🚀 go-pugleaf

I have learned a few things about Symantec C++ 7.x for the
PC platform, and I thought I'd pass them along.  

I am not a user of Symantec C++, but I'm considering purchasing
a copy.  I started by ordering Symantec's free demo CD of C++ 7.0.
(Unfortunately, I've lost track of the phone number you call
to get it.)  The CD contains not a demo copy of the compiler,
but rather a multimedia presentation program.  When I started 
the program on my NT 3.51-based PC, it said it couldn't run
under NT and exited.  Oddly, when I dug around in some directories
on the CD, I found that \MOVIES\256TEXT\256TEXT.EXE ran fine.
It's an animated walkthrough of the compiler's features--pretty good.
(After upgrading to NT 3.51SP2, I can't run it anymore.  Hmmmm.)

I read an ad in the 30 Oct 95 PC Week mentioning a $50 rebate 
offer good through 31 January 1996.  
The ad said to call (800)628-4777x9F85.  I called on 15 Nov 95,
and they didn't seem to have any idea of what I was talking about.
I was referred to Customer Service at (800)441-7234.  I called, and
they denied that there was any such offer.

On 20 November, I thought I'd try again.  Perhaps I just got incompetent
people the first time around, thought I.  I called the (800)628-4777
number.  This time I got someone who apparently had never heard
of C++.  After some difficulty, again I was referred to Customer Support 
at (800)441-7234.  Again I called.  
They again had never heard of any rebate offer on C++.

Like a lot of people, I wanted to know about Symantec's plans
for MFC 4.x.  I called Symantec tech support at (541)465-8470.
The fellow who answered was the first person at Symantec I had
encountered who knew night from day.  He said that Microsoft had
not delivered MFC 4.x to Symantec yet.  He expected that it would
take 3 weeks for Symantec to ready it for inclusion into C++ 7.x
once it was received, whenever that happens.  Most likely, 
MFC 4.x will be offered free of charge to C++ 7.0 owners
as a patch.

It seems that Symantec probably has a good product, but I am
concerned about the level of customer support.  I am not used
to getting this type of runaround *before* plunking down my money.

Mark R   riordanm@supranet.com
Licensee of MS VC++ 2.0, 1.51, 1.1, 1.0, MS C 7.0, 6.0, 5.1,
MS Quick C 2.0, 1.0, Borland C++ 2.0, Manx Aztec C, 
Computer Innovations C.