[18] in resnet
Re: Support for net software
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (timo@mit.edu)
Tue May 18 15:41:25 1993
To: Erik Nygren <nygren@Athena.MIT.EDU>
Cc: resnet@Athena.MIT.EDU
In-Reply-To: Your message of Tue, 18 May 93 13:40:12 -0400.
Date: Tue, 18 May 93 15:40:52 EDT
From: timo@mit.edu <timo@Athena.MIT.EDU>
hola.
Erik Nygren writes..
>>
>> Just some ideas in response to Michael Barrow's suggestions:
>>
>> I think that expecting IS to offer support for PC/Mac network
>> software would be costly and unreasonable (IMHO). However, I think it
>> would be a good idea for IS or SIPB or some other group to provide a
>> central ftp site for such software. Also, some basic freely
>> distributable/shareware software (ie ftp and other TCP/IP
>> applications) should be available on disks at either MCC or somewhere
>> else for only the cost of the disk (with the understanding that
>> support is not going to be made available).
Supporting this ftp and shareware site may cost more than providing
support for the software itself. Who is going to take care of the
machine it is connected to? Who is going to bring it up whenever it
crashes? Who is going to constantly update the software on this site,
making sure we have the latest versions? Who is going to pay for the
machine and disk space?
It is not unreasonable to expect support for "basic features." I
consider ftp, gopher, email, telnet, and news as basic features. Support
for these product is trivial, because most of I/S uses them already! In
fact, what is the use of giving people connectivity if we aren't going
to help them to use it? I think it is unreasonable to expect I/S to do
anything other than offering full support for those "basic features."
At any rate. I personally consider the I/S service and support network
to be excellent. No matter the difficulty of the task, they'll find a
way to help. (of course, I am biased.)
Finally, I'd like to see proactive support, i.e. training, geared
towards students for Mac and PC software.
.........................................................................
. happy daze . .
. -tim O . The sum of the intelligence on .
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