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Technology Stocks : Enterprise Informatics -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: bob zagorin who wrote (2498)	5/21/1998 8:46:00 PM
From: Michael Watkins	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13797

Bob, The financials do all the kicking. Its a bad story, revenue recognition practices or not. I think the folks that paid themselves well despite the performance should own up to their responsibilities as trustees of your company. Several months ago I posted some notes here regarding the challenges that Altris faced. Financial performance and the spectre of mismanagement are key factors for end user organizations and resellers alike. I see a tremendous uphill battle. There isn't anything so specific in their solution that provides a clear advantage to that which other companies are offering, therefore, with such clouds over them, what sane educated person or organization would buy the products? Sales-personship and (honestly) the naivete of the average buying public will save them to some degree. But the big juicy opportunities where prospects do a modicum of due dilligence -- those will be hard won. Mr. Erickson will need to do more than put out statements in order to get financial and industry analysts to promote this company to the market and buying public. I have no particular bias or axe to grind. The information management industry in which Altris plays is a fairly small community. Those few that know about Altris also know about its woes. And those are two problems to overcome...

To: bob zagorin who wrote (2498)	5/22/1998 9:11:00 AM
From: Greg h2o	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 13797

You know, Bob, it's not the accounting issues that I'm displeased (trying to use the most optimistic terms) about. I was lied to by management... the CEO, the CFO and one of the chief sales people. I don't consider myself easily taken, but I really do feel hood-winked on this one. The fact that they could sit at the table with a known investor, who also controls investments for others in an advisory capacity, and boldly lie to me about EB is atrocious. I point-blank asked them, several times, if there were any problems with the roll-out of EB. They were very adament that there weren't and that it was being installed for current customers as we spoke. They said the only minor problem was the amount of resources they and their customers had in order to complete the upgrade. Further, they said that this minor problem was not the case when selling to a new customer because it was such a wonderful out-of-the-box product. They went as far as to walk me through the demo--which impressed me. I guess I really had no reason to doubt their honesty at this point, other than Jay had originally said it would be rolled out in August and later came out with the delay.... But still.... Anyway, that's what I'm angry about. Enough of that for now. It does sound as though EB is a real product, but just not complete. Clearly, they need to work first with their existing clients so they don't leave en masse. I haven't contacted the company as of yet, mainly because it just doesn't matter due to the fact it isn't trading. Information right now--positive or negative--can't effect the stock price. I do think we're closer to opening, so I guess I'll have to take of shot of scotch, smoke a cigar, take a deep breath, and call. BTW, I am truly saddened by what occurred in Oregon yesterday. What's even worse is that it appears to be a trend with our youth. How the hell do they get these guns????? As a parent, I find it unbelievable that a 15 year old would have access to a weapon of the calibre used in that shooting--oh, hell, ANY weapon at all! regards, greg