From: robt@agsm.unsw.edu.au (Rob Trevor)
Newsgroups: sci.math.symbolic
Subject: Re: Mathematica machineID problem
Date: 15 Sep 92 00:15:35 GMT
Followup-To: sci.math.symbolic
Organization: Australian Graduate School of Management

In article <1992Sep14.235259.6309@usage.csd.unsw.OZ.AU>,
mcba@newt.phys.unsw.edu.au (Michael C. B. Ashley) wrote:
> 
> Hi folks,
> 
> I have a major problem with Mathematica that is preventing me from using
> it easily. When I run the "mathinfo" program to obtain my machineID, I
> get one of two different numbers returned (2406-58617-78759 or
> 2306-58617-78759). Wolfram Research have given me the password for one
> of these numbers but not the other. Sometimes I have to try 30 or more
> times to start up Mathematica before the right number comes up.
> 
> ...
> 
> Sorry if I sound a bit jaded, but I have been trying to get some help
> from Wolfram Research about this problem without any luck. Specifically,
> I sent them faxes on August 13, August 17, August 24, and September 3
> concerning this problem, and have not had a reply. I also e-mailed
> register@wri.com on September 14 and have not had a reply.
> 
> It seems that having spent $2500 on Mathematica, and $375 on a
> subscription to Mathematica Plus, that Wolfram Research has delivered
> defective software that it refuses to fix. I have no objections to
> paying a reasonable price for good software, but object strenuously when
> I have a valid licence and the manufacturer's faulty security code stops
> me from using it. I have been teaching an undergraduate course in
> Classical Mechanics based partly on Mathematica, and now I find that I
> have to rewrite large sections since Mathematica is no longer usable.
> 
> I would certainly caution against anyone buying Mathematica and relying
> on it being available. 
> 
> ...
> 
> I would be interested in hearing if other people have had similar
> problems with "machineID". Incidentally, my machine is a DECstation
> 5000/200 running Mathematica 2.0.3.
> 
> Yours sincerely,
> Michael Ashley (Lecturer in Physics, University of New South Wales,
> Sydney Australia) mcba@newt.phys.unsw.edu.au

Michael

We have also had numerous problems with Mma's security mechanisms - and
lack of quick response from Wolfram - on one of our RS6000's.  It seems
that every time I go to use it for something important, its down -
sometimes because a minor system upgrade (which I can't control) has
changed the magic number Mma looks for, and sometimes for reasons I can't
fathom.  By the time its back up again, I usually solved my mathematical
problem using some other method.

I would certainly never contemplate using it for a course until they change
this and/or their level of support.

Rob

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Rob Trevor  Associate Professor, Australian Graduate School of Management
            University of New South Wales
            PO Box 1, Kensington, NSW, AUSTRALIA    2033

Internet:  robt@agsm.unsw.edu.au  or  R.Trevor@unsw.edu.au

VOICE: +61 (2) 931-9274    FAX: +61 (2) 662-7621  or   +61 (2) 662-2451

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Newsgroups: sci.math.symbolic