LACK OF INFORMATION ALSO CAUSES PIRACY by Johan Peters
In this article, I want to discuss a problem that I have met
several times already - and I think I am not the only one. As I
don't have the possibilities to solve it on my own, I wrote to ST
NEWS, knowing that those people concerned might read this one day
and - maybe - do something about it.
The problem I am referring to is the lack of information that we,
the consumers, get from software/hardware producers/distributors.
A a real computerfanatic I am very interested in the machine and
what people can get out of it. And, bless God, there are enough
smart folks to invent and develop new attributes for computers
every day. It started with the - already common - printers, disk
drives and joystick-interfaces, but soon enough video-and sound-
digitizers, MIDI interfaces, several emulators and many more
enhancements could be found in your local computershop. And then,
big advertisements and reviews of the latest super product X pop
up in well-known computermagazines. People read them, don't
believe it's possible and start getting very interested. They
simply want to have it, but they still have some questions left
that both reviews and advertisements didn't answer, so they put
together all questions and send those to the producers of the
product-of-their-wildest dreams. They wait patiently for the
reply. And they wait. And wait. And...after a few months of
waiting they still have not received a single word of reply! Is
it a lack of interest or are the companies too busy to answer
potential customers correctly? Anyhow, because of the neglection
by the producers, these people then either don't want to buy the
product anymore or (in worse cases) they start looking around for
a much cheaper illegal copy. And if they read a Very Interesting
Advertisement about a Very Good Product again, they might try
their luck just once more again. But if the result is the same,
they will probably not bother anymore.
I think (or rather, I fear) that many people will recognize this
situation and agree with me that something muist be done about
it!
Before I continue, I must say that it mostly concerns products
worth more than approximately 100 Dutch guilders - one doesn't
buy these product from one moment on the other. One wants to know
what one gets for his/her precious money, wouldn't you?
A very good example is ProfiComp, the producer of the MacIntosh
enhancer "Aladin" (Editorial remark: I wrote to this company
several times as well, and I got no reply either - Starsoft is
another one of such companies). Several people have written to
these people, and are (just like me) still waiting for their
answer.
So please, dear Managers or Software/hardware companies: Can you
give us an answer to our questions? I am sure it is to both
sides' benefit if you can do something about it! There must be a
solution. If you are too busy to answer people, why don't you
make a general letter containing the answers to the questions
that are asked most frequently? That shouldn't be too difficult!
Or maybe one of the many, many readers of ST NEWS has thought of
a splendid solution. Come on, folks! Send in your comments on
this subject to the correspondence address!
To be continued in the next issue of ST NEWS....
On the next page, you'll find some of the editor's phylosophies
about this problem.
Yes, I surely recognize Mr. Peters' problem instantly. I, too,
have experienced considerable trouble contacting software-or
hardware companies about information or obtaining review samples
for use in ST NEWS. Some of those really hit the bill with not
even answering up to three letters I sent within half a year (the
first two even being very civil and proper) - I won't mention any
names, Starsoft! And ProfiComp is just another one of those, be
it not as bad as the aforementioned company, together with most
of the companies I contacted.
The only hint I can give: Call them! They will surely not put
down the phone, and personal contact is much better through this
medium. Only a shame that most companies are located in foreign
countries (at least, the companies that YOU just happen to want
to contact). Phone bills can rise to astronomical heights this
way (believe me, I speak from experience!), but it is very
effective, indeed.
If you happen to belong to one of the very few who have succeeded
in getting through to companies like the ones mentioned, please
let me know (and explain the techniques you used).
I just hope this annoying habit will not, together with the
increasing piracy, destroy the whole software world,
Sincerely Yours,
Richard Karsmakers
(Editor of ST NEWS)
Disclaimer
The text of the articles is identical to the originals like they appeared
in old ST NEWS issues. Please take into consideration that the author(s)
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