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Technology Stocks : General Magic -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JC who wrote (4483)	12/20/1998 1:33:00 PM
From: Kurt Goebel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10081

JC, contrary to what you suggest, It seems very easy to provide a cut down Portico or Portico lite. Did you notice that GMGC registered the domain porticolite.com and porticolite.net? Have you ever used Portico? Portico lite could just be the mailbox and address book. That's all network Wildfire is, right? One time I called in and my Portico mailbox was not available, but I still had access to my other Portico apps. Seems they are very modular. Turning one off and the other on seems to be part of the design. They are all very simple to learn and use. You are saying Wildfire can develop and add more features over time to it's newtwork Wildfire. Perhaps true, but isn't General Magic several steps ahead if it already has the features and apps and can just turn some off for a lite version? Did you see the General Magic announcement that they would provide several tiered versions? What is network Wildfire bringing to the table, the lowest tier? I agree that this could be smart, but why do you think General Magic doesn't have this in the plan. Reading their press release about multiple tiers and seeing their new domain name registration indicates that they do. A lite version of Portico might even beat the basic network Wildfire to market? Kurt

To: JC who wrote (4483)	12/20/1998 7:33:00 PM
From: Mark Oliver	Respond to of 10081

It's an interesting assumption that Wildfire is easier to use. I can't really say as I've only used Portico and found it pretty easy. Have you used Wildfire? Earlier I had read that Wildfire used a menu of numbers to create commands. They've probably made it much simpler since then, but I have no personal experience with any other system. I think one of the features most important to Portico is online help. If you are unsure of how to do something simply asking for help starts up a variety of menus to learn the system. Also, when you make a few failed attempts, the system asks what you want to do and tries to teach you a range of choices. Having a lot of choice can be overwhelming, but I think Portico allows you to evolve with what you need. I wonder how easy it would be if you didn't have internet access though. In the end, one must never underestimate the learning curve of the general public. Regards, Mark PS A recent note from a friend who works with new computer users everyday. This is a true story from the WordPerfect helpline. Needless to say the help desk employee was fired; however, he/she is currently suing the WordPerfect organization for "Termination without Cause". Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee: "Ridge Hall computer assistant; may I help you?" "Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect." "What sort of trouble?" "Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away." "Went away?" "They disappeared." "Hmm. So what does your screen look like now?" "Nothing." "Nothing?" "It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type." "Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out?" "How do I tell?" "Can you see the C: prompt on the screen?" "What's a sea-prompt?" "Never mind. Can you move the cursor around on the screen?" "There isn't any cursor: I told you, it won't accept anything I type." "Does your monitor have a power indicator?" "What's a monitor?" "It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on?" "I don't know." "Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that?" "Yes, I think so." "Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall." ".......Yes, it is." "When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one?" "No." "Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable." "....... Okay, here it is." "Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer." "I can't reach." "Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is?" "No." "Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over?" "Oh, it's not because I don't have the right angle - it's because it's dark." "Dark?" "Yes -the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window." "Well, turn on the office light then." "I can't." "No? Why not?" "Because there's a power outrage." "A power... A power outrage? Aha, Okay, we've got it licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in?" "Well, yes, I keep them in the closet." "Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from." "Really? Is it that bad?" "Yes, I'm afraid it is." "Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them?" "Tell them you're too fucking stupid to own a computer."