Very Computer

        New Release of Trans-Ameritech Linux Plus CD-ROM!

Trans-Ameritech is emerging as new leader in Linux and BSD distribution.
Our product (Linux Plus CD-ROM) is well designed and considered to be
superior by majority of the Internet community. We would like to offer
you NEW release (Release 3).

We include both Slackware and NetBSD distribution to target TWO major
UNIX markets.

Here is the brief information about our product:

 "The best Linux Plus CD-ROM ever" just got better with Linux 1.0!

Now based on the Slackware 1.2 and with the Linux kernel 1.0. XFree86 2.1
This release combines the best features of all existing CD-ROM releases
of the Linux operating system:

* The installation is highly automated by the Slackware scripts fine tuned
to this CD-ROM but leaves a lot of room for customization. The great
advantage of Slackware is the ease of installing/deleting individual
packages and sets. Install only what you really need!
The menu-based installation procedure on the "color" root disks lets even
first time Linux users install the system in no time.

* In addition to standard device drivers in Linux kernel, BIOS-less aha1522
SCSI is supported (it covers Sound Blaster 16 SCSI too).

* To minimize the possibility of hardware conflicts many extra kernels are
provided for different configurations. They are usable for installation and
normal use.

* For the FIRST time it is possible to try Linux without repartitioning
your hard drive - just use at least 12 Meg on your DOS partition for Linux.
The "live" CD-ROM filesystem helps you run almost any software in this mode.

* Many on-line documents are provided for quick reference, including the
Linux Documentation Project files in source, dvi and ps formats.

* A lot of applications are included:
  -     The C/C++ compiler GNU GCC 2.5.8,
  -     GNU and international versions of the "ispell" spell-checker.
  -     The communications apps: term 1.1.4, minicom, Seyon (X-Windows based).
  -     Editors: elvis (vi clone), joe, jove,
  -     PostScript clone "ghostscript" 2.6.1,
  -     Spreadsheet "sc"
  -     Network package with news and email:
        TCP/IP (net2debugged), UUCP, SLIP, CSLIP, mailx,
        dip, deliver, elm, pine, smail, cnews, nn, tin, trn
  -     Object oriented GNU Smalltalk 1.1.1, and the Smalltalk Interface to X.
        (STIX)
  -     Powerful scripting language with Motif-like X interface tcl7.3,         tk3.6, wish
  -     SPICE for electric engineering
  -     Several window managers - openwin, twm, gwm, fvwm.      
  -     Easy X-Windows configuration with many real-life examples.
  -     X11 ghostscript, libgr13, seyon, workman, xfilemanager, xdraw
        xv 3.00, GNU chess and xboard, xfm 1.2, ghostview,  X games
  -     Interviews libraries, include files, and the "doc" word processor and
        "idraw" drawing program.
  -     Typesetting: TeX, LaTeX, xdvi, dvips, Metafont, groff
  -     Ingress and Postgress databases.
  -     Multimedia: mpeg video and sound applications. Mosaic 2.2.
        xgopher.1.3.2, tracker, adagio04, speak-1.0.
  -     GIF pictures and sounds in various formats.
  -     Andrew multimedia word processor with hyper links.
  -     FlexFax send and receive fax on either class 1 or class 2 fax-modems.
  -     A lot more.

* To help the first time Linux users many documentation files are provided
that are readable from DOS even before installing Linux.

* All the sources are available on the CD-ROM. The most often needed
sources  are uncompressed and can be used directly from CD-ROM.

* An uncompressed Linux filesystem is available for reference and disk space
conservation. You can run programs directly from CD-ROM! There is a large
"info" directory for on-line reference and many manpages.

* For hacker's reference an uncompressed FreeBSD source tree is provided.

* On the BSD side there is a full source and binary distribution of the
NetBSD 0.9 to compliment the FreeBSD on the Winter release.

* If you have questions or problems Trans-Ameritech provides free support
for INSTALLATION questions via e-mail ONLY, usually within 24 hours
from receipt of your questions.

Special price for Internet Users is $30.

Availability and ordering:

You can order by email, by phone (408)727-3883 or fax (408)727-3882.

If you prefer to send a cheque, our address is:

Trans-Ameritech Enterprises, Inc.
2342A Walsh Ave
Santa Clara, CA 95051
USA

If you order with a credit card (VISA, MC, American Express) please
indicate the card number, expiration date and your mailing address.

