Head of Pimlico Calls for End of iambic Protests

Posted By: Ed Tuesday, May 14, 2002 9:38:55 AM

Steuart Dewar, head of Pimlico Software, has circulated an email stating that he has accepted the apology from Vidal Graupera, CEO of iambic, for his company's recent actions and would like the Palm community to do the same. After offering thanks for all the efforts on his behalf, Mr. Dewar said, "I think we should consider that reason and ethics prevailed and that the final resolution is satisfactory enough for us to move on and get back to the issues at hand." He went on to say that he would be dismayed to see any kind of illegal or unethical attacks made against iambic because of this issue.

Earlier this month, iambic registered DateBk4.com and DateBk5.com and directed them to its page for its calendar application, Action Names Datebook. DateBk4 and DateBk5 are two versions of a rival calendar application made by Pimlico Software.

This action started a grassroots campaign to get iambic to relinquish the domain names, posting numerous messages to Palm-related messages boards (including here on PIC) to raise awareness in the Palm community and sending emails to iambic asking that it surrender the domains.

Last Friday, Mr. Graupera apologized and surrendered the domains and has offered to transfer them to Mr. Dewar. He also promised to review all his company's marketing practices.

Despite this, some people are continuing with the protests, a few possibly taking it too far. iambic was sent an email earlier this week that said, in part, "I operate the DNS servers for a regional ISP, which provide name resolution for well over 5000 people. Our DNS servers also serve other affiliated ISPs. I have set our servers to be authoritative for the zones iambic.com, datebk4.com and datebk5.com, all of which now point to www.pimlicosoftware.com."

Mr. Dewar said, "It is important that we all be in a frame of mind where apologies can be accepted. If we don't accept an apology, then there is no incentive for the other party to proffer one."

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That's All Folks

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 9:50:06 AM #
Sounds good. 'Nuff said.

Class act

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 10:24:59 AM #
Mr. Dewars is a real class act.

JBH

RE: Class act
bookrats @ 5/14/2002 11:04:12 AM #
One of the classiest. A role model for developers, software supporters and entrepreneurs alike.

Example: Someone on the Pimlico user's group at Yahoo! had asked for three enhancements to the Datebk4 UI. In his reply, CESD said one of them was too difficult -- and then explained, in a way that both technical and non-technical people could understand, *why* it was difficult.

(Of the other two enhancements, he said one was in the works, and one was already in Datebk5...)

----

Jeff Meyer

RE: Class act
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 4:05:26 PM #
I've met Mr. Dewar personally at a couple of PalmSource events and
he is indeed a fine upstanding gentleman. Here's to Gorillas!
RE: Class act
wintermute @ 5/14/2002 6:31:10 PM #
I have to agree, and that is whats going to make a good impression on him and Pimlico in the future. It's nice to see some superiors on companies such as Pimlico are not all about the money.

------------------------------------
http://pdan.has.it
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You don't want to grow old but you don't want to die young!
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Well done.

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 10:38:33 AM #
Stick a fork in this one...

Let's Move On

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 10:51:43 AM #
We make mistakes, important thing is that we are given a chance to repent and I applaud what Mr. Dewar is doing. Let's move on.
RE: Let's Move On
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 11:21:18 AM #
> We make mistakes

LOL.

Making unethical choices is not just a mistake. It's evidence of sleaze and shady business practices.

You probably think carjacking is just a mistake.

RE: Let's Move On
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 11:44:48 AM #
The pricks still don't support the Handera 330 so screw them and their products. And censoring and banning users from newsgroups is total bull****.

And for the record ther was no "mistake" in what Iambic did it was calculated move motivated by greed. As it happens it backfired and they ended up with egg on their face. Anything after they did after that is purely corporate damage control.

RE: Let's Move On
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 1:47:22 PM #
you still use a Handera 330? Haha!
RE: Let's Move On
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 4:15:55 PM #
What's a handera, when you count on your fingers wrong?
RE: Let's Move On
wintermute @ 5/14/2002 6:33:52 PM #
QUOTE: "What's a handera, when you count on your fingers wrong?"

lol, I still think the Handera is not so behind technology. BTW, i'm probably crazy, but I personally do not hate the look of the Handera.

------------------------------------
http://pdan.has.it
------------------------------------
You don't want to grow old but you don't want to die young!
------------------------------------

Kudos, Mr. Dewar

scouter075 @ 5/14/2002 11:31:44 AM #
What a gracious and classy gentleman! We should take a lesson from Mr. Dewar's example.

Dennis G. Esler
scouter075@attbi.com
RE: Kudos, Mr. Dewar
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 12:03:16 PM #
I agree... if only all business people could act in such manners towards something so small like this. and if only the consumers would follow.
RE: Kudos, Mr. Dewar
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 1:48:57 PM #
Works for me, let's move on, now how about that Palm with the hi-res screen?

