Date: Fri, 03 Aug 2001 13:10:40 -0400
From: David Goodman <dgoodman@Princeton.EDU>
Subject: Re: TDNet - Electronic Journals Management (Dan Lester)

I have pretty much the same attitude, but my reason is that in such
cases I suspect very strongly that *all* the vendor has available is a
mock-up demonstration, and that there is no real working system to
demonstrate.
Even that can sometimes be of use, if there is someone who can explain
how the real system works or will work, but the reps in these cases
usually don't know enough to do that.

>
> Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 14:56:21 -0600
> From: Dan Lester <dan@riverofdata.com>
> Subject: Re: TDNet - Electronic Journals Management (Naomi Lloyd)
>
> I can understand being inundated at ALA.  HOWEVER, I can NOT
> understand having to walk me through it.  If it is so complicated or
> strange I can't figure it out, I'm not interested.
>
> I go through this with a couple of vendors at every conference.  They
> have a new Whizbang (catalog, database, whatever) and I want to play
> with it.  They tell me that they'll give me a demo.  My answer is that
> if I can't figure it out, I'm darn sure the patrons can't.  If they
> can't deal with me trying it myself, I walk.  I have no objection to
> the rep being available to receive comments or questions, but if they
> won't let me drive the car myself, I won't buy it.
>
> If someone from TDNet is reading this, now they know what they need to
> do to get Boise State to become a prospective customer. They know
> where I live.
>
> cheers
>
> dan
>
> --
> Dan Lester, Data Wrangler  dan@RiverOfData.com
> 3577 East Pecan, Boise, Idaho  83716-7115 USA
> www.riverofdata.com  www.gailndan.com  Stop Global Whining!

--
David Goodman
Biology Librarian
and Digital Resources Researcher
Princeton University Library
Princeton, NJ 08544-0001
phone: 609-258-3235
fax: 609-258-2627
e-mail: dgoodman@princeton.edu