Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!VLSI.JPL.NASA.GOV!dowst
From: dowst@VLSI.JPL.NASA.GOV ("Henry P. Dowst")
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: (none)
Message-ID: <890226100605.581@VLSI.JPL.NASA.GOV>
Date: 26 Feb 89 18:06:05 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 28

I don't know whether rumors of troubles at AL-PE are true or not, 
but the following items are fact.

        1.  Downloading a file at 2400 baud takes more time than 
            downloading the same file at 1200 baud.  AL-PE Customer
            Support says "the technical people are working on the
            problem".

        2.  Customer Support hours have been cut.  The 800 number is
            now staffed from 9 AM to 9 PM, EST, M - F.

        3.  Most of the major deficiencies identified during beta
            testing have not been fixed.  Scanning bulletins and
            finding new downloads are still awkward, slow, and 
            frustrating operations.

The following items are my own observations.

        1.  Customer Support answers their e-mail about 20% of the
            time.  They actually help about once in 10 answers.

        2.  Host software reliability seems to be decreasing, but
            I can't say whether this reflects AL-PE or TYMNET 
            problems.

        3.  There is very little new download material.

Henry Dowst