johnbs@hkucc.hku.hk (John Bacon-Shone) wrote:

>What exactly is your problem?

Now that you mention it, what is this thread doing here? This has nothing
to do with comp.std.c++. IJacobs@cmp.com should know better.

Bob Foster
Object Factory
objfactory@aol.com

In article <3hgdom$47u$1@mhade.production.compuserve.com>, Ian G. Jacobs
<71154.2603@CompuServe.COM> wrote:

> I am working on an article on C++ compilers. I wanted to hear
> peoples experiences with Symantec's tech support for their
> compiler.

You may need to clarify *which* compiler (PC or Mac)

John

[I am prejudiced as I help out on the SYMDEVTOOLS forum!]
--
John Bacon-Shone
Social Sciences Research Centre
The University of Hong Kong
Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
johnbs@hkucc.hku.hk

In article <3ho2qu$pqh@helena.MT.net>, bworthy@lewis.MT.net (Robert H.
Worthy) wrote:

> John Bacon-Shone (johnbs@hkucc.hku.hk) wrote:
> : In article <3hgdom$47u$1@mhade.production.compuserve.com>, Ian G. Jacobs
> : <71154.2603@CompuServe.COM> wrote:
>
> : > I am working on an article on C++ compilers. I wanted to hear
> : > peoples experiences with Symantec's tech support for their
> : > compiler.
>  ---cut some---
>
> I was not impressed.  Eventually after a couple of days abandoned the
> Symantec version and regressed to my Zortech version.  Too many little
> bugs in the new Symantec (new then, spring of 94) which required patches,
> when then had *other* and *worse* bugs.  Only thing Symantec tech support
> could say was to re-install the whole thing.  While I agreed with that,
> the whole bugginess was too much to cope with, and no certain prospect of
> coming out with a stable product.  btw, i'm only using the DOS compiler.
Symantec admitted that the PC 6.0 compiler had too many bugs and gave a
free upgrade to 6.1 which was a big improvement. 6.11 is the current PC
version (a few more small fixes) and 7.0 is due out next month.

John
--
John Bacon-Shone
Social Sciences Research Centre
The University of Hong Kong
Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
johnbs@hkucc.hku.hk

In article <johnbs-1502951037390001@johnbs.ssrc.hku.hk>,
johnbs@hkucc.hku.hk (John Bacon-Shone) wrote:

> In article <3ho2qu$pqh@helena.MT.net>, bworthy@lewis.MT.net (Robert H.
> Worthy) wrote:
>
> > John Bacon-Shone (johnbs@hkucc.hku.hk) wrote:
> > : In article <3hgdom$47u$1@mhade.production.compuserve.com>, Ian G. Jacobs
> > : <71154.2603@CompuServe.COM> wrote:
> >
> > : > I am working on an article on C++ compilers. I wanted to hear
> > : > peoples experiences with Symantec's tech support for their
> > : > compiler.
> >  ---cut some---
> >
> > I was not impressed.  Eventually after a couple of days abandoned the
> > Symantec version and regressed to my Zortech version.  Too many little
> > bugs in the new Symantec (new then, spring of 94) which required patches,
> > when then had *other* and *worse* bugs.  Only thing Symantec tech support
> > could say was to re-install the whole thing.  While I agreed with that,
> > the whole bugginess was too much to cope with, and no certain prospect of
> > coming out with a stable product.  btw, i'm only using the DOS compiler.
> Symantec admitted that the PC 6.0 compiler had too many bugs and gave a
> free upgrade to 6.1 which was a big improvement. 6.11 is the current PC
> version (a few more small fixes) and 7.0 is due out next month.

I use SC++ 7.0.4 on the Mac and CodeWarrior 5 (C++). Both are good
products and have their weaknesses and strengths. SC++ has a killer class
library, but has let some really buggy code get out the door once or
twice. CodeWarrior has PowerPC native compilation and a modern development
environment, but a debugger from hell and just implemented template
support.

Symantec is playing PowerPC catch up right now, and their distractions
from servicing long time customers are noticeable.  My biggest complaint
with Symantec is that I have never felt like they knew I existed. I buy
all their compilers and other products (Norton U), but I have *never*
received an upgrade notice in the mail from them. I have to learn about
upgrades via the net. On the other hand, Metrowerks has updated me without
a hitch and even contacted me via email to make sure things went well.
That sort of "delighting the customer" attitude outweights any of the
present shortcomings in MW's current offerings. Obviously, there are two
differing strategies at work here.

Thus, CW is the industry darling among Mac developers at present. Alas, we
are a fickle bunch, quickly drawn like moths to the flame to any new and
"cool" technology. Give things another 6-8 months and I think you will see
both products with strong supporters.

Of course, if Symantec would simply update the universal headers for THINK
Pascal,  a de facto standard development environment now being emulated
the compiler suppliers, many of us would not even care about the C++ wars
(now staring longfully out the window, sighing).

The moral here is simple: Good strategy and bad technology will always
beat bad strategy and good technology. (See also C. Ferguson, Computer
Wars)

---------------------IsoQuantic Technologies---------------------
Patrick L. Reilly                          Voice: +1.602.917.9543
preilly@isoquantic.com                        fax:+1.602.917.9493
-----------1857 W. Calle Del Norte, Chandler, AZ 85224-----------

In article <3hqb15$ovg@news.usit.net>, ilic@owl.theta-usa.com wrote:
> If i remember well, John Bacon-Shone is a beta tester for Symantec 7.0.
> We exchanged a couple of posts a few weeks ago (if the memory serves
well) in which
> he expressed an opinion that Symantec 7.0 is the greatest thing that could
> happen to any programmer

Certainly not!  What I said was that I thought 7.0 would be a big step
forward. Symantec has a 30 day mbg so people will be able to make up their
own minds.

>  Now, I am wondering how objective he'll be in
> this article about current compilers.

As it happens, I declared my interest in my original response and have not
made any comparisons with other suppliers, so I find your posting quite
rude. Symantec does not and has not ever paid me in money or kind.

What exactly is your problem?

John
--
John Bacon-Shone
Social Sciences Research Centre
The University of Hong Kong
Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
johnbs@hkucc.hku.hk

I am working on an article on C++ compilers. I wanted to hear
peoples experiences with Symantec's tech support for their
compiler.

Please e-mail all answers to 71154.2603@compuserve.com
                          or IJacobs@cmp.com


-Ian Jacobs-
Associate Editor
VARBusiness

--
"You've got arms
you've got legs
and you've got heaven..."