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From: Stef@ICS.UCI.EDU (Einar Stefferud)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.iso
Subject: Re: ISO Whining
Message-ID: <24074.664867994@nma>
Date: 26 Jan 91 05:33:14 GMT
References: <12656644884.14.BILLW@mathom.cisco.com>
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: Stef@ics.uci.edu
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 34

Hello Bill (and all) --

I have to agree that the cost and difficulty inherent with access to the
ISO/CITT standards does not facilitate or foster grad student or
academic (or itinerant hacker) interest in working with these standards.  

One proposal would be for the standards bodies to make a special case
for academic use, and I hope that this proposal will be put before the
standards bodies by whoever will capture the ideas from this list for
contribution to the standards bodies.  (Not me!)

However, the observation remains valid that is is not good economics to
hire good programmers at current programmer salaries (plus overhead) and
then deprive them of the documents because they cost $200-$1000!  Even
for a two person company.  

[Lets see, where else can we save $200-$1000 by eliminating something?]

I am sorry if some people are offended by my comments.  I don't mean to
be facetious here, but I do want to focus in on the central issues.  

In summary, in some cases the price is too high, while in others the
price is not too high.  So, we need to do something about the cases
where the price is too high.  

The two classical things to do are to 

(1) arrange for special focused discounts or 

(2) subsidize in some way.  

I DO NOT MINIMIZE THE CONCLUSION THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE.

Cheers...\Stef