I think you are missing the point, I am not talking about PE, I was forced on to that because they stopped my support on the 1 user license I had, and I was not prepared to buy a 4-user license just to have access to support. What I want is access to the knowledgebase, including how-tos and to see if the problems I have are a known problem - I like to be informed... As far as support goes, I am quite happy to log bugs etc through the distributor ( I am a UV reseller ) and not IBM. I see a distinct difference between these two things, one is information, the other support.
The thing is, with other database products, which I can get a free development environment, there is also a lot of information available on the web about problems and how-tos, far, far more than U2, so I don't think locking up the little information there is behind some bureaucracy is doing the U2 cause any good. As for protecting revenue streams, I would suggest it will ultimately cause a reduction in revenue streams, as people will finally have had enough and move onto another database product. I know of far more companies who have moved off U2 than onto it from another database, whatever the outcome. Who remembers Beta video..... My 1 kiwi. ----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bruce Nichol Sent: Sunday, 29 January 2006 5:45 p.m. To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org Subject: RE: [U2] U2UG board activity: [U2] Knowledgebase access Goo'day, David, As far as I can see the problerm comes from IBM undertaking to protect the VARs revenue streams... The "established" U2 community, IBM -> (Distributor) -> (Dealer/VAR) -> End User works, works well, and will continue to work, until, that is, IBM provide PE's direct to End Users. "End Users" of the PE variety want and need all the stuff normally provided with PE's, and as far as they're concerned, it should come from IBM "End Users" of the non-PE variety are used to travelling back up the chain for their needs. I'd hate to have to contact IBM with some of the problems I throw .... er..... threw back up the chain.... If IBM are not going to provide free access to the U2 knowledge base (at their VARs request), then they've got to get out of the PE business, for their own sake, as well as that of their products... They can't have it both ways..... unless they can define their PE as "something" that will get around the VARs reluctance to "get out of the way"........ At 14:19 29/01/06 +1100, you wrote: >Hi Bruce, > >Perhaps IBM (and the other majors as they are not the only ones that >are guilty of this) could take a leaf out of the opensource handbook. >Look at the documentation/instructions/examples/assistance that comes >with MySQL, PostgreSQL and the others. There are some projects out >there that are not that great, but in general they are pretty good. > >Regards > > >--------------------------------------------------------------- >********** _/ ********** David Logan >******* _/ ******* ITO Delivery Specialist - Database >***** _/ ***** Hewlett-Packard Australia Ltd >**** _/_/_/ _/_/_/ **** E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >**** _/ _/ _/ _/ **** Desk: +618 8408 4273 >**** _/ _/ _/_/_/ **** Mobile: 0417 268 665 >***** _/ ****** >****** _/ ******** Postal: 148 Frome Street, >******** _/ ********** Adelaide SA 5001 > Australia >i n v e n t >--------------------------------------------------------------- > >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bruce Nichol >Sent: Sunday, 29 January 2006 12:52 PM >To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org >Subject: RE: [U2] U2UG board activity: [U2] Knowledgebase access > >Goo'day, > >And all of this blithering and dithering leaves the poor bloody PE user >........just where, exactly? > >And, no, I'm not one.... but I do feel for them.... > >If my supposition is correct, PE users get no factory support >(understandable) and no access to the knowledge base..... > >Isn't that a marvellous way to spread the word.......? BBB (Big >Blue's >Best) Marketing.... again. And hasn't there been a lot of that over >the >years? > >And I'll bet the PE comes with documentation and install instructions, >FAQs, conversion advice and a directory of "where to go and what to do >if...." Well, does it? > >Asking questions of the U2UG is not totally satisfactory, either. >There is a time lag waiting for responses, time which most PE users >would rather spend on their own investigations of..... of......... >something, >somewhere.... And, at the moment, indexinfocus, even if they know >about >it, just isn't the place to go and play.... > >If IBM VARs have the opportunity of restricting end-users from the >knowledge base, which, by extension, means that PE users' access is >also > >verboten, wouldn't IBM be better off bowing totally to their VARs and >withdrawing from the PE industry completely.... letting the PE end of >the market go to where they're appreciated? > >Who asked the VARs for their opinion in the first place? Of course >they'd >want to maximise their revenue stream, and not have end-users asking >possibly embarrassing questions...... Being VAR driven and wanting to >have a PE in the market place are two ideas that are a total antithesis >to each other. > >As a consequence of this, do IBM really see the PE as ONLY for existing >U2 >users to have something to play around with at home? And ask their >questions from work? > >You'd think that somebody, somewhere within the IBM labyrinth'd be >charged >with just a touch of nous, wouldn't you? But, that'd be only if, >corporately, they gave a damn..... > >And nobody, anywhere in there seems to have any sort of priority to do >anything about it.... > >At 10:13 29/01/06 +1100, you wrote: > > >The U2UG board has followed through on this over the last 6 months as >part > >of the U2UG board and IBM U2 is aware of the issue. Unfortunately > >IBM >U2 > >has to deal with some of the constraints of the IBM juggernaut that > >are >not > >always easy to overcome. > > > > > >-- > >No virus found in this incoming message. > >Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > >Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.14.23/243 - Release Date: >27/01/06 > >Regards, > >Bruce Nichol >Talon Computer Services >ALBURY NSW 2640 >Australia > >http://www.taloncs.com.au > >Tel: +61 (0)411149636 >Fax: +61 (0)260232119 > >If it ain't broke, fix it till it is! > > >-- >No virus found in this outgoing message. >Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. >Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.14.23/243 - Release Date: >27/01/06 >------- >u2-users mailing list >u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org >To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/ >------- >u2-users mailing list >u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org >To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/ > > > >-- >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. >Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.14.23/243 - Release Date: >27/01/06 Regards, Bruce Nichol Talon Computer Services ALBURY NSW 2640 Australia http://www.taloncs.com.au Tel: +61 (0)411149636 Fax: +61 (0)260232119 If it ain't broke, fix it till it is! -- No virus found in this outgoing message. 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