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From: Little.Fleas%hi-multics@sri-unix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: JRT pascal complaints
Message-ID: <3428@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 25-Jul-83 12:58:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.3428
Posted: Mon Jul 25 12:58:00 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 26-Jul-83 23:52:28 EDT
Lines: 33

From:      Gary Little 

{Ref. transaction 003}


To borrow a phrase from a certain Chinese scholar: "The sweetness of a
cheap price is offset by the bitterness of poor quality".  In essence,
you get what you pay for.  I have seen a few reveiws that do not applaud
JRT, but they do at least say you could do worse, and practically every
magazine that I have seen during the last 9 months has letters
complaining about JRT's tardiness in delivery.  In JRT's defence, they are
probably swamped with orders; however, before depositing the $29.95 ($39.95??)
it would be gentlemanly of them to send a warning of delay (and to publish
said delay in their advertisements).

As to the question: "Is any software worth this delay?"  Well, if it does the
job of the $400 to $40,000 packages, then I would say it probably was (which
makes you wonder about the worth of the high priced spread).  If it only does
a $40 job, then I would say it was still worth it -- after all, it does meet
the specification of $39.95 (+ .05).  But to wonder if it is "worth it" because
one does not haves his new toy to play with in his hot little hands, is a
little sanctimonious [Poor choice of words??  Any way it sounds nice.].
Especially if said complainer has been involved with the delivery of software
systems him/her/it/self.  Maybe the situation is improving (although I doubt
it), but a very large percentage of deliverable software costing in excess of
$1,000 and more get slipped from 1 to 6 to more months before WE deliver the
product.

Is the $40 JRT compiler worth the delay?  I don't know.  Is our super spiffy
light speed F-98 simulation trainer (or STS Columbia flight control system)
worth the 13 month delay?  I certainly hope so.

                                        Gary