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From: TimB1557@aol.com
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 14:56:57 -0400
Subject: CONNECT THE WORLD WITH MERLIN UPDATE #2
Status:   
  
CONNECT THE WORLD WITH MERLIN UPDATE #2
April 19, 1996
  
Dear Merlin volunteers,
  
I've been a little sidetracked getting the May issue of the
OS/2 CONNECT newsletter out the door, but I am now back.
The "Connect the World with Merlin" project keeps progressing 
slowly but surely.  Inquiries come in on a daily basis.  We
now have well over 100 volunteers from 17 countries:  Australia, 
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, 
Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, 
Thailand, the United Kingdom (locations in Scotland and England), 
and the United States.  Currently, I am tracking volunteers using
a simple ASCII text file but I will soon have to go to something
a little more sophisticated.  I started to use the Data Filer in
the IBM Works product but then realized it has no exporting 
capability which I will need to build e-mail mailing lists and
other things.
  
Project Status:
  
1.  Rumors of the delivery date of Merlin are mixed.  I am hearing
    that the beta release is imminent in Europe, yet we hear
    absolutely nothing in the USA.  It is now generally believed 
    formal beta-testing will begin in June, with final delivery
    of the product in September.
  
2.  We have yet to get formal support from IBM for the project.
    Sources close to the Merlin team say they are aware of our
    project but they are not yet ready to make a formal
    commitment.  Anyone participating in the IBM TeleSeminar 
    scheduled for Monday, April 29th should plan on posing a
    question to IBM asking for their support (I know I will be
    trying).
  
    As a reminder, the TeleSeminar is free and will be conducted
    twice in the U.S. at 10am and 6pm Eastern Time.  To register,
    call 800/839-8523 or 402/220-3144  and receive the the downlink 
    instructions.
  
3.  I have sent copies of a lot of the e-mail we have received 
    regarding the project to Paul Giangarra, Wally Casey and 
    John W. Thompson.  I want them to know that there is considerable 
    interest in the project from OS/2 users all over the world.
  
    To my way of thinking:   Yes, we could go it alone without the
    support of IBM (and will do so if they don't).  However, I
    would rather operate with their support.  If we go it alone,
    it may make PSP look foolish in the eyes of the press (I can
    see the headlines now, "OS/2 users lead the marketing charge
    for Merlin - IBM left behind"; "IBM falters on launch of 
    Merlin - commitment questioned again.")
  
    Embracing this project should be a no-brainer for IBM; it's
    easy, cheap, effective, and should be incredibly simple to 
    implement.  But again, talking with IBM is like talking to 
    City Hall.
  
4.  I was originally scheduled to pitch the idea on America
    Online's OS/2 Forum "group chat" on Saturday, April 13th.
    However, due to technical complications connecting with AOL 
    that evening, I was unable to get on.  Dave Swartz, the AOL
    forum leader is currently re-scheduling the event.
  
5.  I placed a "Volunteer Registration Sheet" in the May
    issue of OS/2 CONNECT.  Even though it has only been
    out a couple of days, we have already begun receiving 
    e-mail from it.  People can now sign up directly to the
    project by going to:
  
    http://warp.eecs.berkeley.edu/os2/connect/review.html
  
6.  I would like to delay the decision to conduct the event
    with or without IBM's support until after the TeleSeminar
    April 29th.  By then we should know whether they will
    cooperate or not.  Until then, I would like someone to
    design a "Connect the World with Merlin" logo.  Come on, 
    I know there's a few artisits out there.  Please send me 
    any ideas you might have.
  
That's all for now.  I'll keep you abreast of developments
as they occur.  
  
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
  
Regards,
Tim Bryce
Editor, OS/2 CONNECT
M. Bryce & Associates, Inc.
777 Alderman Road
Palm Harbor, FL  34683
United States
Tel:  813/786-4567
Fax:  813/786-4765
BBS:  813/786-4864
E-Mail:  TimB1557@aol.com
CompuServe:  76235,2364
IBM Link:  MA00890
WWW:  http://warp.eecs.berkeley.edu/os2/connect/
Since 1971:  "Software for the finest computer - the Mind"