Support for obsolete products

From: John Ruschmeyer <jruschme_at_exit109.com>
Date: Thu May 7 10:48:30 1998

> "Jeff Kaneko" <Jeff.Kaneko_at_ifrsys.com>
> >You know, this idea makes sense. But have a feeling that most
> >product managers (the guys most in the position to make these
> >decisions) are so far removed from the product, so intimidated by
> >the almighty 'Company Policy (tm)', (not to mention hair being way,
> >way too pointy) that even this will not get consideration.
>
> Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> >Well, I'm sure we all think that would be a Good Thing, but just try
> >convincing companies of that.
>
> OK, help me brainstorm arguments to persuade companies to release
> obsolete information. Certainly pointy-haired managers (does the
> cartoon "Dilbert" cross the pond?) will opt for the simple safe
> solution of "don't let anything out of the office, or out of our
> control". And there's the question of money to be made. As soon
> as someone seems interested in old technology, they'll believe
> there's still some money to be made. Then there's the question
> of the cost and trouble of drafting or approving any legal document
> to make the transaction official. Why spend money on giving away
> products?

One thing to remember here is that your logic is based on the premise
that the information still exists.

Recently, I wrote to AST (a company which is pretty good about making
old tech info available) about jumper settings for a Mac286 board.
(The Mac286 is the original DOS coprocessor for the Mac. AST later sold
the rights and technologies to Orange Micro.) According to the polite
reply I received back, there was nothing available. The tone was not a
brushoff, so I can only assume that the info is either:

        a) lost
        b) stored in a locked file cabinet in a disused lavoratory marked
           with a sign which reads "Beware of the Leopard".

One thing to add to your PHM logic, also... I suspect that a lot of
companies keep close hold on old technology because they feel, rightly
or wrongly, that it contains "sensitive" information which might lead
to the compromise of some current product. One can imagine Microsoft
using this logic to protect MBASIC or Apple using it with regards to
the Lisa Office System.

<<<John>>>

P.S. If anyone has a copy of the docs for a Mac286 board (any and all
versions), please let me know. I maintain a small web page devoted to these
cards and would love to answer some questions and get some info.
Received on Thu May 07 1998 - 10:48:30 BST