Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!hsdndev!spdcc!kimbal!rick
From: rick@kimbal.lynn.ma.us (Rick Kimball)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms.programmer
Subject: Re: Open letter to Microsoft re: SDK and C6.0 (long)
Message-ID: <1186@kimbal.lynn.ma.us>
Date: 7 Dec 90 22:47:32 GMT
References: <59623@microsoft.UUCP>
Organization: Personal USENET Site, Lynn, MA (617) 599-8864
Lines: 36

From article <59623@microsoft.UUCP>, by keithro@microsoft.UUCP (Keith ROWE):
> |7) Why is there no SDK phone support. I'm classifying these problems
> |   as compiler related and am going through the C6.0 support channels.
> |   I'm sure some of them will be deflected (wfprintf) into the
> |   "pay me more money and I'll tell you the answer" category. Right
> |   now I feel that the cost to me and my company has been too much
> |   to allow that response to succeed.
> 
> We are looking into providing SDK phone support.   In the meantime, you
> are right to direct your compiler related questions to the C6.0 support
> channels.  You might also want to look into OnLine, our electronic support
> service.   It costs, but for the time it saves you with problems like
> these, it will probably be worth it.

Bzzzt ....  Wrong!!! Keith.

Online is a pain.  First you have to sit down and write up your problem
then submit it to a queue.  Then you wait ... call back to Online ...
ah no response ...  hangup ... wait ... call back to online ... ah no response .. hangup ...

Well you get my drift.  Eventually someone responds with a question
instead of an answer that usually goes like: Is you computer plugged in?
Do you have your path set properly?  Or some other obvious stupid question.

...

The only thing that is worthwhile on Online are the programs from MSJ.
In fact,  usually ask in my service request to have the engineer call
me at least I can ask a person some questions without getting stupid
follow-ups.

I've found that the questions I need answers to are related more to
when MS is going to fix something than how to do something. Your
mileage may vary.

Rick