Dewar needed in Middle East!

ardee @ 5/14/2002 12:20:13 PM #
Classy and correct attitude and actions by Mr. Dewar.

We could sure use him to the Middle East! -)


RE: Dewar needed in Middle East!
alchemist @ 5/14/2002 9:27:55 PM #
Also back here in Argentina!!!! :-)

We could use hardly anyone...

_________
alchemist

RE: Dewar needed in Middle East!
Mathrocks314 @ 5/14/2002 10:02:26 PM #
Sounds like a plan

-Mathrocks314
RE: Dewar needed in Middle East!
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/15/2002 7:15:14 AM #
I'd rather see General Schwartzkopf over there again, him and 10 or 20 armored divisions (Palmpilots optional).

Mistakes, Apologia and Consequences.

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 12:25:48 PM #
I can appreciate Mr Dewar's comments insofar as he is trying to call attention to and deter well meaning defenders from,
actions he considers to be extreme.
He should be applauded for his call to mercy.
However, neither he nor Iambic should expect that the comments which are to be taken as an apology are enough to restore any of the equanimity with which Iambic used to be viewed .
They have indeed stirred up a hornets nest, and while I will agree that some of the reaction is over the top.
Iambic should never expect to have their reputiation immediatly restored. At least as long as they continue to ban from their forums, users with legitimate criticisms.
RE: Mistakes, Apologia and Consequences.
Kaitou @ 5/14/2002 1:24:10 PM #
As someone who both runs sites with message boards, and works(ed) at companies that have message boards, I'd like to point out that legimate or not, their board does not have to give you a place to express your disagreement with their policies. Infact I have seen a lot of companies close their forums completely and go back to email only support after incidents of this sort. Thats because the boards are for software discussions and issues, not company policy issues, and while a convinient outlet for that by disgruntled surfers the comments do get deleted, and people do get banned if they continue to post.
They shouldn't have registered the domains, but deleting the posts is well in their right, and you'd be hard pressed to find any company that would allow you the use of their forums to go into detail on how much you dislike them =p

RE: Mistakes, Apologia and Consequences.
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 6:27:39 PM #
Their forums are not particularly useful. At least with Iambic mail. Their forum moderators never seem to respond to questions. All somewhat useless.

OFF WITH HIS HEAD!

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 1:07:10 PM #
[SATIRE]

How dare Mr. Dewar forgive a company so nefarious as iambic?

Iambic should be terrorized, yes, terrorized. We should all hack their servers and ensure that they and their customers are forever in fear of losing their credit and their identities. Fear is a powerful tool. So is destruction. If you know where iambic's offices are, burn them down! Let's attack everyone who works for iambic! Bomb their homes if you must, because this kind of unethical behavior will NOT be tolerated by the Palm community! Let it be known that those who DARE violate the posted commandments of the Palm Community will be punished!

As for Mr. Dewar, this just shows how all these business power-brokers are all conspiring with each other AGAINST those of us who make the ethically-minded Palm community. He's against us just like the rest, and he deserves to be punished, too!

[/SATIRE]

RE: OFF WITH HIS HEAD!
Kaitou @ 5/15/2002 9:24:32 AM #
Same thing happened to me as to you =p
the post I was replying to was deleted at the same time as I was writing my reply.

The real world would pity the''Palm community''

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 1:21:41 PM #
I certainly hope this story hits the mainstream news, not because I want to vilify iambic any more, but because it will expose the overzealous losers in the Palm community such as this one:

<< Despite this, some people are continuing with the protests, a few possibly taking it too far. iambic was sent an email earlier this week that said, in part, "I operate the DNS servers for a regional ISP, which provide name resolution for well over 5000 people. Our DNS servers also serve other affiliated ISPs. I have set our servers to be authoritative for the zones iambic.com, datebk4.com and datebk5.com, all of which now point to www.pimlicosoftware.com." >>

Man, if you're willing to put your job on the line with these kinds of TERRORIST tactics over a f***ing software calendar program, you need to be checked into a mental facility. And yes, I know you losers will claim "it's not just software it's principles, it's ethics, blah, blah, blah." BULLSH**!!! Principles and ethics is one thing, but most of what's happening now is sanctimonious crap spewed by lifeless geeks who cloak their own quasi-violent, judgemental tendencies under the terms "ethics." You people are sick.

RE: The real world would pity the''Palm community''
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 1:46:41 PM #
One word, AMEN!
RE: The real world would pity the''Palm community''
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 2:18:51 PM #
"Principles and ethics is one thing, but most of what's happening now is sanctimonious crap spewed by lifeless geeks who cloak their own quasi-violent, judgemental tendencies under the terms "ethics." You people are sick."

So... what you're trying to tell us is that C-A-T really spells DOG?

