Xref: utzoo comp.lang.c:26149 comp.lang.c++:6580 comp.sys.ibm.pc:44915 comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer:59 Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!mips!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!lll-winken!decwrl!ucbvax!hplabs!hp-sdd!apollo!nelson_p From: nelson_p@apollo.HP.COM (Peter Nelson) Newsgroups: comp.lang.c,comp.lang.c++,comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer Subject: Re: Zortech problems Message-ID: <48c74cd1.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM> Date: 21 Feb 90 16:02:00 GMT Sender: root@apollo.HP.COM Distribution: usa Organization: Hewlett-Packard Apollo Division - Chelmsford, MA Lines: 63 Walter Bright posts... :DOS programming, graphics programming, and C++ programming are all :complex subjects. All the 'problems' you're having appear to be caused :by lack of familiarity with these topics. I recommend that you read: But remember, that ALL of these questions, and many others, were brought to the Zortech tech support staff first. And were only passed on to the net when they didn't know the answers! [ Btw, 'graphics programming' is what I do for a living; I'm quite certain I know at least as much about it than anyone at Zortech. This does not mean that I know much about what passes for computer graphics in the PC world. And the "flash graphics" library is Zortech's creation so it isn't unreasonable to assume that they know how to make it work. ] ...and Peter da Silva posts :> Zortech itself had no helpful suggestions on this either except to :> reboot the machine (gee, thanks) but one of their experts is :> going to take a closer look at this issue. : :Sounds like Zortech needs a few new experts. Zortech clearly needs to bolster their tech support. The people I've spoken to there have seemed sincere but I don't think there is a *single case* where they knew the answer to any of my questions! I've had better luck with their BBS. Walter Bright and Joe Huffman monitor the board (I think its Walter's board) and have proven very knowledgable. But I'm unclear what their relation is with the company. The company is in London, UK, and Alington, Mass. Why is the BBS in Washington State? The people in Arlington are a little vague on what Walter and Joe's relationship is with Zortech; I get the impression that they are some kind of consult- ants who write a lot of their code. But Walter's "Organization:" is listed as "Data-IO Corporation; Redmond, WA". Also calling a BBS in a distant state, and then calling back several times to see if anyone might have left an answer on the board and then doing followup questions/answers is very expensive compared to a short phone conversation with knowledgable staff. They seem to have a good product. It is certainly much improved over vers. 1.07. But their customer support is easily the WORST that I've ever encountered in this industry! Given that this was the single most expensive piece of software that I've ever bought I think I could have expected more professionalism. Zortech must develop an IN-HOUSE source of technical expertise. It is very unprofessional for a tech support staff to send people to a private BBS to answer questions about their product. I feel like their company is being run as a hobby. They can get by like this only as long as they have no serious competition in C++. That won't be for long. Latest stumper: My new VGA card supports 640X480 X 256 colors. I called yesterday to ask them how I can write code to use more than 16 colors. They said they would "get back to me". Stay tuned. ---Peter