> > At least 4 MB of memory is recommended for ComOS 3.5.1b17 on the
> > PortMaster 2E or 2ER. Some configurations may be able to run in 1 MB
> > of memory. Future releases will require 4 MB of memory on the
> > PortMaster 2E and 2ER.
>
> Livingston Sales tells me that new PM-2E's are shipping with 4 MB of RAM
> installed, but what am I supposed to do with the 100+ PM-2E's I already
> own and which are distributed around the countryside?
>
> Most customers will not require every new feature which may be included
> in code-bloated future releases. I suggest that Livingston put some very
> serious effort into modularizing or optimizing their code to allow
> typical configurations to fit in a 1 MB unit and still stay current.
> You are about to turn every 1 MB PM-2E you ever sold into a dinosaur
> (and there must be a LOT of them), forcing your customers to decide
> whether they should:
>
> 1) upgrade the memory - a hassle if you have more than a few units.
> 2) run old code releases - and live with a mix of releases and
> features/bugs if you buy new Livingston gear like the PM3, possibly
> causing Radius and other support complications.
> 3) go out and buy all new equipment.
>
> While it may not be much work for a small customer to choose option 1,
> for a big customer both option 1 and 2 are enough of a pain to force
> serious consideration of option 3, and anytime you force a customer to
> contemplate option 3 you risk losing the business.
>
Aren't you being a little unrealistic here? Its like saying you have a
486/33 with 2Mb or RAM and you don't want to put the effort in to upgrade
it. You would like some features of Win95 (yuck!), but you'll stick with
DOS rather than upgrade the hardware.
The fact that ComOS can run in 1Mb is amazing in itself. And they have
kept ComOS in 1Mb for how many years? I'd say that you've made out like a
bandit as it is - to have been able to hold out this long without
upgrading. I wish other hi-tech boxes were able to go this long between
hardware upgrades.
My $0.02
Al Hopper Logical Approach Inc, Plano, TX. al@logical-approach.com
(972)-379-2133 or (972)-849-5765. Fax 972-379-2134