The price for a single CD-ROM is $30 if you are an internet user and
found the info on the net (you must have an e-mail address).
Shipping and handling in US is $5. Overseas is $8.
COD is available in the US only for $4.50

California residents please add sales tax.

Anual subscriptions (4 releases) are available for $80 plus s&h.
(note: there are 4 shipments in a subscription)
Example subscription in US is: $80 + $5 * 4 = $100
Subscription in Europe/Japan etc. is: $80 + $8 * 4 = $ 112

For all CURRENT subscribers: PLEASE don't send us any messages - your
CDs will be mailed to you automatically within 2-3 weeks.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at

Trans-Ameritech Enterprises, Inc.
2342A Walsh Ave
Santa Clara, CA 95051
USA

Phone (408)727-3883
FAX   (408)727-3882.

Note: Unix is registered trademark of Unix System Labs. All product
names referenced herein are trademarks of their respective companies.

In his announcement of 9 April 1994, Mr. Roman Yanovsky of TransAmeritech
writes:

   If you prefer to send a cheque, our address is:

   . . .  

WARNING -- WARNING -- WARNING -- WARNING -- WARNING -- WARNING -- WARNING

-- > DO NOT send TransAmeritech a check for a CD-ROM! < --

I know, from personal experience, that this is a costly thing to do.
On February 3, 1994, I sent TransAmeritech a check for $37.28 for
their then current CD-ROM offer.  This amount is the base charge of
$29.95 + 7.75% CA (Orange County) sales tax, + $5.00 "shipping"
charge.  I requested, in writing, along with the check, that it be
sent to my home address, which I gave.

After two weeks and no CD-ROM had arrived, I enquired (via e-mail)
into what had happened, again including my home address. In response,
I was told that according to their records the CD-ROM had been shipped
and that they could not be held responsible for the actions of the US
Postal Service.  However, they would send me another, but that they
would really like me to pay another $5.00 "shipping" charge.

My response, while cordial, did not include another $5.00.  I asked
them to please get me the CD-ROM, as I had been depending on using it
in support of a class I teach.  Again, I repeated my home address,
including my telephone number.

They then told me that a replacement CD-ROM was on the way.  After
another two weeks had passed, with still no CD-ROM, I again e-mailed
them informing them of the continued lack of success in getting me
the CD-ROM I had paid for so long ago, and requesting a refund.  This
generated no response whatsoever.  

A week or so after this, I read another adverti*t placed by Roman
Yanovsky for the TransAmeritech CD-ROM, this time in
comp.linux.announce.  I informed both Mr. Yanovsky (with a CC to the
moderator of comp.linux.announce) of my disappointment at the lack of
response to my problem.  This generated the following response:

   Subject: Your CD-ROM order
   Date: Sat, 19 Mar 1994 12:55:46 -0800

   Accorcing to our records the CD was shipped to you and we have no way of
   verifying where it is.  However we will refund you your money.
   We'll mail you a check this Monday.

   Sorry for the mishap.

   Roman.

I would have included copies of the earlier mail, but unfortunately
the file containing it has been corrupted.  

About a week after this message I received a check from TransAmeritech
for $32.27, $5.01 less than I sent them in the first place!  Along
with the check, was a portion of an envelope, cut to show a mailing
address and the stamps of the US Postal Service showing that delivery
had been attempted, but that the addressee (me) could not be found.

The remarkable thing about the envelope fragment is that I don't live
at the address to which they sent the CD-ROM!  Indeed, while close,
(about a mile and a half from where I actually do live), its hardly
surprising that the US Postal Service couldn't get it to me, as it was
on a completely different street, with a completely different house
number and a different zip code.  It was, however, in the same city
(Huntington Beach, CA).  I hardly feel it's the responsibility of the
US Postal Service to correct mistakes of this magnitude.

NOTE WELL, HOWEVER, THAT TRANSAMERITECH KEPT THE $5.00 "SHIPPING"
CHARGE, IN SPITE OF THEIR SHIPPING THE CD-ROM TO A BOGUS ADDRESS!

This, along with their apparently untruthful statement about the
second shipping of the CD-ROM, and their lack of responsibility
towards what was, even to them, obviously their mistake in addressing
of the CD-ROM, makes me want to warn any unwary users about sending
them a check.  The only reason I did was I was uncomfortable about
posting MasterCard information on Internet -- but had I charged it and
gotten the response I did, I would then have been able to have the
charges reversed.  Sigh.

