Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!uwmcsd1!lakesys!joe From: joe@lakesys.UUCP (Joe Pantuso) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: The USENET Seal of Approval Message-ID: <535@lakesys.UUCP> Date: 24 Mar 88 03:45:48 GMT References: <2653@crash.cts.com> <498@cunixc.columbia.edu> <3496@cbmvax.UUCP> Reply-To: joe@lakesys.UUCP (Joe Pantuso) Distribution: na Organization: Lake Systems - Milwaukee, WI Lines: 139 Keywords: impartial revues? In article <3496@cbmvax.UUCP> schein@cbmvax.UUCP (Dan Schein CATS) writes: >In article <498@cunixc.columbia.edu> suh@cunixc.columbia.edu (Kenneth Suh) writes: >>In article <2653@crash.cts.com> haitex@pnet01.cts.com (Wade Bickel) writes: >>> Pehaps we should collect some initial funds (we UseNetters' can afford >>>to mail in two to five bucks can't we?) and use these to solicit more funds >>>from publishers and distributors. With these we could hire someone to >>>coordinate things. >>> >>> Is this unrealistic? >>> Thanks, >>> Wade. >> >> >>Well, >> >>To start off with, let's say that company XXX donates $1,000 and asks >>that their latest piece of software undergo the USENET seal of approval. >>Let us also assume that they include a letter with the donation and the >>software which says something like: >> >> We are looking forward to your review and the efforts of your >> organization. Depending on our earnings in the upcoming months, >> we plan to support your efforts. >> >>Get the picture? How can this group be impartial if it accepts >>donations from manufacturers and softare houses? >> >> >>Kenneth Suh PATH: suh@CUNIXC.COLUMBIA.EDU > > I think Ken has a very GOOD point here, (Even though I could use a extra > $1,000 here and there :-). So whats the answer? A group of total self > supported soles who are willing to donate their spare time? Hmmm....... > I may be on to something here..... >-- > Dan Schein uucp: {ihnp4|allegra|burdvax|rutgers}!cbmvax!schein > Commodore AMIGA ARPANET: cbmvax!schein@uunet.uu.net You are over-looking a very plausable way to make it work. Have a standard fee for a review. We're talking $100-$200 only. I would be more than willing to coordinate this effort in my *free time*. (As a matter of fact if this gets off the ground I sure want to be in on some aspect of it). I missed the origional article that is alluded to by the first message above, but I assume you mean to have items reviewed by *impartial* people and then placed on the net. I'd love to run this. I'd kill to run this. An initial amount would have to be spent to cover postage informing companies of the existence of this new entity, but from there on it could be run by itself. Here's the scenario: This months topic will be paint programs, so then every company and software house would be informed of this- This months review topic is paint programs, if you wish your product to be reviewed please submit it and the $100 reviewers fee by the nth of monthx. (Then disclaimers that the organization is non-profit and the fee only covers postage and time) The company would also have previously recieved the letter explaining the group. So I then receive all these packages, and ship them randomly to the "net reviewers" with their $40 cut of the fee ($10 for shipping, $10 for hardware, $20 for stationary and toner, and $20 for the *hours* spent sending out the letters/sorting stuff/providing you guidlines for the review/being a nice guy-)accounts the other $60. You get the package and have 3 weeks to thrash it to death and then type up a review and send it to me. I would then compile all the data and publish: 1) condensed charts, showing capabilities/prices/manufacturer/etc. Resolutions: Product |320x200......HAM| HB ... Price System ----------------|----------------|-------------------------------- Deluxe Paint II |Yes No | No $150 All Digi-Paint II |Yes Yes| No $199 All Photon Paint |Yes Yes| Yes $190 All Aegis Draw |Yes No | No $99 All etc. 2) Bar charts of performance (Most likely IFF files that you could look at later, but also text ones imbedded) Access Time in MS 40 XXX 35 XXX XXX XXX 30 XXX XXX XXX XXX 25 XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX 20 XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX 15 XXX XXX XXX XXX Drive A B C D 3) Each individual report. 4) Plus MUCH MORE! You get the idea... Anyway it would be even better than consumer reports because besides special area studies you could have up to the minute reviews. Company X has a hot new product out, they send me a copy a week before it hits the shelves and whammo, you have a review of it two days before the dealers have it on the shelf. I wanna do it! Besides, it falls right into my degree and the kind of stuff I want to be doing after college. Help out yourself and help out a college student. Support USENET REVIEWS (I just made that up). Think about it, all it would require is your endorsement and a couple bucks. Also some of you would be reviewers, good deal, eh? Disclaimers: I'm dancing as fast as I can. And I plan on doing 90% of the hardware reviews. Also I beleive I would have to buy a laser printer to support the operation, but I would be willing to buy that myself since I'd get to use it too. Let's hear some opinions! (good ones only please :-) -Joe (USENET REVIEWS?) Snail Mail: Real Mail: /// *-------------------* {ihnp4,uwvax}!uwmcsd1!lakesys!joe /// |Joe Pantuso | joe@lakesys.UUCP /// |1631 n. 69 St. | \\\ ///\ _ _ |Wauwatosa WI 53213| "Rascality has it's limits, \\\///__\ |\/| | / _ |_| *-------------------* Stupidity does not."-Napoleon \XX/ \| | | \_/ | |