Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!male!probe.EBay.Sun.COM!toddb
From: toddb@probe.EBay.Sun.COM (Todd Bernhard)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: RFD: Alternate proposal
Message-ID: <6819@male.EBay.Sun.COM>
Date: 16 May 91 16:59:48 GMT
Sender: news@male.EBay.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
Lines: 42

After wading through ~150 messages, I felt compelled to
add just one.

As a relatively new reader of this newsgroup, I joined
a few months ago because I'm interested in getting a
handheld computer system.  comp.sys.handhelds *sounded*
perfect.  But I find there's more messages about hp48
calculators than anything else.  

I don't want to start a thread re: the hp48 is a computer....
the important thing is what would an uninformed news reader look
for to get info on ___?  Consider where one would purchase the
item.  Would you purchase the hp48 at a computer store or at an
electronics/office/calculator store? More likely the latter.

Consider the customer...the new news reader.  They want info
on the HP95LX, the Atari Portfolio, Casio Boss, and Sharp Wizard.
And they're going to expect it on comp.sys.handhelds.  *That*
should be the overriding consideration when choosing names
for a newsgroup.

Finally, don't create a c.s.h.hp group, as that would only
confuse the issue re: 95LX vs. 48, etc.  And, "palmtops"
is a misnomer....Does anyone put a handheld computer in
their palms to use?  And type with your nose????  Now a
vertically oriented calculator could be held in one palm
and worked with the free hand.  So handheld.palmtop is not
descriptive.


Thanks for listening.

---todd




--
Todd Bernhard, Sun Micro, US Field Mktg - Milpitas, CA
408-276-1542     toddb@Sun.COM      ....!sun!toddb

(Having the Right to be Wrong does NOT imply the Obligation.)