This is Update-from-2.0-to-2.1 in view mode; [Up]
Date: Sun 20-Aug-1991 14:44:32 From: kls30@duts.ccc.amdahl.com (Kent L Shephard) Subject: Update from 2.0 to 2.1 I'm tired of hearing two stories about 2.0--->2.1 upgrading. 1. I understand 2.0 is buggy. I've been bit more than once with unexpected logouts, kernal panics, and other stuff. 2. I understand that I should not, and noone for that matter should still be running 2.0. 3. NeXT claims that 2.0--->2.1 is a minor upgrade and I already have a lic. to run it since I have 2.0. I also hear that unless you buy at least 1 copy of the 2.1 upgrade package at your site you do not have the right to copy 2.1 onto the machines at that site. Now I would like to know what is the deal. Is 2.1 free if you have 2.0? That is, do I have the right to 2.1 w/out buying the update package by having someone build a 2.1 OD for my cube? If not, then 2.1 is not a minor update, nor is it free if I'm required to buy the 2.1 update package. BTW - Even if I buy the 2.1 update package it will be useless. I would still need someone to build me a 2.1 OD. Now if the people at NeXT would have sent me 2.1 instead of the 2.0 OD after 2.1 was shipping on machines I would have no problem.
Date: Sun 20-Aug-1991 16:07:46 From: kls30@duts.ccc.amdahl.com (Kent L Shephard) Subject: Re: Update from 2.0 to 2.1 I just called NeXT about the 2.0---->2.1 upgrade. 2.1 has a lic fee of $50.00 from what I gathered from the woman on the phone. You have to either, purchase 2.1 upgrade on floppies, buy a disk with 2.1 installed, or buy 2.1 on OD. So people that got 2.0 when 2.1 was shipping need to shell out another $50.00 for bug fixes. This is bullshit. I received a buggy OS version when the fixed version being shipped and to get rid of the bugs I'm supposed to shell out more money. It would seem like they would say "All people that were shipped 2.0 when 2.1 was being shipped on machines may copy 2.1 from another machine or purchase if they like." So I'm supposed to buy $50.00 worth of useless floppies and then go find someone with an OD to upgrade me. More bullshit. I like the computer but at this point I'm very dissappointed and pissed. I have a machine with an OS that logs me out and has corrupted my files to the point after a panic I had to format my harddrive. They want me to pay for updated software. How could they not know that the OS was buggy? I get workspace errors if I leave an application running and leave my machine for a couple of hours. They also say that "Due to their lic. constraints you cannot have an OD system updated by someone elso with an OD system even if you buy the update package on floppies." To me this means that their lic. is media and format dependent, ie. a floppy system can only be upgraded by floppies or by buying a HD with the OS installed, and an OD system can only be upgraded by buying a new OD or a HD with the OS installed. If you have both OD and floppy this does not apply. You cannot have another person with a NeXT update your OS under any circumstances even if you have the OS in a format not compatible with your system. "It would be illegal to do so." A quote from a rep at 1-800-848-NEXT. To me it sounds like the legal department needs to get their heads out of their asses. First they say 2.1 is a minor update that is not much different than 2.0. Then they say you need to lic. 2.1 seperate from 2.0. I've had good and bad experiences with NeXT, this is the worst. I like the machine but the company, screw them. Now I know why Apple has such strange OS lic. conditions, a relic from Steve Jobs. Get a clue NeXT, bug fixes should be FREE. THEY SHOULD BE COPYABLE TO ANYONE THAT HAS A LIC. THEY SHOULD NOT BE MEDIA AND FORMAT DEPENDENT. I feel much better. I'll wait for 3.0. I just don't need a bunch of OD hanging around collecting dust a $195 each.
These are the contents of the former NiCE NeXT User Group NeXTSTEP/OpenStep software archive, currently hosted by Marcel Waldvogel and Netfuture.ch.