Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!apple!rutgers!rochester!pt.cs.cmu.edu!o.gp.cs.cmu.edu!MAPS.CS.CMU.EDU!matt
From: matt@MAPS.CS.CMU.EDU (Matthew Diamond)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hypercard
Subject: Re: HyperCard 2.0
Keywords: System software, Hypercard
Message-ID: <1990Sep10.213957.11649@cs.cmu.edu>
Date: 10 Sep 90 21:39:57 GMT
References: <378@irst.UUCP> <44630@apple.Apple.COM> <2577@east.East.Sun.COM>
Sender: netnews@cs.cmu.edu (USENET News Group Software)
Reply-To: matt@MAPS.CS.CMU.EDU (Matthew Diamond)
Organization: Carnegie Mellon University
Lines: 38

In article <2577@east.East.Sun.COM>, msmiller@gonzoville.Eng.Sun.COM
(Mark Miller) writes:
|> 
|> I just hope your higher-ups realize the damage they're doing. It will
|> take years before people ever again believe a ship date for Apple
|> software - that is, when a date is given - which ain't even happening
|> now. The only thing worse than being constantly given later and later
|> ship dates is being given no ship dates whatsoever.
|> 

I'm kinda peeved too-- BUT:
I remember the fuss on one of the games bboards over Ultima VI, which
was very buggy when released.  "Why oh why couldn't they wait 6 months,"
everyone said.  "As responsible consumers we must encourage quality
in software products, reward those companies who take the time to put
out working software, even if we have to wait longer, etc."

Here we are, doing the exact opposite.

Now, not many people here were posting over there, but I think many people
share the view that we should encourage companies not to release products
that they KNOW has bugs, just because they can patch it up later.
The people who pay are the users who lose time/data dealing with the
buggy programs, even if they get a fixed version later.

Here's what I'm trying to say.  YES, it would be nice if Apple told us what the
delay was about (bugs, marketing decision, what?).  YES, I think Apple
should put it on the net when it comes out.  YES, they should give us
an idea as to how long a delay we're looking at (weeks, couple months,
1/2 year?).  NO, Apple should not feel pressured to cite an exact date.
ABOVE ALL, **NO** we should not pressure Apple to release software which
obviously just isn't ready yet.  Because if they do, we'll be the first
complaining about the bugs.

In other words, be careful what you wish for, you might get it.

Matthew Diamond
matt@maps.cs.cmu.edu