RE: The real world would pity the''Palm community''
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 3:14:29 PM #
No, C-A-T still spells CAT. But a dog wearing a cat costume is still a dog, not matter what type of camoflauge it tries to use.

I think the saddest thing about this is that people are actually THREATENING iambic with ILLEGAL retribution over a calendar software. Boycott iambic all you want, but the idea of ILLEGAL retaliation for their actions is assinine, hypocritical, and just plain pitiful. The world already kind of looks sideways at the "Palm Community" (i.e., PDA nerds), and this should only reaffirm that idea. Way to go, folks!

RE: The real world would pity the''Palm community''
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 5:54:14 PM #
" No, C-A-T still spells CAT. But a dog wearing a cat costume is still a dog, not matter what type of camoflauge it tries to use."

Dude, lighten up. It was a joke. (Bonus points for where this line came from :)

I don't know what's worse. These so-called "PDA Nerds" or you with something apparently up your butt.

Feel the wrath

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 1:57:19 PM #
Maybe forgiveness is some Christian thing or something, but I belong to the TWO EYES FOR AN EYE school of thought.

I will never do business with IAMBIC. As the purchaser of software for handhelds in my corporation, I will make sure that IAMBIC gets no business from us. I will tell my friends who are purchasing managers in other corporations to not buy IAMBIC software either.

Feel the wrath IAMBIC.

RE: Feel the wrath
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 2:07:42 PM #
That's fine. What Dewar is saying is that's enough, too. The punishment fits the crime. iambic did something bad, was caught, and its reputation has been hurt badly. Doing anything illegal to hurt iambic over this makes you as bad as they are.
RE: Feel the wrath
Kaitou @ 5/14/2002 2:12:54 PM #
run out of prozac did we?

Merciful Cthulhu I really can't belive some of these people.

They registered domain names

repeat after me

d-o-m-a-i-n n-a-m-e-s

good. Now lets take some deep breaths. think of flying doves or gently flowing water for a while.
Feeling better?
Good.

Now forgiveness isn't a Christian thing, and I say this as I am not a Christian. It is a human thing. If everyone was like what you prescribe then humanity would have wiped itself off the face of this planet long ago. The only person/group wronged here was Pimlico and their CEO, who happens to be a gentleman. They have accepted the apology, and feel things need to move on. Your ranting isn't very becoming of someone who makes important decisions in a corporation, and I'd pity anyone there as it seems that personal feelings overshadow your decision making process. People on these holy crusades are the ones who insist the entire company adopt something due to the fact that they start to salivate like a rabid hyena when presented with a Wrong™ that needs to be Righted™

So calm down, and get off your high horse.

RE: Feel the wrath?
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 3:21:44 PM #
"Feel the wrath?" Who are you, Khan? Darth Vader? First off, NOBODY talks that way. Secondly, get over it. If you, as "purchaser of handhelds," refuse to purchase an iambic product over this, and that iambic turns out to be superior to those of competitors, and your company loses money as a result of your crusade, well, I have one word for you..."unemployed."

As for your claims that you will encourage all your colleagues, I suggest you try to be a little LESS self-important. It's one thing to boycott iambic software, it's something totally different--and egotistical--to imply that your efforts will single-handedly create this wave of negative feeling toward iambic.

RE: Feel the wrath
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 4:19:21 PM #
Since when do purchasing managers hang out together?
RE: Feel the wrath
Kaitou @ 5/14/2002 4:41:41 PM #
Well merciful as in bringing an end to it... how that end is brought about of course, well it depends on your definition of "mercy" even the madness could be an act of mercy compared to whats about to happen.

RE: Feel the wrath
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 4:43:47 PM #
Quote: "They registered domain names"

And then they tried to cover it up and they tried to pretend like they did nothing wrong, and they banned their users from Forums and email lists for questioning their actions, and they refused to answer email. And they tried to make less of it, until finally it was obvious that a LOT of people were mad.

Iambic did not just one little small mistake. They made one mistake and then compounded it with a bunch of other mistakes. That's what really got people upset. But I agree with CESD, time to move on to other more important (and interesting topics). However, doesn't mean I will easily forgive Iambic for their actions, as one of those users that own their products and were treated quite badly during this.


RE: Feel the wrath
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/15/2002 1:21:17 AM #
"depends on your definition of "mercy" even the madness could be an act of mercy compared to whats about to happen."

Wow.. you're so philosophical! Can I be your friend? PLEAAASE?!

RE: Feel the wrath
Kaitou @ 5/15/2002 9:26:46 AM #
Why sure! I've always wanted a paranoid schizophrenic as a friend, and looking at all your posts, you must be the most advanced case yet =p

RE: Feel the wrath
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/15/2002 1:34:51 PM #
""Feel the wrath?" Who are you, Khan? Darth Vader?"

LOL, good one.

Move on!

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 2:04:45 PM #
I dislike Iambic practices in general, but ENOUGH with this. Let's move on!!
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