Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!bellcore!faline!thumper!ulysses!andante!alice!debra From: debra@alice.UUCP (Paul De Bra) Newsgroups: comp.unix.microport Subject: Re: Support versus Bug Fixes (Was: Can't backup to floppy) Message-ID: <8238@alice.UUCP> Date: 24 Sep 88 19:46:45 GMT References: <913@cygnet.CYGNETSYSTEMS> <425@l5comp.UUCP> <270@belltec.UUCP> <8229@alice.UUCP> <276@belltec.UUCP> Reply-To: debra@alice.UUCP () Organization: University of Antwerp Lines: 48 Ok, Dimitri and all others who followed up on my complaint regarding bug fixes versus software support. There is of course a good reason for not providing life-time free bug-fixes, because that may turn out to be extremely expensive, and there also is a good reason for not distinguishing support from bug-fixes because many customers think they want a bug-fix whereas they really ask for support. We have a long experience with some Unix-versions at our University. When we found bugs we reported them to our distributor, and some time later we got updates (not upgrades) and never paid a penny for them. (it did take more than a few weeks usually, things don't move that fast between Europe and the US). When I'm happy with my Unix, why should I pay for an upgrade with some bug fixes and some new bugs introduced in new features, when all I want is bug fixes in my (old) Unix? After all, we DO get messages on the net saying "this command used to work in version X and no longer works in version X+1, can anyone tell me why?" I sent my flaming message because I noticed that many users of a Unix-without bug-fixes-or-support do not know what they are getting into, and I still feel that sales-people don't know what this kind of deal means either. The fact that Bell-Technologies has a money-back guarantee is a very positive aspect, and I hope they continue this policy, because people WILL realize that this Unix doesn't work on their machine with 20 nonstandard components and notice that BT will not support them, so hopefully BT will continue to advise these customers to go buy another Unix which offers support. Unfortunately, nothing prevents a new company from starting next month, beat the best price by another $50 and offer essentially the same Unix without any guarantee whatsoever. I would not be unhappy with this cheap Unix at all, and I understand very well that many other people who have access to the source of some Unix-version (at their company or university...) can work around bugs by studying their source, and maybe by replacing the broken programs or device drivers by their own code. I have done so too in the past. But I would strongly advise against buying any Unix without a minimal guarantee if you do not have access to source code (for a related Unix system, need not be exactly the same). It is exactly the "ordinary" person who wants to "give Unix a try" who will all to easily go for the cheapest Unix and be very unhappy. I am affraid that a company like Bell Technologies will not be able to make sure there retailers WILL warn users about the limited guarantee and non-support of this Unix. After all, this whole discussion started BECAUSE some people bought a Unix without any support, and without being informed. Paul.