Newsgroups: bit.listserv.cdromlan
Date:         Fri, 14 Aug 1992 10:51:12 MST
              <CDROMLAN@IDBSU.BITNET>
From:         Dan Lester <ALILESTE@IDBSU.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: single user vs. standalone
X-To:         wallyg%fen1.gmu.edu@gmuvax2.gmu.edu,
              CDROM LAN List <CDROMLAN@IDBSU.BITNET>
              14 Aug 1992 11:50:59 EDT from
              <WALLYG%fen1.gmu.edu@GMUVAX2.GMU.EDU>

On Fri, 14 Aug 1992 11:50:59 EDT Clyde W. Grotophorst said:
>To calm the fears of Dan Lester (and anyone else who read my message
>about DRDOS and grew concerned about CD-ROM vendors were not getting
>their pound of flesh out of me for a network license) ...

   I wasn't really worried....and I figured that you had it all under
control, but lots of folks among the several thousand that read this
list/newsgroup are NOT as experienced or aware of the legalities
involved.  In fact, one of the interesting things is that in many libraries
the acquisitions or serials departments order the stuff....and may not
know how it is used, or the CDROM folks may not be aware of the licensing
arrangements.  Sure, they should communicate better...but lots of folks
have an "I just work here" attitude.

>and it is a single disk package.  Testing connectivity at a
>workstation is simplified since CS requires no installation to
>speak of and thus leaves little to remove from the workstation when
>testing is done.

   Good point.  And glad to learn that.  We do NOT have Computer Select,
though I've seen it at the local Hewlett Packard Library.

>(to clear up a misconception that Dan's reply contained) you can not
>purchase a license that allows a single simultaneous user for
>Computer Select.  The miminum LAN license is a 5 user 'LAN PACK'.

   Sorry if it sounded like  I was implying you could do that for Computer
Select.  I was trying to indicate that SOME products have that option.
I fully agree that we should be able to buy licenses in smaller increments,
but I guess that most vendors have adopted the "software mentality" of
licenses coming in large increments...."up to 16 users" or "100 to 199
users" and so forth.

>Magazine) publish columns (e.g., Jim Seymour's) decrying
>the regressive networking license fees of other vendors, when their

   Hey, at least they give him some freedom in his column.  Which is more
than some library-publication columnists get.  8-)

>the ethics of that), they  fail to mention their networking
>license fees.

   I think this is widespread....almost NO vendors are openly promoting
or advertising license options and fees.  It is like it is our
responsibility to beg them for the information.

   The market place is indeed changing rapidly...and I welcome some offlist
(or onlist) input on what problems, ideas, etc, all of you who are
actually networking CDROMs have had with licenses.  I am making a presentation
on the licensing issues and prices at Online in Chicago in October, and
am trying to wrap up some last minute stuff.  I would love to get some
more "real life adventures" to go with Clyde's and others.

dan

*****************************************************************************
* Dan Lester                          Bitnet:   alileste@idbsu              *
* Associate University Librarian      Internet: alileste@idbsu.idbsu.edu    *
* Boise State University                                                    *
* Boise, Idaho  83725                 BSU and I have a deal: I don't speak  *
* 208-385-1234                        for them and they don't speak for me. *
*****************************************************************************
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU