RE: [cobalt-users] META FAQ Suggestion

["Tony" <isplists@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

+Carrie Bartkowiak wrote:
+
+> If y'all want to start setting up a *true* knowledge base, with
+the creme de
+> la creme of the archives, I'd be happy to open up the site to a couple of
+> the older (or more active) list members so they can post stuff till their
+> fingers fall off.  :)
+
+Lots of people have had this idea before; the fact isyou're not the only
+one who doesn't have time.
+
+My suggestion is that the fewer places there are to look the better, and
+Cobalt already has a knowledge base.
+
+I'm authorized to add to it, but I've never had the time <frown>.
+
+Do you want me to add some things to it?  Bring them to my attention and
+I'll add them if I agree they're important, if they're not already
+covered, and if I can verify them.


Don't take this personal Jeff..but it's really not your job to solicit
KB submissions and input them. Meaning that if you or anyone else is not on
Cobalt/Sun's payroll
there's an element of trust in the integrity of the information that would
be lacking.
I don't think any Cobalt users should have to do this. Yes you are very
correct that there needs
to be ONE central repository but this is the VENDOR's responsibility and one
that
Cobalt/Sun continues to fail at. Bottom line is that a company the size of
Cobalt/Sun has
the financial and human resources to hire a team of no less than 3 full time
technicians whose
sole job is to read every last single e-mail posted to THEIR product mailing
lists by THEIR customers and filter,
process, test and convert the invaluable information presented into KB
entries and product
management feedback. Offline companies have to spend a fortune to gather the
type of intelligence & product
feedback that Cobalt users post for free on these lists.

For example how many times does a product update package have to be released
that ends up
screwing up customer's webservers before the Managers of that department say
something like:
"If you release one more package that hasn't been fully tested umpteen times
and guaranteed
to be 100% bug/screw up free....get your resume ready".
Or perhaps now that Sun's in control perhaps Cobalt can afford to adequately
staff their
engineering departments so that the poor engineer in charge of coding these
upgrades/fixes
doesn't have to work 20 hours of overtime rushing to get a package out the
door.

Tony