Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!phri!dasys1!manes
From: manes@dasys1.UUCP (Steve Manes)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.xenix
Subject: Re: 2nd to last posting on Microsoft dropping Xenix
Message-ID: <2357@dasys1.UUCP>
Date: 26 Dec 87 07:20:04 GMT
References: <4826@well.UUCP>
Reply-To: manes@dasys1.UUCP (Steve Manes)
Organization: Datamerica Systems, NYC
Lines: 53
Keywords: Microport UNIX XENIX BBS BIX, End of discussion?

In article <4826@well.UUCP> wolf@well.UUCP (Dwight Leu) writes:
>However I would
>like to redirect the discussions dealing with Microport to where they would be 
>most welcome, and serve some real use; namely Microport's BBS. This is now 
>open to everyone, not just Microport customers.

I've called the Microport BBS about a dozen times since it opened.  It
doesn't appear to be set up for public discussion in any of its
topical areas.  While I can see that there are messages being left they
don't appear to be readable by the Great Unwashed... or at least I've only
seen one (1) public message on the message base.  Without an open, public
discussion area where Microport users can talk with other Microport users
the BBS message base is little more than a vehicle to send private
mail to John Sully.  This, plus the fact that comp.unix.microport is
moderated, which I find an unnecessary inconvenience and a handicap for
worthwhile user<->user discussion, leaves the nasty impression that
Microport might be a little gun-shy about the prospect of Microport Users
Unchained.  I'm not saying that this >is< the case but both would profit
better from less editorial bureaucracy.

>Instead, many people have chosen to respond with various flames.
>These have done more than just warm up everyone's computers 
>during the holidays; they have also distracted the discussion.

No flame... but I'm STILL waiting for my 2.3 update, Dwight.  You were kind
enough to leave me UUCP mail saying that you would personally see to it
that I would receive this "by next Friday"... December 11th... two weeks
ago.  My saga with this update began in early October with a promise from
Sales that I would see same in two weeks, through UNIX EXPO, through
subsequent calls and UUCP with Microport... each time hearing the familiar
bird call, "two-weeks".  Several of the "flames" directed at Microport here
in comp.unix.xenix were in response to Microport's mishandling of customers
expecting paid-for updates.  I think Microport could do more towards
smoothing the waters by admitting to the screw-up and giving customers a
realistic delivery date on 2.3 than by dismissing such complaints as
"flames".

>Let me respond briefly by saying that many were addressed a couple months
>ago by Microport's President, and in this newsgroup.

Chuck Hickey's well-composed public statement to Usenet was good reading
but it was really more a report on the health of Microport's Sales force,
not a response to the technical gripes about V/AT that are the meat and
potatoes of these discussions.  I'm pleased that Microport's business footing
is more sound today than it was a year ago.  But it addressed very little
of what's been ongoing discussion in these newsgroups with regard to
Microport, the product.

-- 
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+ Steve Manes         Roxy Recorders, Inc.                 NYC
+ decvax!philabs!cmcl2!hombre!magpie!manes       Magpie BBS: 212-420-0527
+ uunet!iuvax!bsu-cs!zoo-hq!magpie!manes              300/1200/2400