SCO and filePro

[Fairlight]

When asked his whereabouts on Fri, Sep 21, 2007 at 07:58:57PM -0400,
Ron Kracht took the fifth, drank it, and then slurred:
> The point was, as Ken indicated, that if you want a official statement 
> of policy don't ask in an unofficial location.  I don't know if what was 
> asked about has been considered. I would expect that any significant 
> number of inquires about this would have an effect on the decision if 
> one has not yet been made. I'd also expect any policy change to be 
> announced in the filePro Forum.

And -my- point is that the official statement of policy should be up-front
on the web site at a minimum.  A really proactive company would actually
keep their community informed of policies revolving around current events
affecting their products, as well.  Nothing like reassuring your user-base.
It's absurd that at least two people in management are subbed to this list,
and yet when someone asks a question, suddenly nobody can make an official
statement.  Apparently the subordinates don't have the authority, and
management mysteriously falls comatose.  That's some great PR, lemme
tellya.

As for the forum...last I looked there were what, maybe 5-20 actual active
regular users.  I check in now and then and it's like a ghost town.  You
have just under 300 here last count I had.  You tell me which is going to
yield broader dissemination of critical information.

> fPtech management has also been clear that they are willing to add 
> features that would otherwise not be added if someone is willing to pay 
> for the development of that feature. 

Yeah, I'm guessing that's where the whole biometrics thing came about.
How's that workin' out for you folks?  :-/

> I think we have been perfectly transparent but of course that's like 
> trying to prove a negative - very hard to do to anyone not disposed to 
> believe you. 

I have no reason to doubt you.  I just can tell we have very different
definitions of transparent.  Mine includes subset traits like proactive,
vocal, communicative, authoritative.  Yours apparently does not.

> I also know that public policy can be affected by personal 
> contact which is why I would encourage people to contact fPTech 
> directly. I'd also encourage people to come to the November conference 
> in Philadelphia and speak to us directly. 

I'm sure you do.  It brings in money.  I was actually thinking about this
on and off for the last week as I debated spending the money to do the
Flash-based attendance, but you folks have it backwards IMHO.  Everything
I've seen come through marketing says how much you have to pay to make a
presentation at the conference.  You -do- realise usually conferences work
the other way around and the conference organisers invite and -pay the
speakers- for their time and expertise, taking the time to come out and
support them, etc.  Straight down the line from sci-fi conventions to other
business conferences.  Traditionally, from what I know of conferences in
general, guest speakers, guests of honour, etc., are usually compensated,
not charged.  I found that rather interesting when I started thinking about
it in general.  I wasn't going to say anything, but since you bring it
up...

And I've talked to Bud directly, privately before.  I came away feeling
like it did absolutely nothing but waste the better part of an evening.
And that was when my participation was solicited -by him-.  Bud's very
first email to the list after taking the reins was to shut Jay down on
fP license alterations for screen(1) to give it parity with Facet and
SCO consoles.  (Which at least is a decisive and public statement of
policy--something we don't even get the benefit of anymore.  When you
long for even negative communication, there's an issue.)  Let's just
say I don't think he's very receptive, or that it's very productive to
talk to him unless you have your wallet out.  That may or may not be an
accurate assessment, but that's been what my experience indicates might
be a valid opinion.  Hell, I kept hearing the developer's council kept
getting overridden to the point it was a bad joke--from multiple people
on the actual council, so I don't doubt the veracity of the claims.  If
the company doesn't bother taking its own committee's advice, why would
-anyone- in their right mind believe they'd listen to just a random user or
developer?

mark->
-- 
The latest synth mixdown...
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