#Cis and HMI
16 messages in this thread
Here's what we need to do: All Amigans on CIS must sign a petition to the CIS
powers vowing to quit the service if HMI is *not* ported over. Then they can do
the math and figure out which is greater: The cost of having someone port HMI
code over to the Amiga, or the lost monthly revenue from our collective
usership. Besides, those of us who use AP would, I am sure, be willing to
underwrite to a fair value the cost of a HMI upgrade.
This decision ought to be a no-brainer. The CIS folks ought to consider why
America On Line has virtually no Amiga usership. It's because you have to have
Windows, or a Mac, or MS-DOS, or GeoWorks, to run their interface. Nothing like
cutting off potential membership, but I suppose the tyranny of the majority is
all the bean counters are thinking about these days.
— from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, via Amiga AUTOPILOT v1.80
[Are you asleep at the stick?]
Ron;
<Then they can do the math and figure out which is greater: The cost of having
someone port HMI code over to the Amiga, or the lost monthly revenue from our
collective usership.>
I agree and would certainly sign such a petition. Maybe Cis is calling our
bluff?
Pax Vobiscum! Hank
from northern N.J. running A2000 GVP'040@33
Hank,
I've been following this thread for awhile now, and have become somewhat
dissatisfied with how CIS is conducting it's business.
There are too many other options open to me "and you" for getting the info we
need. I.E. AmiNet, UseNet, ect… If CIS wants to call my bluff, Then more
power to them. Let them run their business anyway they want to, but without me
as a customer.
Right now i'm taking an wait and see attitude. If they do not port HMI over to
the Amiga, then i'll be saying so long, and thanks, but no thanks!
Well, enough of this rant. I'll just sit back down and listen.;)
Stephen…AutoPilot 1.80!
E-Mail "savner@clubmet.metrobbs.com"
If you like it here – isn't it a bit self-defeating to leave while we can still
access this forum? And wouldn't it just encourage CIS to NOT port it if our
membership begins to dwindle away?
—Betty
Betty,
I said "If" they don't port it, and that i'm going to wait and see. This all
refers to the comment about CIS calling my(our) bluff.
I do like it here and am not planning to leave any time soon. But that is
subject to change. What i'm tryimg to say is that, i would not cry over leaving
CIS if they choose not to support my choice of computer. There are too many
other sources of info available to me and you.
Stephen…AutoPilot 1.80!
E-Mail "savner@clubmet.metrobbs.com"
I understand, Steve – but we didn't want you to leave!
—Betty
He,He,He. Scary thought, isn't it? I guess, from all the talk, that i'll be
around for awhile yet.
Stephen…AutoPilot 1.80, Mosaic1.2, Gui-FTP, Gopher, ALynx, CD-Rom
and three hard drives. All on one A500! E-Mail "savner@clubmet.metrobbs.com"
Hmmmmm…..don't know if that would work. THat needs some thought.
—Betty
Ron,
Before we start up a petition, I think it would be best if everyone that cares
would send a quick, polite and clear email to Feedback that we don't like
losing the ASCII interface and that we want the HMI libraries for the Amiga.
//
\X/ Amiga lives? Gerald Bonnstetter, Bonnsoft
Gerald,
Yes! I've already done this, and ask that all others involved here to do the
same. The Autopilot forum is, after all, only one cul de sac in the vast
Compuserve neighborhood. But Go Feedback takes you directly to where THEY live!
It'll garner much quicker attention there.
Mike,CyberGrafx.3D
I think you are right, Gerald. In almost every endeavor, personal letters
carry more weight than petitions.
—Betty
I sent such a note, and the response was quite amusing…. They said they are
concerned for their 'sight impared' members…. The message follows:
——————-
Action! Subj: Feedback reply (Ref #3100) Date: 04-Aug-95 07:59 EDT From:
CompuServe > [70006,101]
Customer Service Representative
Re: Migration from ASCII Interface
Thank you for using Feedback! I am writing in response to your concerns
regarding the future of the ASCII interface.
I am glad to try and address your concerns about CompuServe's migration away
from ASCII.
CompuServe is converting to HMI as it moves toward up-to-date, user-friendly
graphical interfaces that meet the needs of today's customers.
Graphical capability is a given on today's personal computer systems and more
and more content online is tailored for the access by graphical interfaces.
As CompuServe advances into this new marketplace, it is vital that we put our
resources into these new technologies while smoothly transitioning away from
outdated protocols.
However, we recognized early on in this process that maintaining high-quality
service to our visually impaired members presents a challenge to CompuServe
that we are committed to resolving.
Today, we are looking at hardware and software solutions that will provide
equal access to members who need special assistance in viewing or operating CIS
client software. Because of the state of some of these technologies, we do not
yet have a specific solution to the challenge of equal access.
However, we're not going to abandon those members who presently depend on
terminal emulation/ASCII for access.
Some of the products we have examined, or are examining, include: ScreenPower
for Windows, ProTalk for Windows; Slimware Window Bridge; Windows Master; and
ProTalk32 (an as yet unreleased product). Since the transition will take more
than a year, we are al,so looking for new products to come on the market that
will offer even more advanced solutions and are putting a great deal of effort
to searching them out.
Some of the products I mentioned above have very promising features and we are
evaluating them further. Others, upon evaluation, clearly do not meet our
needs. Though we have not made any decisions as yet on what technologies we
will adopt, I wanted to share this information with you. I hope it helps
reassure you that we are devoting effort and resources to create a solution
that will meet your needs and conform to our quality and reliability standards.
We also welcome input and feedback from you and other sight-impaired members to
help us achieve a solution that will allow us to smoothly transition away from
HMI and make it possible for you to employ the next generation of interface
technology.
Thanks for your feedback.
Jaime
Gary Vassalotti
Using AP 1.80
And of course, this will require the sight empaired to buy new systems to run
the new software they will have to buy…
-Jonathan
MAC Quadra/486PC compatible courtesy Amiga, Emplant and BB. Emplant beta
tester. Running AP v1.80. E-mail: JonathanB@delrina.com
http://www.delrina.com
Hi Gary,
PMFJI, but isn't it funny how the FEEDBACK! reply you received from Jaime at
CIS talks about Windows solutions only; not another platform in sight, not even
a Mac! Is this a sign of things to come?
<<…allow us to smoothly transition away from HMI…>>
AWAY from HMI? When was this announced? <bg>
Ciao,
Terry Cooper,
Sailing the fjords on Autopilot.
<<All Amigans on CIS must sign a petition to the CIS powers vowing to quit the
service if HMI is *not* ported over.>>
I agree completely, and will sign said petition as soon as it is available.
We must not let this issue remain idle. Only constant push will bring about the
required change!
Mike,CyberGrafx.3D
Ron,
<Here's what we need to do: All Amigans on CIS must sign a petition to the CIS
powers vowing to quit the service if HMI is *not* ported over.>
I am of the belief that boycotts should be the LAST line of action, not one
of the first. Even so, if CIS does not allow/support the porting of HMI to the
Amiga then they're basically saying that our business is not enough to make
that worth while for them. If that's the case, then our leaving isn't relevant
either (since when/if they do drop ASCII we won't have access here anyway).
No, I think write in campaigns and a good strong effort to find a programmer
in the Columbus OH area that will do this for us would be much more
constructive than threatening CIS with our departure.
Additionally, we might want to talk with some of the folks from other
platforms (Psion, Unix, Sun, etc.) and see if we can present a more united
front to the powers that be.
You can catch a lot more flies with honey than you will with viniger!
Asha
@}–`–,-