Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!cbmvax!heimat!sneakers
From: sneakers@heimat.UUCP (Dan "Sneakers" Schein)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Version 1.3 is out!
Message-ID: <3770.AA3770@heimat>
Date: 23 Oct 88 17:18:20 GMT
Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga
Organization: Sneakers Computing
Lines: 79

In Message <31247@bbn.COM>, cosell@bbn.com (Bernie Cosell) writes:

>  You're confusing "policy" with "words" -- I'm _quite_ sure (but I guess I
>  could be mistaken, because I never looked at it ALL that closely at the
>  time) that when 1.2 became available, the 1.2 discs (at least kickstart and
>  workbench -- surely not all the extra stuff) were *freely* available if you
                                                ^^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^^^^^^^
   Yes they were freely available at any dealer who carried the Enhancer Kit.
   But they were not available for free. There is a difference.

>  had 1.1.  I distinctly recall being able to "get" 1.2 at either of three of
>  my local dealers just for the effort of walking in with some blank disks.
>  Is my memory on this one wrong?
   ^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^
   Well since *YOU* were the one who waled into that dealer with the 2 disks,
   only you know if your memory is wrong or not. But regardless of the fact
   if this happened or not that still doesn't make it legal!

>                                  (turns out I upgraded to a 2000 and so got
>  1.2 "legitimately", and my memories of almost EVERYTHING to do with my old
>  1000 are now shouded in fog.)  Wait: I remember it now: if you bought some
>  software that would only run with 1.2, they threw in 1.2 for free (or,
>  more precisely, the cost of a disk to hold it on).  Since Commodore had no
>  stake in the sale of the software, I assumed that the dealer-sanctioned
>  copying was legit on the face of it.
>
   I can tell you that your assumption was 100% wrong. Not to mention totaly
   illegal. If you mean that when you bought a program and came with 1.2
   installed that it was "threw in 1.2 for free", guess your right. But that
   didn't include a KickStart :-)

>  Let my hypothesize a path that makes both versions of history more-or-less
>  fit together -- it is conceivable that with the 1.2 upgrade, that Commodore
>  specifically told their *dealers* that they could redistribute 1.2, but we,
>  as *users* got no such exemption.  Could that be it?  I seem to recall
>  that most folks agreed that 1.1 really WAS in serious need of replacement,
>  so I think that that was probably a reasonable and necessary policy then
>  (assuming, of course, it actually WAS one...:-).  1.2 isn't so bad at all,
>  and so, while I would like it and I'm already lining up waiting for the
>  next shipment to arrive at my dealers, I wouldn't think it was so all fired
>  important to get 1.3 widely distributed, so Commodore might well NOT
>  provide the exemption/encouragement this time around.
>
   Commodore holds lisence on their KickStart & Workbench. They also lisence
   KickStart and Workbench and *ONLY* lisenced partys are authorized to
   distribute these products. Commodore has never lisenced a upgrade version
   (1.2 or 1.3) to any outside party until AFTER Commodore has released their
   own products (Enhancer Kit & KickStart ROM).

   Please consider this:

     Commodore puts a considerable amount of work into each new release of
   the Amiga OS. This work includes many changes that affect programmers
   and users alike. Commodore then compiles these changes and prints a
   manual containing these changes. Now to make this new software & manual
   available to as many Amiga users as possible, Commodore packages the
   new OS & manual in an Enhancer kit and sells it for not much more than
   their actual cost.

     Why does Commodore go through all this trouble of producing a manual
   and Enhancer packages and selling them for almost cost when they could
   have just left you copy it from your delaer or friend? To avoid confused
   users & programmers. If you get 1.3 from an illegal source then you will
   be one of those many people asking for help with RAD:, FFS, Shell, Ect,
   Ect, Ect.... But if you bought a legal copy, then you would have a manual
   to consult for help and advice.

   Bottom line:

     Copying 1.2 and/or 1.3 from your dealer/friend is illegal.


--
Dan "Sneakers" Schein        {alegra|amiga|rutgers|uunet}!cbmvax!heimat!sneakers
Sneakers Computing
2455 McKinley Ave.                        Of course heimat is an Amiga.
West Lawn, PA 19609              Doesn't everyone run UUCP & UseNet on an Amiga?

    Call: BERKS AMIGA BBS - 40 Meg - 24 Hrs - 3/12/2400 Baud - 215/678-7691