🚀 go-pugleaf

In the news article <32c4f9d3.3604605@news.demon.co.uk> dated 28 Dec 1996,
it was said by chris@abint.demon.co.uk (Chris Jones) that ...

> On Mon, 23 Dec 1996 17:29:25 -0500, "Derek Buchler"
> <stephers@sprynet.com> wrote:

> >Chris Jones wrote:
> >
> >>> but the BUGS drove me up a wall, not to mention the upgrade from
> >>> hell that blew up on the first try!
> >
> Actually I DIDN'T write this - it was some other poor soul also having
> problems with this program.  


Sorry, I jumped into this thread in the middle of it.  Still, the
impression I got from your postings is that you're not a happy camper so I
assumed it was you.

> Can't blame you for getting confused if
> you are using Netcetera but remember to check manually all your
> postings if you use this program......

Nice try....:)  I won't comment on that one but I'll try and address some
of the other things you've written about.

> >Chris, I can't understand why you're having so many problems with
> >Netcetera while others are not, myself included.  Could it be....how shall
> >I put this mildly?....operator error?

> What has "operator error" got to do with downloading speed?

EVERYTHING!  I have no idea what system your running or your configuration
but it's no secret that a PC has to be optimized to run efficiently.  If
you'd like some suggestions about how to optimize your system, we can
discuss it either in email or in the appropriate newsgroup.  ITMT, didn't
you also say that you were having problems connecting, not just d/l'ing
messages?  It sounds like you have more than one problem here, not just
just with Netcetera.

> It's far too expensive to call from here as well, as they charge $30 a
> time for this.  They also promised email support BEFORE I purchased
> their program but now they ignore me.  True, they once provided good
> support but, now they have my money, I suppose they now have nothing
> to use.  

Sorry.  Can't comment on that since I wasn't privy to the conversation.  I
only have your side of the story on this one.  Since you have yet to say
one thing that's good about Netcetera, I'd have to treat it as
"suspicious".

> >Give the Netcetera folks a chance to
> >correct the problems that you find. I'm sure that they'll welcome the
> >feedback.  But, you've got to use the honey, not the vinegar.

> "Welcome the feedback"?  The last email I received from them was very
> rude and remarked about (quote) "my gaul to complain".  Of course
> there are bugs in every program.  This isn't the point.  I downloaded
> four "upgrades" in as many weeks.   

What's wrong with that?  Need I remind you about the disastrous early
releases of Windows 3.0., or many of the other MS programs?

Other examples?  Sure.  I own a Matrox Millennium video card.  Go to their
site and see how often they release drivers and bios upgrades.  It's a
fine piece of hardware, but they are constantly releasing upgrades based
upon F E E D B A C K from their users.  It's usually because someone ran
into a problem, and notified them of it.

How about Microrim's R:Base Database program?  They actually had for-pay
upgrade program where you got 4 releases a year.  I don't suppose you'd
want to see the Necetera folks adopt that policy, would you?

Everywhere in the industry, programs are released and then patches and
upgrades follow due to F E E D B A C K.

> I couldn't even connect properly
> with the first version of NetcGold I downloaded.  After many further
> downloads, I contacted them and was told off in no uncertain terms
> about (quote) "my gaul to complain".  These are the exact words they
> used.  Do you call this "welcoming the feedback"? 

Like I said earlier, I wasn't there, so I can't comment.  To do so would
be unfair.

> Thanks for the offer, much appreciated.  However, I would prefer
> support from the Netcetera people themselves, as I paid for this.
> Obviously NG support isn't the answer.

Is this a pride thing here?

That's foolish, IMHO.  I don't care WHERE the support comes from.  I
just care that I get it.  The net has a vast array or resources to offer. 
You should use them.  God knows I have.  I've bought hardware and software
before that I couldn't get configured for one reason or another.  It was
thanks to newsgroups/web sites/mailing lists/faqs that I sorted my
problems out.

From your statement above, I'm starting to suspect that no matter how or
where help is offered to you, you probably won't accept it.  Tell me, can
you mention anything you LIKE about Netcetera?  You obviously saw
something positive in the program since you did register it.

> Does any of these issues include the ability to download news, as I
> can no longer do so this my current version?  

Surprise, surprise!  I used Netcetera to d/l the news that I'm now
replying to.  

> As I cannot get any response from Netcetera, I would like to know how 
> I can rely on any program from them.

What's the difference?  You don't want to rely on the help from the
newsgroups, and your are reluctant to rely on the Netc folks.  Please tell
me what your exact symptons are.  How far into the d/l process do you get?
Are you 100% sure that your news server information is configured
correctly (i.e. no typos)?  How much free hard disk space do you have?  How
fragmented is the HD?  How much RAM do you have installed?  What other
programs are running when you are on-line?  All of these things will
factor into a successful on-line session.

> I intend it to be a happy new year, as I now use Agent.  This has been
> around far longer than NetcGold and it shows - havn't come across any
> bugs yet.  It actually downloads news!   :-)

Fine, then let the issue die.  I see no need for you to continue to pose
rhetorical questions about problems you've encountered if you don't really
want them solved.  If you want to go back to Netcetera, like I've said
before, I'm willing to help.  

Just remember to bring the Honey, not the other stuff.  :)

Derek

--
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