Jason,

Please see my responses below (***). I hope they are useful.

Rob

----- Original Message -----
From: IBO <jwharton@...>
To: <IBDI@onelist.com>; _IBOLIST <ibo-list@...>
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2000 6:14 PM
Subject: Re: [IBDI] BETA testers needed to fill out a survey.


> Rob,
>
> >1. Good Job!
>
> Thanks!
>
> >2. I run a proxy server and LAN at home and could not use the software
from
> >a client machine. I had to run it from the server.
>
> Hmmm. You may need to put an entry in the HOSTS file. Please ping for the
IP
> to interbase2000.org and add an entry and tell me if that works. I recall
> others having these issues with the IBO Source app I use to distribute the
> sources.

(***) Not quite that simple with wingate proxy server. I actually have to
create a tcp/ip mapping to the server on a particular port which mean for
3050 I only get one mapping. it is definitely a drag.

>
> >3. Usage tab - seems like these should be a "check all that apply" rather
> >than radio buttons
>
> What I would rather have is people going through multiple times. Once for
> each distinctive role that they use InterBase in. Like me, for example. I
am
> an employee of the State of Arizona and so I could go through with all
that
> information. I am also a tools developer so I would go through again as
> that. I am also a contractor since I occasionally get a hand in other
> people's projects. I should go through again three times.
>
> This option is designed to nail down the specific context of the rest of
the
> survey.
>
> There really should be some instructions of this sort... Perhaps someone
> could help out and put some together for me?

*** If that is what you want then why not just state so and structure the
questionnaire so that people in **one** pass can answer the questions in
each role. What advantage is there to doing it that way. Also how will you
get an accurate count of how many **people** are using it that way? Sorry
I've got my statistician hat on now.

>
> >4. Open Source tab - can't someone be contributing *and* using?
>
> I touched up the terms. I was assuming that but agree that it needs to
read
> more clearly.
>
> >5. Open Source tab - how about options like "not sure" "don't know enough
> to
> >say" etc?
>
> Nope. I want people to get to where they do know. It isn't acceptable to
me
> to take this as an answer. If they leave them all blank this is
essentially
> answering "don't know". I don't want to encourage people to answer that
way.
> I want them to take a minute and educate themselves...

*** Statistician hat on again here. Relying on a non-response to indicate a
response is like saying null means zero. People with meaningful answers to
other questions may truly not have the time to go educate themselves. At
the very least, put a quick explanation of the licenses up there that
highlight the important differences. You must accept some people will not
take the time to educate themselves before answering the survey. Do you not
want their data then?

>
> >6. Environments - not clear that you mean server environment. that is if
> >client/side admin tools are important to have, for what environments
should
> >they be produced?
>
> Actually, I'm not really worried about server environment. The client
> environment on platforms is important too. I purposely left that a little
> vague there. I could be convinced to change my mind though...

*** What is your point in asking these questions then? What are you trying
to find out?

>
> Thanks,
> Jason Wharton
> CPS - Mesa AZ
> http://www.ibobjects.com
>
> Developers Search Site http://developers.href.com
>
>