Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!voder!pyramid!athertn!Atherton.COM!dlw From: dlw@Atherton.COM (David Williams) Newsgroups: comp.sys.next Subject: Re: Reward for NeXT's response on the net. Message-ID: <34099@athertn.Atherton.COM> Date: 22 Jan 91 19:32:39 GMT References: <1991Jan21.142539.1@linus.claremont.edu> <1991Jan20.214014.18419@uncecs.edu> <4152@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> <1991Jan21.203407.12952@nntp-server.caltech.edu> Sender: news@athertn.Atherton.COM Reply-To: dlw@Atherton.COM (David Williams) Organization: Atherton Technology -- Sunnyvale, CA Lines: 54 >>In article <1991Jan21.142539.1@linus.claremont.edu>, jack@linus.claremont.edu >>writes: >>In article <1991Jan21.203407.12952@nntp-server.caltech.edu>, >>madler@pooh.caltech.edu (Mark Adler) writes: >> >> NeXT should participate on comp.sys.next, if for no other reason, because >> comp.sys.next is the most extensive and most effective example of the idea >> of "interpersonal computing" that NeXT is trying to push. Admittedly, the >> signal to noise ratio here could be a little better, but the signals are >> damned useful. >> >I have been on vacation an I have missed most of this discussion so I >apologize if what I am about to say has been covered before. > >NeXT inc., or designated representatives, CANNOT participate on the >USENET. Nor can any other company (i.e. Sun, DEC, HP-Apollo, etc.). >It is a fundamental limitation of the various Networks (NSFNet, >ArpaNet, HEPnet) that they only be used for Education, Research or >Sciencetific communications only. It is a limitation evolving around >the way that most of these networks were initially (and in many cases >still are) are funded. While I'll admit that various newsgroups [rest of paragraph deleted] Hmmm, well If I have questions about Macintosh software, say HyperCard I have virtually the entire HyperCard team at my disposal in comp.sys.mac.hypercard--including the engineering lead for the program! So, while companies are not to do advertisement on USENET other than comp.newprod--individuals may make a personal decision to answer questions and engage in dialog with users of their products. Obviously, Apple has more people, so their number of individual people who choose [on their own time] to help out users is larger. In any case I applaud any and all who do so, from whatever company they belong to. >Since some people have questioned it, I must say that support from >NeXT has been great. It is one of the reasons that I decided to buy a >NeXT. They have, in my opinion, the best techinical support of any >company I have dealt with (DEC, IBM, Sun, and Apple). I must also say that I mailed into NeXT one of the postings regarding the X Window System controversy and not only got an official response number, but a personal email note from one of NeXT's support engineers. I think many people would like to see more NeXT employees take some of their OWN time to talk with their customers in comp.sys.next--this is of course a personal decision on the part of NeXT employes...they also have a lot of work to do to keep their company alive and their technology competitive with offerings from (Apple, Sun, IBM et al). >Jack Stewart Jack@Hmcvax (Bitnet) David Williams NeXTcube owner dlw@atherton.com