SPC sells product lines
17 messages in this thread
Software Publishing Corporation, formerly Precision, Inc., has sold the
Commodore Amiga, Commodore 64/128, and Atari ST product lines to Oxxi, Inc.
Oxxi is located at 1339 East 28th St., Long Beach, CA 90806. The phone
number for sales,upgrades, and customers under support contracts is
(213)427-1227. For all other customer and technical questions, call
(900)776-6994.
Darin SPC Technical Support
– via Whap!
I think it would be a very good idea if as many individuals as possible put
a lot of pressure quickly on companies who are perverse enough to use a 900
line for any thing but trash pick-up.
I hope this was just a stupid mistake or maybe a lousy a joke, but if
other vendors think they might try and get away with something like this
they're in for some serious foot stompin' and rantin' n raving.
900 numbers are too sleazy for the computer support service. Companies
lick there chops at trying to get $350 an hour that should be given for
free, maybe not an 800 line, but at least a normal toll call for the
customer. This $4.95 per minute crap is for the wh……well, nuff said.
It's not that I'm against 900 numbers, but in this environment it would
be technology rape in the tenth degree.
Paul
P.S. other than that, I wish Oxxi the best of luck with their new venture.
–pt–not seattle– 😉
I recently bought a hard card, and the company uses a 900 number – but the
cost is $5 for the length of the call, however long it takes to work out
the problem. That seemed VERY fair to me.
Betty
In that case, you're probably right. The 900 number that's being talked
about is something like $1 for the first minute, and $2 for each additional
minute. A ten minute phone call that costs $19 is a bit steep, IMHO.
Steve
I agree with you, Steve. I was not displeased at paying $5 for a call as
long as needed, and was not even upset when I was put on hold since it was
not costing me extra. This is an entirely different matter.
Betty
My company's switchboard locks out all 900 calls. Now what?
Paul
–pt–not seattle– 😉
That is a very intersting point, Paul. (900 # lockouts on company phones)
I hadn't considered that. That should raise some eyebrows from companies
offering 900# support…
of course, you could alays go out to your car to make a call <grin>
better yet… someone ELSE's car!
– Whapp!ng from the North Coast Michael
900?! Do you know what the cost is to call this line? Are you still
going to be involved with SB? Care to make any comments on where you think
SB for the Amiga is headed? Fwaa-whoosh?
….Mark 74335,1677
The cost is something like $1 for the first minute and $2 for each minute
after, or vice versa, I can't remember. I think Oxxi is going to basically
have the same support scheme that we had, i.e. 90 days of free support, and
then after the 90 days, you call on the 900 line, unless you buy a support
contract.
Yes, I will continue to be involved with Superbase. I am still working
here at SPC, now supporting the Windows product (Windows=BARF!). I will
basically be doing on-line support, like Compuserve, plus answering
developer technical support questions.
As to where the Amiga product is headed, I sure hope it's up! When I came
to Precision, SBPro4 was in late Alpha testing. I coordinated the beta
testing program in the U.S. and Canada. Plus, I have supported it since it
was released for general consumption. I would hate to see SBPro4 die. I
wish Oxxi all the luck in the world, and hope that they can keep Superbase
a world-class product.
The AmigaVend/Precision forum, from what I can tell, will be staying here,
and I will be checking messsages once or twice a day, so let's not stop
talking and asking questions. Let's help Oxxi promote their new product as
the BEST DATABASE ON THE AMIGA!
I certainly wish Oxxi well, and hope that (on the assumption that they have
the source code and will continue to develop the product) it will continue
to parallel the Windows product at least as far as it has done to date.
One question that has not yet been answered is what will happen to the UK
side of things. After all, SB is/was a UK product.
Mike (Whapping from the UK)
Darin,
I am concerned that the 900 number balony will turn off potential buyers
and upgraders of SB Amiga. I am more concerned that OXXI will not upgrade
SB as needed. Being divorced from the other Superbase versions at SPC will
probably mean a growing incompatibility. Network capabilities with PCs and
Amigas working off a fileserver are not likely either. I wonder how much
effort OXXI will make to get programmers up to speed to enhance SB.
If OXXI gets an online presence here and elsewhere they could provide
some support at a reasonable cost to the segment of their market that uses
modems. Your presence certainly is appreciated.
….Mark 74335,1677
I have TurboText—an Oxxi product. The author is giving GREAT support on
Bix, and I believe a new (third) upgrade is planned eventually. So, maybe
we can hope that SuperBase will also be well supported by Oxxi. They would
be foolish not to, I think.
Jim,
I'm happy to know that OXXI is active on BIX supporting their products.
I know some people who have Turbotext twho swear by it. OXXI has some good
products. Superbase probably wasn't cheap so hopefully OXXI will make the
most of it by supporting and upgrading it. I don't think that a presence
on BIX alone makes for solid support. Many developers are on there but the
average user is more likely to be on CI$ or Genie. With the big boost
coming from SB maybe OXXI will get on more networks.
….Mark 74335,1677
Oxxi isn't really on BIX. Martin Taileffer, TurboText's author, is, and
he's the one providing the great support there. But just for TTX.
Denny,
Having the author of TurboText on BIX is probably great for TTX users. I
wonder if OXXI is considering something other than the 900 number to
support SB. I suspect that support on places like BIX, CIS and Genie is
relatively cost effective.
….Mark 74335,1677
You are right, Denny. Martin is doing the supporting. So we will have to
wait and see.
I have had Superbase professional for quite awhile and didn't upgrade when
the offer came out. I was basically afraid of what eventually
happened and didn't want to upgrade to a product that may not have bug
fixes. I would like to continue using the product in the upgraded form,
but will patiently wait to see what kind of support develops.