Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ames!husc6!bu-cs!bucsb!shack
From: shack@bucsb.UUCP (Randy Shackelford)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: RE: Applelink
Keywords: not exactly a friendly bunch
Message-ID: <1716@bucsb.UUCP>
Date: 31 May 88 00:44:41 GMT
Organization: Boston Univ Comp. Sci.
Lines: 29

I see from my article-reading of late that people are having trouble getting

ahold of Apple/Quantum in regards to this product. After hearing my story,
all of you in this situation will see that not only are you not alone in having
trouble with this outfit, but you are not the worst off.
Around Christmas time, certain big shots in the local user group became aware
that this product would soon be available in beta form for selected people
to test. Several of my friends did just that, sending in the required forms
and receiving their packages containing the software and documentation after
a short period. I, not wanting to miss out, had one of my buddies sign me up
to test it as well, and I was assured that I would receive my software in due
time. That was early February; three months later, I am still without software
and have essentially given up.
I did not just passively sit there waiting, however; I tried many times to get
action through talking to the system administrators via email through my 
friend's account and talking to numerous people at AppleFest including the man
in charge of the whole thing (whose name escapes me, but then again, the good
it did talking to him was rather forgettable -- or negligible -- as well.) 
Their attitude was that "Well, gee, the beta period is almost over anyhow.
Why not just wait until it is available to every Joe Blow and pay for it
(overlooking the run-around and screwing royal we are giving you)?"
The thing that really gets to me is that the beta testers got a special pin
and several other nice considerations from the company. They fail to see that 
I was in effect beta-testing their blessed software along with my friends 
(who shall remain nameless, as technically they were violating their
non-disclosure agreement; albeit unwittingly, as they as well as myself 
assumed I WOULD receive it, but never did.) 
So I get no consideration for my assistance in testing the system, since
they know nothing of it. So, all you who are interested in getting involved 
with this system, just consider this little horror story and then decide if 
you wish to have any part of it.