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Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!fps.mcw.edu!brodie
From: brodie@fps.mcw.edu
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms,comp.sys.dec
Subject: DSNlink futures-- the scoop from DECUS
Message-ID: <1990Dec20.102412.3683@fps.mcw.edu>
Date: 20 Dec 90 15:24:11 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Medical College of Wisconsin,  Milwaukee, WI
Lines: 31

Well, at DECUS we saw the "latest" DSNlink-- version 1.1.  The
user interface now includes "videotext" (kind of makes it
look like All-in-1).  The user interface kind of turned me
off (I do not like having to hit PF keys), BUT, having a lot of functions
available from the menu was nice.  (many of the users are
infrequent-- and do not remember all of the utility commands easily,
including myself..)
 
Other improvements include better data compression, and a GREAT
way of being able to get patches much easier than before.

The one thing that REALLY astounded me was the statistics-- according
to the dec representative, only about 2000 sites across the
counter have registered for DSNlink (requested the software),
and of those 2000, only 750 have actually come online.  (damned shame.
I have REALLY been able to acomplish a lot by using dsnlink-- I've
had patches sent me, crash dumps analyzed, etc.)

It seems that the biggest "roadblock" that DEC is running up against
is security-conscious administrators that REFUSE to connect ANY
type of modem to their system, no matter HOW secure DEC assures
them the setup is.

Oh well.
------
Kent C. Brodie - Sr. Systems Manager       internet:  brodie@fps.mcw.edu
Faculty Physicians & Surgeons              uucpnet:   uwm.edu!fps!brodie
Medical College of Wisconsin	           voicenet:  +1 414 778 4500
				           faxnet:    +1 414 778 6694

"Operator!  Quick-- give me the number for 911"  -Homer Simpson