>Netcom is a very large network, and when we have new products it makes sense
>to test them in a large network environment. We select a range of sites
>to test in a wide variety of environments.
Well, that explains why only large ISPs such as Netcom, Best and Mindspring
were involved in the PM3 beta, rather than any of the smaller folks who
frequent this list (although I do recall one positive post here from a
staff member of a beta site). So much for non-disclosure. At least nobody
posted a bug list (not that there are any). <g>!
Cynicism running deep, I thought it was more because those are the folks who
buy half a million dollars worth of hardware from Livingston, not because of
their networks.
Then again, maybe I'm just being hard on the company...but I've been growing
uneasy with the development of new products when certain promised features in
the old ones have yet to be delivered.
Couple this with an increasing difficulty in obtaining technical support, and
a rumor that Livingston is selling out to a venture capital firm very soon,
and I just can't help but to have a queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.
In another year from now, I can't help but wonder if Livingston will either
be a public company or merged with someone bigger.
Obviously this is all just my personal feeling, and not really indicative of
anything. However, as customers of Cisco and Ascend have made clear, what's
good for those companies isn't necessarily good for their customers, especially
the small ones.
Time will tell I guess.