Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Updating Telebit TrailBlazers
Message-ID: <1988Mar24.211930.4580@utzoo.uucp>
Keywords: Update TrailBlazer V4.00 Interactive $99
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <266@telebit.UUCP> <505@pcrat.UUCP> <1988Mar17.002759.1127@utzoo.uucp>, <635@teemc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 88 21:19:30 GMT

> 	2) I agree that servicing the requests is time-consuming (but you
> can dup a LOT of EPROMs for $99)...

You obviously have never been in charge of actually *doing* software
distribution.  The big cost is not media duplication or postage, but
man-hours:  all the manual effort involved in deciphering, approving,
preparing, and shipping orders, and dealing with problems.  This takes
far more time and hassle than you can possibly imagine if you haven't
done it (I have).

It certainly would make life easier for Telebit if they could distribute
their updates electronically.  This doesn't necessarily mean distributing
them free of charge, as witness the AT&T Software Toolchest.  *HOWEVER*,
do remember that a lot of the smarts in the Trailblazers are in software,
not hardware.  Telebit may have decided that it's just as well if it takes
a bit of effort to get a look at the bits.
-- 
"Noalias must go.  This is           |  Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
non-negotiable."  --DMR              | {allegra,ihnp4,decvax,utai}!utzoo!henry