----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2000 11:57
AM
Subject: MI Where is MapInfo (Friday
lack of humour)
"GIS users and vendors are invited to join the National Geographic
Society, the Association of American Geographers, the University Consortium
for Geographic Information Science, the United States Geological Survey, The
Library of Congress, and ESRI (but not
MapInfo) in opening their doors for GIS Day
2000."
Why isn't MapInfo as pro active as ESRI. How
many truly functional GIS software packages are there? Is ERSI the only one
interacting with URISA, AAG, APA, etc.
In Michigan GIS=ESRI. All universities use
ESRI, all state agencies with very one exception exclusively use
ESRI. The perception is now that ESRI products is GIS, anything else is
used by GIS "imitators". Places are switching to ESRI purely as part of a
herd mentality fostered aggressive sales persons preying
on GIS insecurity.
Software grants to institutions of higher
education is a no brainer to train future users. Cur. Vita of untenured
assistant professors are loaded with ESRI software grants as major
accomplishments. Guess where their loyalty lies if nothing else for pure
leverage in vita building
If I write two identical letters one to MapInfo
and one to ESRI about wanting to start a GIS curriculum at my 4 year
institution guess what happens.
I once was able to get 20 "old" versions
of Mapinfo for my local highschool Vocational Training Center, and
similarly about that many copies for local university two
years ago through what I believe to be a nolonger in existence 3rd party
non-profit organization. It could not be done again today.
The ESRI cult status as the only GIS show in
town is gaining momentum and it is in all honesty to their marketing
credit. The bottom line of MapInfo might be in good shape today but why
promote or support a product without corporate backing. The MapInfo line of
products can speak for itself only if it has an opportunity by used early
on.
I guess I am getting tired of constantly
exporting to *.shp and *.E00 formats for no good reason other than to
provide GIS "theme" layers to others.
Jeroen Wagendorp
