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From: gnu@hoptoad.uucp (John Gilmore)
Newsgroups: net.works,net.legal
Subject: xeroX slime ad warning
Message-ID: <719@hoptoad.uucp>
Date: Mon, 21-Apr-86 13:08:01 EST
Article-I.D.: hoptoad.719
Posted: Mon Apr 21 13:08:01 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 23-Apr-86 22:08:47 EST
Organization: Nebula Consultants in San Francisco
Lines: 39
Xref: watmath net.works:1300 net.legal:3303

In the April issue of Byte, on page 140, is an ad for the xeroX 6085
"Professional Computer System".  It's full of slime.  Here's a sample,
the first two paragraphs:

       "  It's the first professional workstation and personal computer
	and communications terminal -- in one.

       "  It's the first workstation ever with an enormous 19 inch bit
	map screen.  With multiple windows that let you neatly display
	and process what used to clutter up your desk.  Windows that can
	be stretched the entire width of the screen so you can see your
	work.  And let you conduct numerous operations at the same time.
	Like running PC programs, running mainframe progreams or
	downloading selected data from host computers.  And, integrating
	the results.  Even copying or moving host data into PC
	spreadsheets, or PC spreadsheets into xeroX' special ViewPoint
	Document Editor.  True integration!  Any window to and from any
	window!"

I'll leave it to the lawyers to figure out whether they can be sued for
lying, or whether lying is covered under the leeway for "puff"
advertising, but the ad is clearly full of lies.

The Sun-2 and Sun-3 have had an "enormous" 19-inch bitmapped screen for
several years, so xeroX is not "the first".  With multiple windows, etc
etc etc.  With the right software and hardware, you can run PC
programs, talk to mainframes, etc.  You can copy things from any window
to any other.

Other vendors (eg HP, AT&T) certainly have a better claim to "the first
professional workstation, personal computer, and communications terminal
in one".  In fact, the IBM PC/AT, Atari, and Amiga would be less wrong
than xeroX in making this claim.

It's sad to see that since xeroX can't make it because of inability to
get its shit together, they are trying to do it by lying.
-- 
John Gilmore  {sun,ptsfa,lll-crg,ihnp4}!hoptoad!gnu   jgilmore@lll-crg.arpa
			     Post no bills.