Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!uunet!paladin.american.edu!gatech!udel!sbcs.sunysb.edu!shane
From: shane@cs.sunysb.edu (Shane Bouslough)
Subject: Re: Whiskers the Robot description
Message-ID: <1993Jan30.234438.3665@sbcs.sunysb.edu>
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Date: Sat, 30 Jan 1993 23:44:38 GMT
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James E. Kittock (jek@Xenon.Stanford.EDU) wrote:

: In article <1993Jan30.135828.388@sbcs.sunysb.edu> shane@cs.sunysb.edu
:	(Shane Bouslough) writes:
: >Don Golding (Don.Golding@f2206.n124.z1.fidonet.org) just doesn't get it:
: >
: >: inches and is available for $195. Robot Demensions: 6" high x 10"
: >: wide x 10" deep with 6" wheels. Price is $395, assembled.
: >
: >What's with you? If I wanted ads in my face all day, I'd use Prodigy.
: >If you insist on forcing your ads down our throats, do it in
: >biz.don.golding.sells.the.best.robot.in.the.world. This really isn't
: >the place for it.

: 1. Someone suggested he post the specs.  Since it is a
: commerical product, I don't see why the price shouldn't
: be included.

There have been a lot of posts that deal with this issue already. The
main objection is he has posted no information that leads to the promotion
of robotics other than to sell his board. As one poster requested, if
he discussed his design, talked about problems he had and how he overcame
them, etc., it would be ok. His posts have been nothing but feature lists
and prices. Why couldn't he just say at the end: "email me for pricing
and availability"? At least that would take the edge off it.

: 2. As long as he stays away from "that other robot
: sucks" tactics, who cares?  This newsgroup is low
: volume anyhow, and frankly I consider it *interesting*
: and *useful* to know what products are out there.  Esp.
: when this guy obviously is not a big-time outfit that
: can afford other forms of publicity.

See above.

: 3. Maybe people are just jealous because they haven't
: had the initiative to try and market their ideas?

Yeah, that's it. You nailed me.

: Now, what I would really *prefer* to see is a review of
: "Whiskers the Robot" from someone who has actually
: obtained and worked with the darn thing.

I agree completely. This is exactly the information that would
benefit this group. You seem to already understand that's better
than his salesman approach.

:  james kittock :: stanford cs grad student :: duke '92 :: go blue devils!!

-Shane

--
Shane Bouslough       | #include <stddisc.h>
shane@sbcs.sunysb.edu | "Follow your bliss" - Joseph Campbell
