🚀 go-pugleaf

BUYER BEWARE

Galacticomm has long been known as the provider of typical BBS software.  Their reputation for stable technology is good.  However, 
their reputation for misleading customers has surpassed all.  This company is lead by a group of kids trying to play business.  The 
decisions made are constantly proving the that a 24 year old, uneducated programmer and a 40 year old programmer, less common 
sense, cannot run a company.  Clear evidence of their lack of understanding in the corporate market is their latest brochure.  Brilliant 
words such as DOODLY and FRICKEN, along with COOL are used in attempt to excite the business man of the 90's.  This type of 
business decision is a prime example why they can't sell the product nor keep industry valued employees.  Their childish attitudes and 
unstandardized product demonstrates that a good programmer cannot run a company.

Some of the concerns a customer should have when visiting the Galacticomm sales group, that is an over-statement, are as follows:

1) Galacticomm has always bragged about the ability to do 256 users on one pentium computer, even though they haven't been able to 
do this for years.  They now unwittingly say that it can handle over 100 users.  This is a big difference.  I think the most appauling thing 
is that they will still sell a customer a 256 user license, knowing that the system will not be able to do over 180 users, maybe 190 if 
you disable every option available.  If they told the customer this then the customer would only by a license for 188, or so.  This would 
result in a $4,000 savings for the customer or a $4,000 dollar loss for Galacticomm.  You be the judge.  Customers that have 
purchased 256 licenses in the last year or two should ask for a refund on the unuseable licenses, since it is well documented that you 
were ripped off.

2) Galacticomm has a good group of programmers but no management strength, the strength they do have is not allowed to play in the 
kids game.  Because of this they constantly create proprietary software for a public market.  They would like the customer to believe 
that their new Worldgroup 2.0 with the Netscape Plug-in is a Netscape product, in a round-about way.  This product is so proprietary 
that they don't recognize any programming standards, security standards, interface standards or even documentation standards.  Their 
own ISV market, which is slowly and intelligently dwindling, cannot even convert Worldgroup programs, I purposely avoid saying 
applications, to other platforms or interfaces (HTML, Mac, NT, UNIX, etc...).  This is why Galacticomm sells most of the source.  They 
know that it can't be delivered as an open platform.

The fact that they work as a plug-in for Netscape doesn't mean they use Netscapes standards.  In fact, they cannot because they 
would have to re-write everything.  All they do is execute a telnet routine through the connection that Netscape is using to make it 
appear that the application has been lauched from the Web.  Sneaky.

Customers should also be aware that the plug-in stuff only works with the latest version of WG, yet to be officially released because of 
bugs, and Netscape 2.0.  No other Web browser will work.  And, since the software does not support HTML as a front end it will not 
work on Macs, UNIX X-terminals, OS/2, etc.

3) The wiz kids have done so poorly at maintaining staff that they have completely lost all their UNIX and NT programmers.  They will 
tell you that they have NT programmers, but these guys are not what we would call NT programmers.  In fact, they have lost so many 
key programmers that they dropped their UNIX product line.  Yes, this means that it only works on the MS-DOS platform.  So all you 
Web developers that want to add some flavor for your Web site (NT or UNIX) must buy a DOS machine and network them together if 
you want to use the limited Worldgroup stuff.  

4) Galacticomm is telling customers that they will have an NT version of their software in 2nd quarter 96'.  This is doubtful (see item 3). 
However, they should make customers aware that when they have an NT version it is not really an NT product.  In fact, it will be a DOS 
application that runs on NT.  Yep, a DOS window that runs on an NT computer.  Think about that for a second.

5) Galacticomm is notorious for changing written policies, pricing and product lines without notifying customers or their own ISVs.  Just 
ask around or call some of the ISVs.  This can be a real issue when you are looking for consistency in your online solutions.

6) Galacticomm has no real technical support.  Yes they have a small technical support team, but they are mostly kids with no world 
experience.  They few good techs that they have had, QUIT.  I wonder why.  If you want a simple question about the software then you 
will probably get it.  However, if you are looking at complicated solutions involving Web, UNIX, Novell, networks, etc. then you probable 
will get a different answer each time you call.  Try it and see for yourself.

7) Galacticomm would like the world to believe they have a huge ISV market.  The last number they were giving out was over 150 ISVs. 
After some investigation I found out that this number is based on who bought source code, not on who has really written public 
applcations.  They really only have about 20 ISVs, if that, that really write applications for them.  Most of these ISVs are ex-employees 
or run adult BBS systems.  Their are a couple decent guys but they are hard to find since the sales team will pass you to the others 
first.  

If you choose to buy a Galacticomm product you should be aware of these things.  I, and some of my counterparts, found out the hard 
way.  Don't be fooled.  If you really want to do something with your Web site then they are better solutions.  If you want to do a small 
secure system for your company then maybe Galacticomm is the choice, but don't forget to look at Mustang.  Mustang has NT, they 
do talk HTML and have good management.  Just thought the buyers should be aware.