Changes

Members are concerned, Millssays, about how long support will beavailable for the comnutercomputer, particularlysoftware availability. He notesconcern at>out about publication supportwhethersupport - whether 99er Magazine, for instance,will become just. another generalpurpose computer publication. Hudspeth says the greatest concernis whether third party vendorswill produce peripheral equipmentfor the TI. Kavanaugh also says that buyersare concerned as to whether they willbe able to expand their systems in thefuture. Utter notes that "the TI peripheralshave pretty much disappearedaround here.''" "Getting their money's worth," islisted as the top user concern by Donlan,"by at least being able to use thecomputer as a tool for learning moreabout the information age and applicationsof a computer as a home andbusiness tool.''" Jiroutek says concern has surfacedabout spare parts and aboutrepair if something goes wrong withthe computer. Papagolos says that concern aboutbeing able to find, for instance, a parti c u l a r p r o g r a m h a s l e s s e n e dparticular program has lessened because people are coming to realize"there are third party sources." He notes that there is "a lot of junksoftware'' " on the market. ''"Some of itborders on the fraudulent.''" He notes that some third partymanufacturers have supplied theusers group with software to evaluateand that members have passedon information about others.'' "As such, I think TI is not going tobe missed," Bathman says. "Whatpeople miss are some of the things TIpromised for the future,'' " such as the99/8. He says users are concerned aboutrepair capability if they haven'tbought a spare console. He notes thathis group has found a place in Dallasthat will repair TI products. He saysusers are also concerned aboutexpansion cards and chip replacementin the future.