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From: vnend@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (D. W. James)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps
Subject: Re: UUCP and NEWS on the Mac
Message-ID: <3433@idunno.Princeton.EDU>
Date: 18 Oct 90 16:34:54 GMT
References: <9350002@hp-ptp.HP.COM> <1990Oct11.202517.23699@oswego.Oswego.EDU>
Sender: news@idunno.Princeton.EDU
Organization: Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
Lines: 63

In article <1990Oct11.202517.23699@oswego.Oswego.EDU> ostroff@oswego.Oswego.EDU (Boyd Ostroff) writes:
)There's a public-domain version of UUPC which will give you mail (but no
)news) with a very un-mac-like interface.  I just received the following
)via email the other day.  Sounds pretty good (though a bit expensive).
)I HAVE NO CONNECTION WITH THIS COMPANY AND AM JUST PASSING THIS ALONG
)SINCE IT MIGHT BE OF GENERAL INTEREST.
 
)This is a product announcement for ICE Engieering's new uAccess.
)Sytstem Requirements:
)
)  o Minimum
)    Macintosh Plus with 1 Megabyte RAM
)    Hard disk
)    Modem capable of communicating with uucp server (or network)
)    A UUCP host to connect with
)  
)  o Ideal
)    Macintosh IIcx with 4 Megabytes RAM
)    80 Meg Hard disk
)    Telebit Trailblazer or T2500 modem (or network)
)    A UUCP host to connect with
 
)Availability:
)Release 1.0 of uAccess is scheduled to be shipping in Oct 15, 1990.
)Initially, uAccess will be available by direct order from
)ICE Engineering, but will later be available through major
)distributors.
)
)The list price for uAccess is $375.
)ICE is offering the product directly for $275 until Nov 15.
 
	Well, in spite of the glowing comments I've heard from some
of the Beta testers, I doubt that I'll be getting it.

	Look at it this way:  If I want news on my Mac (I already have
mail.  All that took was the time to FTP it and tinker a bit.  I'll
be looking at the GNU port soon as well.  Both are free and come with 
source.) and I have much more than a Plus, then for less than $100
more than ICE wants for uAccess I can have AUX or one of the Mach ports,
which gives me access to mail and news as well as a host of other things.
(Note: I tend to think in terms of University pricing because I can.)

	So, do I get a fancy new news reader or do I get a Unix-like
OS and use what I'm familiar with?  For the extra $100, assuming I can
afford the price of either to start with, I'll go with the OS over the
application every time.

	Now, I'm a fairly knowledgable user, so I'm not afraid of 
programs I can't just plug and play, but I know a lot of people who
will only use stuff they can use as a package.  Is there a market
amoungst this type of user for a mail/news link?  I guess ICE is 
betting that there is, and that they are a well-heeled bunch as well.
The communications I've had with them (ok, Tim is the only one.  Is he
the only person there?) gives me the impression that they are nice
folks, and for that reason alone I wish them luck.  But I don't think
I can afford to patronize them...

--

Later Y'all,  Vnend                       Ignorance is the mother of adventure.   
      Mail?  Send to:vnend@phoenix.princeton.edu or vnend@pucc.bitnet            
        Anonymous posting service (NO FLAMES!) at vnend@ms.uky.edu                    
"They also had myths.  A myth is a female moth."