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From: info-vax@ucbvax.ARPA
Newsgroups: fa.info-vax
Subject: VMS --> non-VMS mail
Message-ID: <5427@ucbvax.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 11-Mar-85 14:01:32 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.5427
Posted: Mon Mar 11 14:01:32 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 12-Mar-85 22:15:19 EST
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Organization: University of California at Berkeley
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From: MSEV%PHOBOS%phobos%deimos%hamlet.arpa@lbl.arpa

>Mail  to  non-VMS  machines  is very important to many sites (ours
>included). The many work-arounds in existence point out this need,
>yet DEC provides *NO* support for this.  If you don't use  DECNET,
>then you lose.

I agree with Marty Sasaki.  I would add that we are using those
non-supported v4 VMS hooks on our local net and thence to the world.
Speaking as a user (and representing what other users have told me), I
have found the MAIL to off-net facilities very useful and convenient. 
Our users balk at having to learn more than one MAIL system.  (There are
at least 4 going on our campus!) 

So, I would suggest that the current hooks are adequate from a user's
viewpoint, and should be supported (in some form) in future releases. As
far as money goes, we are already paying for maintenance. Basic support
for non-VMS mail should be treated as a normal upgrade. 

Martin Ewing
Radio Astronomy, Caltech
818-356-4970
mse%hamlet @ LBL.ARPA
mse@hamlet.bitnet