On (08 Sep 96) CHRIS ALLERMANN wrote to ALL...
It simply astounds me how many things in our lives that a computer
can handle for us. With products that plug into computer slots, we
have am-fm radios, tv receivers, voicemail, devices that can control
almost anything, and now a general coverage receiver/scanner. What
next?
 CA> Does anybodwy else think that this Winradio idea is a bad
 CA> one...Would have it of been better to have the actual reciever
 CA> outside of the computer.
Your message reminds me of a "problem" we used to have where I
worked. We suffered from the NIH syndrome. NOT INVENTED HERE. Nobody
wanted to listen to anyone else's ideas or opinions because they were
afraid that they would lose a little respect, prestige, or power if
they did so. Because of this the business suffered. We were owned by
a large corporation. They deemed our site to be a failure and had
decided to close us down, then my current boss offered to buy the
"franchise" from the company.  They accepted his offer.  He
encouraged input from everyone.  The only stupid idea was the one
that wasn't suggested.  Some suggestions were tried and were
absolute failures, but others were brilliant, and over all the
company grew better and stronger, and within 30 days we were
showing a profit. Now, mind you, it wasn't a big profit, but it
started a trend that has continued ever since then.  Had we not
opened our minds to new ideas, we wouldn't be in business today.
Instead we are considered one of the leaders in our area and have a
nationwide reputation.  In twenty years we have come a long way.
I think the idea is a good one.  It may not suit everyone's needs,
or even most of the peoples needs, but then nothing does.  That's
why we have so many different cars and trucks on the road.  Back
when Henry Ford first started building cars, a lot of people
laughed.  I live and breathe Dodge, but many others live and breathe
chevies, fords, toyotas, or whatever.  That doesn't mean every other
make is doomed to fail.  They all have their place, and it all
started from ONE model. That's the way everything starts. Someone
has a dream, and they become the first to build something. It's true
that every bad idea was somebody's good idea, but often times a
person has to dare to be different, in order to pursue the American
Dream. The risk is great but the potential rewards are high. We are
very fortunate that our society/nation allows us to be different and
to pursue different dreams. Many people in the world don't have this
freedom.
We also have many different brands or scanners, some people won't
own anything but a Bearcat, while others wouldn't be caught dead
with one.  A General Coverage scanner in a PC is a little less
convenient than a regular General Coverage Receiver in that it is
anything but portable, but the sky is the limit in what software can
be written for it, and possibly what add-ons can be designed for it.
If WinRadio fails, it will only be the forerunner for something
better, for that matter if it succeeds, it will also be the
forerunner for something better. In my opinion, it's a WIN WIN
situation.
 CA> What I want to know is how they shielded from all of the
 CA> interferon in the computer.
It doesn't matter HOW they shielded out all the interference, the
important thing is that THEY DID, and they should be commended for
doing a good job.
The more I hear about WinRadio the more I like it.  It wouldn't
surprise me if I don't buy one in the next year or two.
 CA> I think this is just going to be jkust another one of those
 CA> high priced scanning toys and will probally not suit the needs
 CA> of many scannists in the field.
Price will always be an issue for everything.  If I could afford
one, I would be the proud owner of a Dodge Viper, but the fact that
I can't afford one hasn't stopped them from being sold.  I would
like to see the price of WinRadio a lot lower too, but on the other
hand, I have worked in an R&D environment before, and understand the
costs that are part of designing and coming out with a new product.
They are astronomical.  I would probably buy one tomorrow if it sold
for half of what the suggested price is.  As it is, it will take me
a lot longer to rationalize the purchase, but no matter what, it is
only a matter of time before I have one.
My other complaint is that (if I remember right) although it does
come with some DOS software, it is really designed to work in a
Windows environment.  I don't like Windows, but guess I can live
with it if I have to.  Who knows, if enough other people share my
"love" for Windows, someone will write a better program that works
under DOS.
I think one of the great potentials for this product will be for
people to eventually write software that will allow it go follow the
new trunked 800 mhz systems. I know that it won't be easy and it
won't be soon, but to me it is at least a possibility. All it takes
is one person, the desire, some ability, and a dream. Unfortunately,
that person's name won't be Martin. I have the dream, and the
desire, but absolutely NO ability.
It simply astounds me how many things in our lives that a computer
can handle for us. With products that plug into computer slots, we
have am-fm radios, tv receivers, voicemail, devices that can control
almost anything, and now a general coverage receiver/scanner. What
next?
Take care,
Martin
... I can walk on water....but only if it's frozen.
--- PPoint 2.01
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