UNIX,XENIX,386
Message-ID: <411@ssc.UUCP>
Date: 22 Jan 90 22:43:30 GMT
References: <127@centaure.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: SSC, Inc., Seattle, WA
Lines: 47

In article <127@centaure.UUCP>, cliff@centaure.UUCP (Clifford Dibble) writes:
> I just received literature for a product called "ESIX System V", from ESIX
> Systems Inc. of Fremont, California.

> I'd like to hear any opinions or comments -- especially from ESIX users.
> Thanx!

I have one system running ESIX (really ENIX, a previous name).  We were
one of the unofficial beta testers of the system.  I could say a lot of
good things about it as it is reliable and real system 5.3.2.  However,
the following amazing thing happened.

We originally were given the release as an "unoffical beta site" by the
then marketing manager of the project.  We did a lot of work with two
different releases including sending the development people lots of
corrections to the doucmentation.

Well, our contact left for another company.  Next we received a bill for
the release.  Rather than complain and as we were using it we paid the
bill.  Since that time I have found a bug in the console driver.  I called
the tech support people and they said it was fixed in Update C.  We have
update A.

We (myself and my boss) have called Ida Wu, the current product marketing
manager at least 6 times and left messages on voice mail.  We have never
received a call back.  I finally wrote a nasty letter that said that if I
didn't hear from them in two weeks I would send a copy of the letter to
the editors of the three UNIX magazines.  Subsequently we have sent that
letter, had one editor talk to Ms. Wu who assured him that it would all be
cleared up.

It hasn't.  We have been attempting to get an update (which we are willing
to pay for) for almost a year.  I don't understand what is going on as
other people seem to get stuff from them.  Everex (who owns the whole
mess) is a huge company.

I have hesitated posting this message for months as we sell reference
booklets for UNIX and XENIX and have attempted to maintain a reasonable
relationship with all the vendors but utter amazement has prompted me to
do this.

Maybe there is a black hole in their database around the name SSC or
something.  I don't know.  Good luck.

-- 
Phil Hughes, SSC, Inc. P.O. Box 55549, Seattle, WA 98155  (206)FOR-UNIX
     uunet!pilchuck!ssc!fyl or attmail!ssc!fyl            (206)527-3385