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From: dan@rna.UUCP (Dan Ts'o)
Newsgroups: net.unix,net.unix-wizards,misc.misc
Subject: Re: Unix box for $10 a month!  Is this a scam?
Message-ID: <564@rna.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 16-Oct-86 20:20:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: rna.564
Posted: Thu Oct 16 20:20:52 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 17-Oct-86 03:26:46 EDT
References: <230@boake2.UUCP>
Reply-To: dan@rna.UUCP (Dan Ts'o)
Organization: Rockefeller Neurobiology
Lines: 50
Keywords: cheap unix box
Xref: mnetor net.unix:5889 net.unix-wizards:8274 misc.misc:19

In article <230@boake2.UUCP> scott@boake2.UUCP (Scott Boake) writes:
>...
>    The Mega-Users' Group is currently campaigning to increase
>its membership to 100,000.  With this kind of unity will come a
>very special buying power - a power that will entitle you, as a
>member, to the following:  one of the most powerful openframe
>computer systems available, with a 68020 CPU card or a 80386 CPU
>card - a powerful, multi-user system, supporting UNIX or XENIX on
>your choice of Multibus or S-100.
>
>    Your membership fee of $10 per month covers the entire
>system as follows:
>
>- one Motorola 68020 CPU or Intel 80386 CPU, running at 12 Mhz
>- one megabye of D-RAM expandable to 8 meg. on the card
>- one floppy disk contoller capable of controlling 4 8" drives
>and 4 5 1/4" drives
>- one I/O card with 8 serial ports and 2 parallel
>- one 300-watt power supply
>- one 5 1/4" floppy drive and one 8" floppy drive
>- for S-100 users: choice of 10 or 20 slot backplane
>- for Multibus users: choice of 4 or 11 slot backplane

	No hard disk, eh ? That's trouble already. Also doesn't mention
that it includes software (that works).
>
>    The only membership requirement is that you remain a member
>through the time your system is shipped to you.  Our analysts
>project that we will reach our base of 100,000 members in 4-6
>months.

	Here's is what worries me. What if it takes them ten years
to reach 100,000 members ? What if it takes them three years to
decide they'll never make 100,000 ? What if they get 90,000 members -
what incentive do they have for getting the last 10,000 members ? Because...
>
>    We have invested over $20,000 in the initial phase, just to
>bring this concept to you now.
>
	Big deal.
>
>    Yes - I want to join the Mega-Users' Group.  Enclosed please
>find my check of money order in the amount of $__________, for
>_______month(s) membership.  I understand that as the membership
>reaches 100,000, I will receive my choice of the Multibus or
>S-100 system describem above.

	...They will only ship the systems after they get 100,000 members.
They don't have to even purchase anything til they get
	100,000 members x $10/mo. x 12mos./year x N years.