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Aucbvax.1912 fa.works utzoo!duke!decvax!ucbvax!dcrocker@udel Wed Jun 24 07:22:21 1981 Vendor participation It is my understanding that the purpose of this discussion is to consider the technical aspects of personal work-stations. Arpa and the rest of the military are investing quite a bit of money in this area, so that this discussion would seem to be extremely appropriate to the Arpanet mission.

There are a few products currently available. It would be silly not to talk about them.

In talking about them, we will have specific questions about their features. It seems to me that it would be completely appropriate for the creators of a system to answer questions about that system. The problem, of course, is that if such answers are not carefully formulated, they consitute sales pitches, which we agree is inappropriate.

I do not believe that conformance with the Arpanet proscriptions necessarily requires commercial participants to be prohibited from voicing opinions about the technology in general or from answering specific questions about their product. Touting their product is another matter.

I suggest that each company assign one technical (not marketing) person to respond to queries. This will permit direct information, while making "tone-control" easier.

Dave.

P.S. Sorry to add to the discussion about the disussion.

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