From: eps@futon.SFSU.EDU (Eric P. Scott)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.comm
Subject: Re: You get what you pay for? (Was Re: Eudora Support)
Date: 17 Dec 92 09:39:56 GMT
Reply-To: eps@cs.sfsu.edu
Organization: San Francisco State University

In article <143635@lll-winken.LLNL.GOV> deboni@llnl.gov
	(Tom DeBoni) writes:
>As one of many Eudora users at a major government and educational
>installation, I'd like to mention that a lot of folks at my site
>don't give a hoot who wrote it or what it costs, as long as it works.

Lucky you.  We care what things cost.  We care a great deal.
Getting our site license for MacTCP was a major undertaking.
Anything with a four-digit (or more) price is a major
undertaking.  Today [with the current pricing and California's
fiscal woes] it would be impossible.

The past two or three years here have seen interest in networking
explode.  A lot of this has been driven by faculty turnover, and
the recent "golden handshake" exodus rid us of much of the "old
guard" (who regarded electric typewriters with suspicion), and
tipped the balance in favor of a younger generation who expect
(and demand) the ability to access Internet services.  When the
powerful and influential latch onto something, it spreads
rapidly.

What makes Macs viable is MacTCP, and the excellent freeware
applications software (NCSA Telnet, Brown TN3270, UIUC/Qualcomm
Eudora, Dartmouth Fetch, Indiana GopherApp, etc.).  I wish we
could afford some of the value-added commercial products
(particularly Intercon's), but even those are out of our reach at
the moment.  What "little" we do have does allow our users who
prefer Macintosh to buy Quadras instead of being "forced" into
Suns, NeXTs, HPs (or--gasp--486s).

The UNIX boxes all bundle Ethernet hardware, TCP/IP protocol
stack and basic network applications (much more is available for
free via FTP in full source form).  The PeeCee users have several
software choices (NCSA, Clarkson, KA9Q, WATTCP, Kermit)--and
their Ethernet hardware is fairly inexpensive (compared to Mac
Ethernet hardware, ugh).  As it is, only a relatively elite
segment of our community can afford Macs.  Our MacTCP site
license and the available applications software is what lifts the
Macs above the level of "glorified video game"/"platform for
extremely specialized applications."  People don't want two
different computers on their desk.  They want one that does it
all.

We would like to see Mac prices come down, Mac Ethernet hardware
adapter prices come down, and continued enthusiasm and support
for more 100% free (or low-cost commercial) software.  Otherwise,
Macs have a very dim future--there's practically nothing they
have to offer that [lower-cost] alternatives can't at least
match.  Cost isn't everything, but it's pretty close.  Apple is
already at a disadvantage, and the "competition" doesn't have to
work very hard to get our business.

No, we're not looking for handouts (but we'll take them, and
contributions are tax-deductible).  What Apple does (or does not)
will have an effect on what our graduates do after they leave.
We're talking about investing in the future.  Our future,
California's future, Apple's future.  Maybe even LLNL's future.

>               Personally, I think Steve Dorner deserves to be paid for
>his good work, and perhaps he is, in a way, at his new company. But he's 
>rich in the respect of his professional peers, regardless of his financial 
>status.

Hey, let's all write his name in for the next Interop Achievement
Award.  :-)

>One more thing: I'd never heard of Quallcom before Steve moved there. Maybe
>I don't travel in the right circles, but you can bet I've heard of them now,
>and his presence there is great advertising.

So is Phil Karn's.  (Please don't flood my mailbox with "who is
Phil Karn" messages...)

					-=EPS=-
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.comm