Might I also suggest that all the extras, like the recommended list of VARs (very good idea), etc. be placed on u2ug.org's website so they are located in one location, and can be updated once? There's nothing less maintainable than a software release with all the packages included, but which is out of date 20 minutes after download...
Karl <quote who="Dave Taylor"> > Chuck, > > <Stepping up on my soap box> > As I have said before on this subject, "you never get a second chance to > make a good first impression". > > I once spoke with a representative of another mv database who bragged that > they got over 2000 downloads of their eval. product per month. > > When I asked him, "how many sales did you make", he had no clue. > > If I download an eval copy of something and it doesn't work for me, do you > think I'm doing to say "Well, Self, this is really a good product, but > you're too stupid to figure out how to make it work"? > > What we really *don't* need is 2000 downloads a month that result in 2000 > disgruntled people who experimented with the product and concluded that > *the > product* doesn't work! > > NOTE TO IBM: this is the *last* place you want to refuse to provide > product > technical support - *as you do today*. > > This is our *first* chance to make a good first impression, and we're not > going to get another one. > >>Stepping down off my soap box> > > With this in mind, may I suggest that we consider some of the following > ideas: > > 1. Adding an invitation to contact the u2ug group for technical support > at any time during or after the installation. > > 2. Ensuring that there are step-by-step tutorials, borrowed from IBM or > contributed by our members, starting with the Readme document, that > attempt > to make it impossible to fail to install, connect and run the product, > including (1) creating a simple application and (2) moving a simple > application to the eval database. > > 3. Providing a complete listing of authorized U2 Resellers, by name, > address, contact information and areas of specialization, so a person > evaluating a product knows where to go to get pricing and to purchase the > product. > > 4. Ensuring that the PE release does *not* have a short expiration > date, > because individuals often like to keep a 2-user copy on their laptop to > play > with, even though they have a much larger-user copy on their production > system. > > Since many of the new evaluators will come from the generic Pick sector, > and > because neither Universe or Unidata support generic Pick spooler commands, > we will offer to contribute a copy of SpoolerPlus to the u2ug library to > be > distributed with these eval copies of the PE. This will over come the > most > difficult issue faced by most generic Pick people evaluating UV/UD. > > Also, since UV and UD do not read generic Pick file saves and account > saves, > we will also offer to contribute a copy of our File Caddy programs, > TAPE.DUMP and TAPE.LOAD, and our data cleaning programs to remove > unprintable ascii characters that will not load onto UV/UD, to enable them > to easily move an entire account from most generic Pick databases to UV or > UD. > > I think that the u2ug needs to come up with a mutually acceptable policy > for > licensing these products for use in the PE library. > > We will also contribute to a growing documentation of issues faced in > converting to UV/UD as we become aware of them thru out conversion > activities. > > I totally support this project and am glad to assist wherever we can. > > Rgds, > > Dave > > Dave Taylor > CEO > Sysmark Information Systems, Inc. > 49 Aspen Way > Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 > 800-SYSMARK (800-797-6275) > (O) 310-544-1974 > (C) 310-561-5200 > (F) 310-377-3550 > www.sysmarkinfo.com > Your Source for Integrated EDI Translation, DataSync Integration and > Software Migration > Authorized IBM Business Partner > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Charles Barouch" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org> > Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 7:39 PM > Subject: [U2] Incubator - News from the board > > >> All, >> The U2UG board has been discussing the 'incubator plan' and we will >> soon be presenting a draft proposal to membership. Here's what we are >> discussing in broad brushstrokes - all feedback appreciated. >> >> We want an *easy* *legal* way to get PE editions into the hands of >> business people, college students, entrepreneurs, and other market >> expanders. More than that, we need to get people a version of the PE >> software which is chock full of examples, training materials, and useful >> information. >> >> Here's what we have in mind: We want to build an installer which >> pulls the PE editions from the IBM website (allowing the user to sign >> the IBM agreement), pulls Learner Packs from the U2UG website (allowing >> the user to sign the U2UG agreement - designed to protect the content >> all of you will - hopefully - contribute). Finally, the installer will >> bootstrap the Learner Packs into the PE installation, so the accounts, >> files, and programs, etc. are all in place. >> The end result will be a full install, with URLs to get them to the >> U2UG and other key locations. It will allow people to see our technology >> in the best light possible. Opinions? Flames? Offers to Help? >> >> Charles Barouch ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) >> www.KeyAlly.com (718) 762-3884 x 1 >> P. O. Box 540957, Queens, NY 11354 >> ------- >> 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/ > -- Karl Pearson Director of I.T. ATS Industrial Supply, Inc. [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.atsindustrial.com 800-789-9300 x29 Local: 801-978-4429 Fax: 801-972-3888 "To mess up your Linux PC, you have to really work at it; to mess up a microsoft PC you just have to work on it." ------- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