Caveat Emptor, I suppose.

--
======================================================================

======================================================================

:       New Release of Trans-Ameritech Linux Plus CD-ROM!

: Trans-Ameritech is emerging as new leader in Linux and BSD distribution.
: Our product (Linux Plus CD-ROM) is well designed and considered to be
: superior by majority of the Internet community. We would like to offer
  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Would you like to substantiate this claim? Marketing hype is one thing but
making patently false claims is sleazy and detracts from the credibility
of the product and its producer.

--

+--------------------------------------+

I sent TransAmeritech my creditcard number, expire date and home adress
through email for an annual subscription, and two weeks later I received
my first CDROM (slackware 1.1.1 and FreeBSD 1.0). I know that sending
things like creditcard numbers is not really save through email,
but at least its very efficient. At least the chance that TransAmeritech
makes a typo in the snail mail adress is then minimal.
Perhaps if one encrypts personal stuff with e.g. PGP its better.
On the other hand sending confidential
stuff like license-keys for expensive software is done all the time.
A company which does this is e.g. Biosymm.

Well I'm very satisfied with TransAmeritech CDROM offer, because
now I will get Slackware 1.2.0 (with XFree2.1) and NetBSD 0.9 in two
weeks.

: +---------------
: | -- > DO NOT send TransAmeritech a check for a CD-ROM! < --
: +------------->8

: So how many people had this kind of problem?  I know *I* didn't.

: ++Brandon
: --

Like wise.
JANA was fun..still waiting for my 4th disk.
Where is it Jay ?

: In his announcement of 9 April 1994, Mr. Roman Yanovsky of TransAmeritech

Quote:: writes:

:    If you prefer to send a cheque, our address is:

:    . . .  

: WARNING -- WARNING -- WARNING -- WARNING -- WARNING -- WARNING -- WARNING

: -- > DO NOT send TransAmeritech a check for a CD-ROM! < --

I have had numerous dealings with TAmeritech.  They are always prompt, and
have never failed me yet.  After reading your post, I see no reason to
flame them so heavy.  Mistakes happen.  Chill out.

--
=======================================================================
* Jay D. Allen  - METNET at Portland State University                 *
* Department of Geography AND The Center For Science Education        *

=======================================================================

I agree with Dan.  This is getting increasingly annoying, from claims of
superiority to claims of being actually recognized as superior to claims
of being the One True Official Distribution...

Let's stick to the facts when we describe our distributions.

I'd much prefer a statement that said "to date, we have received X
customer complaints from people who claim to not be satisfied."

Scott

I sent my e-mail order for their first disk on saturday, and got my
CD in the mail the next friday.  Note that I'm living in Europe, I
don't think that is bad.
The disk happened to be from a batch which had errors.  I notified them
via e-mail, and got a replacement disk as soon as they got it from their
supplier.  Again, this disk was delivered within a week from the moment
they told me they sent it.

I think their service is OK.

Rob
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------


-------------------------------------------------------------------------

: : +---------------
: : | -- > DO NOT send TransAmeritech a check for a CD-ROM! < --
: : +------------->8

: : So how many people had this kind of problem?  I know *I* didn't.

: : ++Brandon
: : --

: Like wise.
: JANA was fun..still waiting for my 4th disk.
: Where is it Jay ?

Same place as my third

--

anthony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      |

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   I have had numerous dealings with TAmeritech.  They are always prompt, and
   have never failed me yet.  After reading your post, I see no reason to
   flame them so heavy.  Mistakes happen.  Chill out.

OK, then -- you refund my $5.01 that they kept!  Mistakes happen, yes --
but that doesn't entitle them to have me subsidize their mistakes.  If I
made a mistake like this I'd have refunded the money, not merely a portion
of it.  And notice -- I waited over two months before making a public
posting of this, and had they actually given me a refund -- or even sent me
a CD-ROM a month late -- nothing would have ever been said.  But they
didn't.  They charged me $5.01 for sending a CD-ROM to a bogus address.  If
you think that's reasonable, send me a check for any amount you wish, and
I'll tell you I sent something to an address where you don't live and
charge YOU for the privilege!  

PUT UP OR SHUT UP, ACE!

--
======================================================================

======================================================================