Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!telesoft!bruceb From: bruceb@telesoft.com (Bruce Bergman @nova) Newsgroups: comp.realtime Subject: Re: Embedded Systems Programming Message-ID: <1252@telesoft.com> Date: 9 May 91 21:54:52 GMT References: <19104@csli.Stanford.EDU> Distribution: comp Organization: TeleSoft, San Diego, CA. Lines: 65 In article <19104@csli>, knight@csli.Stanford.EDU (Bob Knight) writes: > In article <154140@pyramid> csg@pyramid.pyramid.com (Carl Gutekunst) writes: > > > >mailed in their questionnaire twice, but haven't heard a peep. Since I've > >been doing nothing but designing and buying imbedded systems for the past > >four years (dedicated communications frontends), I'm not exactly sure what > >criterea they are using. > > Hear, hear! I had a paid subscription before they went to controlled distrib- > ution, and filled out a card. Got dropped. Called their circulation manager, > who said, basically, that I qualified. Got another card. No response. I've > been doing embedded systems work for over seven years now. I don't know what > their criteria are either, but it ain't worth the trouble to figure them out! > > ESJ, are you listening? Yep, we're listening, I promise! I know there are folks out there who are frustrated by this, and I don't have any good answers, except that perhaps you should try again. When we went to a controlled circulation, it was with the express purpose of increasing the readership numbers. We did that. Readership is about 50k now, and a goodly portion of that is controlled, while another, smaller portion is paid. During the transition to controlled, we were completely inundated with the number of requests for subscriptions. As a result, there were a number of (oh, let's just say it) "screw-ups" in the circulation department. Folks got dropped who had valid reasons for receiving the mag, etc. Even some people that *I* work with and *know* should qualify got refused. Which, btw, is quite embarrassing... As an aside, the circulation department went through some changes and there shouldn't be the same "screw-ups" that were found before. I would venture to guess things are much better now. Anyhow, I know our publisher, Ted Bahr, is quite interested in seeing that people are happy with the mag and their subscriptions, whether controlled or paid. I'd start with either sending in another card or calling the circulation folks and explaining it once again. Yes, I know, its not a fun prospect to try and fight with circulation folks. But I also know the quality of the magazine and our sincere interest in addressing the needs of the reader, not just the advertiser (like the other embedded systems journals). So I think it's worth the effort to talk to them. And I'll make this offer: if you don't get satisfaction from talking with them one more time, drop me a note at the email address below (or on CompuServe, but I'm more accessible on uucp/internet) and I'll see what I can do to straighten things out for you. I don't wield a shining sword or anything, but perhaps they'll listen to one of their columnists. ;^) On a more personal note, I'd love to hear from anyone out there in this newsgroup about how they thing we're doing. I've been following this group since its conception and know that the folks who read and post are as good a judge of realtime as anyone, so your opinion is valuable to me. If there is something you'd like to see us cover that we haven't, please speak up. If there's something you think we're overdoing, please say so. If there's something you'd like to contribute, call me! :-) Thanks, bruce -- Bruce A. Bergman, N7HAW UUCP: bruceb@telesoft.com TeleSoft CIS: 70431,3167 5959 Cornerstone Court West San Diego, CA. 92121-9891 All opinions expressed herein are my own. (619) 457-2700 x123 Have you hugged your horse lately?