#Ethics vs. Sex on CDROMs
5 messages in this thread
Forcing labeling is not censorship. It is informed purchasing. You referred
earlier to shovelware. That is an apt description; they just shovel the junk on
the disk. There is seldom a folder inside with any kind of description and
almost never a description or list on the outside that can be read through the
shrink wrap. Are you listening Walnut Creek? We just want to know what we are
buying. Period. There are now enough offerings that we can start to be a little
choosier. I eagerly await your review disk since the manufacturers won't tell
me what they are selling.
I am still interested in being one of your reviewers, but have held off asking
for a disk to review until I see some of the ones from your first offering and
get a better feel for your format. You have my address. If you would like to
send me a xerox of a couple of your favorites, I have a couple of diskettes
that I already own that I would like to review (both bad & good). You didn't
say, but are you going to be publishing multiple reviews of the same items to
allow for differing opinions? (i.e. _Mammals_ The whole world seems to love it.
I hate it.) Perhaps you will have a letters to the editor? thanks, chris
Chris,
Forced labeling is odious to me as it implies (proves) that the publishers'
wont accept their responsibilities on their own. That is, I recognize, an
attribute of the human race–I have just been hoping that the computer
community would be of a higher cut. Ah, well …
We are rushing madly to get our review disc out the door. Yes, there will be
multiple reviews on many of the titles and our goal is to provide multiple
reviews on every title. We also intend to allow the publisher to rebut and we
will publish comments, critiques, and letters both about the title, the
publisher, the reviewer, and personal experiences. My goal is to inform and to
provide a public forum where feedback can positively affect the product.
I ask all our reviewers to substantiate their comments. I also ask them for a
"pro" and a "con" which forces them to take both sides of the issue. Saying
that a disc is good or bad carries far more weight if the reasons are given.
One cannot evaluate another's opinions, but we can certainly agree or disagree
with the reasons expressed.
You are welcome to become a reviewer, or even a reviewer of the reviewers, if
you like. Several of our reviewers have written many reviews. If one were to
read all the reviews written by a specific reviewer, it would be possible to
draw an opinion as to that reviewer's objectivity, and even perception. It
will be impossible, however, to predict whether a reviewer will like or dislike
a specific title, however.
We have a wonderful new technology. I think that it behooves anyone that
understands and appreciates it, to help nurture it.
Rgds
Jan
Chris,
YES, we *are* listening! You want a better description of the contents of
the disc on the backliner? Is that right? Or you want a better description
on the booklet? What kind of information do you want exactly? Even the
directories on the disc takes up more room than there is available. It's
really hard to describe 600 meg of stuff in one 1/4 size page…
We have had a problem with the long lead time of printing the booklet and
backliner verses the shorter lead time of producing the disc. I think we
have solved at least part of that problem.
Yes, we *are* listening and DO want to produce products you like.
-jack
Walnut Creek CDROM
For all my bitching, the worst part is that Walnut Creek is BETTER than most!
What I want though is some idea of what is on the disk. I know that the
directories alone would exceed the available space on the crystal box. But I
want some idea of what I am buying. There is a disk I thought was yours and may
be the one that sounds like you 😉 that is "Internet Software". Is this
Waffle, UUCP or someother uucp emulator or is it binaries that have been
distributed on the internet? You are reaching the point that the record
companies reached decades ago. There are now enough disks that we are not
thankful just to have something to run but can choose only the best of the
offerings. Thank you for bringing your price down to the point where I can
gamble a little and try things. I cannot afford to try them all. I will
continue to add many disks to my collection. Now I am ready for data and not
just more shareware. I have purchased the US Code from the US Printing Office
and I have the ProPhone from ProCD. I am contemplating the US Coast and
Geodetic Survey map disks 4 for $200. I have the _Greatest Books Collection_
from World Library Inc. although that one doesn't have all I want. I know I am
speaking for a minority. I want my CDs to be a ready access to supplemental
knowledge and not merely another source of Gee Whiz. I have a pile of Walnut
Creek discs on my desk and I hope to add to them. thank you, chris
Chris,
Thanks for the advice. While not all positive, it wasn't so negative at all!
🙂
On the backliner of the disc we TRY to describe the contents. How can we do
better? There just isn't physical room to do the contents justice. A cdrom
holds too much stuff. How can we describe the contents better? I'm sure your
complaint is a common one and we NEED to address it.
The "internet connection" disc is NOT ours. I don't know what's on it.
Thanks for the positive comments on our prices. Yes, we try to maintain a
reasonable price.
-jack