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From: dca@edison.UUCP (David C. Albrecht)
Newsgroups: net.micro,net.micro.mac,net.micro.amiga,net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: Troubles with TDI Software, Inc.
Message-ID: <726@edison.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-May-86 13:24:40 EDT
Article-I.D.: edison.726
Posted: Mon May 12 13:24:40 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 14-May-86 21:04:29 EDT
References: <206@brand.UUCP>
Organization: General Electric Company, Charlottesville, VA
Lines: 27
Xref: linus net.micro:13252 net.micro.mac:5867 net.micro.amiga:6827 net.micro.pc:7816

> I don't see how any responsible company can publish any advertisement
> that states that a product is available "NOW" and the product never in
> fact materializes.

Sure, happens all the time, it's called vaporware.  As far as misleading
or just plain wrong advertising check out the ad copy for the AT&T UNIX
PC 7300.  Let me tell you it's a lulu.  From the ad copy it would seem
that all the software that most people think of as UNIX and then some
come with the machine all present and ready to go.   The words option,
available for, and purchase don't even pass their lips.  What actually
comes is a very high priced paperweight with no documentation of
ANY kind.  Getting the basic guts of SYS V is $500 (list) option.  Getting
the additional utilities to make a real UNIX (cc, make, yacc, lex, etc...)
is another $500 (list).  Definitely a buyer beware situation.  Don't get
me wrong it is a nice machine but merchandising it without SYS V borders
on criminally stupid, certainly the ad copy ought to make clear that
getting a useful "UNIX" machine requires investment in 1K of software.
Of course, the twits seem bent on selling it in the business market
instead of the low-end workstation market which is laughable anyway.
This is just to give fair warning to those interested in purchasing the
machine.  I've got a letter ready to go to AT&T that I plan to mail soon
if it doesn't burst into flame on my desk first.

David Albrecht

This is the opinion of one disgruntled consumer.  Despite some t-shirts
I've seen GE is NOT me.