Msg: 774 *Conference*

11-02-91 17:07:57

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : TIM MIHULKA

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #773 (TS-DOS RIPOFF)

Thanks for the feedback, Tim.  I appreciate your comments.  I, too, wish
Traveling Software placed other programming the TS-DO ROM chip.  Yes, there's a
ton or room left.  Alas, I did not receive the source code or I would have
placed T-Word and Sardine--if they were able to pass it my--on the same chip.
I would have enhansed the TS-DOS chip but I can't.  But, dispite your comments,
I am not ripping you off.
 
Tim... your insights and use of your laptop is far beyond most of our members.
Most just use their laptop for writing.  They've never run .BA or .CO programs,
many don't use use storage devices, or use FLOPPY.CO or FLOPPY with their TPDD2
or TPDD, and many of our users use a DOS or Mac computer as their primary
system.  I would say that over 90% of our members do not know how to program
even the simplist things in BASIC.  However, the main thing going for us right
now is their desire to discover how to do more with their laptop.  They're just
glad that "someone" is still willing to stay in this dead market. 
 
You think that prices are too high!  Compaired to what?  Other disk operating
systems on ROM?  What others?  Perhaps upgrading your Model 100 costs more then
a new MS-DOS laptop?  Yeah right... $2,000 to start!  There ain't no gold mind
here, Tim.  I sure wish there was, but there ain't.  The full page ad in P100
mag costs over $800/mo.  The 1/4 page ad in PCM costs about $500/mo.  We also
advertise full page in Computer News 80 and the Boston Computer Society's Lap
Gazette, Computer Shopper, and others.  Then there's the mail outs... another
over $12,000.  Then there's the monthly $500 phone bill, office supplies,
equipment loan payments, credit card processing fees, another $400 - $500/mo
depending on business volume, etc.  All that, Tim, before I get ANYTHING!!!
Get this: I still teach 3 evenings a week to from 6pm-10pm at a local college
to make ends meet.  How many jobs do you work, Tim? 
 
Tim... you wouldn't have that ROM if I didn't commit to all of this.  It would
have been long gone 2 years ago.  And hey, Tim... what do I do when sales don't
meet expenses?  Do I call everyone up and ask for contributions?  And here's
the kicker, Tim... if you're not satisfied with anything you buy from me I will
gladly refund every dime you spent to acquire the stuff and send it back.  Yes,
that includes shipping both ways.  Do you know of any other mail order firm
offering that level of commitment? 
 
I'm not mad, Tim.  I appreciate the opportunity to, once again, present my side
of the story.  I've taken lots of business courses, and received a MBA in 1986,
but even I can't change the dynamics of doing business in this world.  But I'll
tell you, I'm always going back to the basics, i.e., opportunity costs, cash
flow analysis, mark-up, discount rates, the present value of money, break even
analysis, etc.  You've got library access.  Start playing with some of the
programs in the 4)Business category, i.e., BRKEVN.BA, DAILY.BA, DECID2.BA, the
GLxxx series, GPM.BA (that's a good one), MIDAS.BA, RATIOS.BA. 
 
Last comment... start taking business courses.  Attend some of the seminars
down at your local SBA (usually taught by local business people), attend the
weekly meetings of your local ROTARY club.  I'll give you 6 months of heavy
involvement in business.  At that time, come back online and tell me if you
paid too much for the TS-DOS ROM. 
 
Your friend... -Rick-

PS: You wouldn't be thinking of making a copy of the ROM image, burning your
own ROM, then sending the original back for a refund, would you?  And, of
course, I would refund your money.  What was the term you accused me of ...
ripoff?