Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!mit-eddie!bu-cs!bzs
From: bzs@bu-cs.BU.EDU (Barry Shein)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Something old, something new (a proposal)
Message-ID: <3451@bu-cs.BU.EDU>
Date: Wed, 14-Jan-87 20:18:22 EST
Article-I.D.: bu-cs.3451
Posted: Wed Jan 14 20:18:22 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 15-Jan-87 04:11:23 EST
Organization: Boston U. Comp. Sci.
Lines: 38


Here's a wierd idealistic idea...

Let's face it, in the micro world we are destined to "get stuck" with
aging technology (ie. anything more than 6 months old.) The worst thing
is to create a back pressure on innovative vendors to hold back things
so old boxes (which may contain honest errors of design) might be upgraded
or kept compatible. So we need a solution that can be applied successfully
over and over again (other than whining every time :-)

Here's mine:

1. Offer a trade-in on the last model as a substantial discount against
the new model.

2. Sell these used systems at their steeply discounted price back to
schools who can (should be able to...) make good use of them.

3. Get the tax boys (and girls) to maximize that spread by having the
government kick in in the form of a tax deduction to the company (who,
more than likely, is incurring at least an operating cost for managing
the program.) There is little doubt in my mind that this would *not* be
a "tax scam", schools are spending on computers, this reduces the
govt's bills (or tuition on campuses, etc) and should be compensated.

4. Have a lottery or something simple like that to distribute the used
systems (I don't care, just keep it simple.)

5. Let the various vendors play one-upsmanship (one-upspersonship?)
on how far they can push such programs, ahh, competition at its
altruistic best!

Am I only a dreamer? A fool in love? So shoot me.

	-Barry Shein, Boston University

Fellow Americans, it may be ugly to think about, but there are places
in America where children go for days without hacking...