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From: csaron@ucbopal.berkeley.edu (Aron Roberts)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: XENO COPY  (what happened to Vertex Systems ?)
Message-ID: <934@jade.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: Mon, 30-Jun-86 23:20:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: jade.934
Posted: Mon Jun 30 23:20:34 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 2-Jul-86 05:09:02 EDT
References: <153@qtc.UUCP>
Sender: usenet@jade.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: csaron@ucbopal.UUCP (Aron Roberts)
Distribution: net
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Lines: 54
Keywords: XenoCopy Xeno Copy Vertex Systems
Summary: XenoCopy II now published by author


Background:

"XenoCopy" is the name that has been given to a series of disk format 
conversion programs (with slightly varying names like XenoCopy Plus) 
which read, write, and/or format some 250 different disk formats, 
primarily CP/M and MS-DOS formats, on an IBM PC's disk drives.  
(Conversion of some of these formats requires add-on hardware in the 
form of 3-1/2", 8", or 96TPI 5-1/4" disk drives.)  Competing programs 
in this genre include Media Master Plus and Uniform.

For some time, various versions of XenoCopy with different levels of
functionality (e.g. numbers of disk formats converted, capacity to
format blank disks in an 'alien' disk format on the IBM PC, etc.)
have been sold by Vertex Systems in Los Angeles, at list prices in
the vicinity of $100-$150.

Current Status:

When our facility was recently attempting to purchase this package,
we had a brief phone conversation with the program's author, Fred
Cisin.  It is our understanding, based on this conversation, that
Vertex no longer has the rights to sell or market this software,
and that the package is now available as "XenoCopy II" exclusively
from the author's company, XenoSoft, of Berkeley, CA, which can be
reached at (415) 525-3113.  The list price is $79.95.

Mr. Cisin indicated that the Vertex' rights to XenoCopy were
rescinded due to a dispute over marketing philosophy.

I do not know if Vertex is still offering this package for sale, or
if they are still in business, in any location, under any name.  Nor
can I speculate as to whether purchasers of XenoCopy packages through
Vertex are eligible for upgrades to XenoCopy II from XenoSoft.
Certainly, an inquiry of this type would be in order.

The usual disclaimers apply--doubly in the case of a commercial
dispute such as this!

Hope this helps ... 

----------------------------------------------------------------
   Aron Roberts (csaron@ucbopal.UUCP) 
   Tolman Microcomputer Facility, 1535 Tolman Hall
   University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 (415) 642-2251
   UCB disclaims responsibility for opinions like these!
   "No regrets, Coyote, we just come from such different  ..."

----------------------------------------------------------------
   Aron Roberts (csaron@opal.Berkeley.Edu) 
   Tolman Microcomputer Facility, 1535 Tolman Hall
   University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 (415) 642-2251
   UCB actively denies knowledge of opinions such as these!
   "No regrets, Coyote, we just come from such different  ..."