Messages

1

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Re: Hal Reader compatibility with Win 7?

« on: November 15, 2010, 09:27:27 am »

Thanks for the feedback. Downloaded iobit toolbox and fixed a few things and it all works well.

2

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Hal Reader compatibility with Win 7?

« on: November 14, 2010, 08:30:48 am »

Hal Reader does not seem to be Windows 7 compatible.

Is this true?

3

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Re: NO SUPPORT EVER

« on: November 14, 2010, 08:28:24 am »

Sorry, you are wrong. Mr M does have to reply (even if it takes 6 years).

It's his business, or we will leave. The etiquette required is all his.

I don't see why his customers should take the flak. But he has replied, so leave it.
 

4

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Re: NO SUPPORT EVER

« on: November 07, 2010, 05:36:16 pm »

As I wrote, I made my kind requests many times via email and received no response. Finally, I have my answer. Good.

Further, thanks to my efforts, an incorrect login link has been discovered. A forum is a place where things are meant to be aired, not have people line up like bar magnets baying in agreement. You can make all the kind requests you like and get nowhere - as I discovered. But I am happy that something has finally been achieved.

If it is the vendor's personal decision to provide a free service, that is his decision. (Actually there is no such thing as a free service.) If, because of time constraints or whatever, he wishes to provide limited support for this service, this should be clearly stated.

A product might be the greatest technological achievement of all time, but without adequate support it will fail in the marketplace. Business 101. I'm sure Robert is a very clever fellow who is taking on a huge task, but a business still has to run properly.

It would appear that things are improving. After six years the owner has responded to me. I'm not important, but this can only be a good thing for everyone and the future of Hal. Let's hope so.

5

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Re: NO SUPPORT EVER

« on: November 06, 2010, 06:16:00 pm »

Thank you Robert. Now I understand. I sent Zabaware an email 2 weeks ago(?) via the contact.html page using my current email address. It is certain that the email address I was using when I registered the Hal Representative is no longer current, so that explains why I heard nothing.

There is still a slight problem. I cannot log in with the username and password I use to edit the Brain and check the logs. Doing so brings up an error page for http://www.ultrahal.com/halrep/ultrahal.asp?WCI=Settings. I can ask and answer questions though.

Can this be addressed? If not, I look forward to the new version of Hal Representative and wish you well with the project.

6

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Re: NO SUPPORT EVER

« on: November 06, 2010, 11:10:00 am »

Well thanks for that Art. That is reassuring.

So would someone please explain what happened to the Free Online Hal?

When exactly was it taken down? Why was it taken down? Why was there no notification given?

These are all very simple questions. Surely there are good reasons for the decision (at least for the first two questions.)

I can't be the only person who spend hundreds of hours entering data into Hal's Brain online only to have it evaporate overnight?

As for purchasing a product, anyone can buy a product from a shopping cart. But I wanted the answer to a specific question (this is years ago - I can barely remember what it was).

Quite seriously, do you honestly believe that a forum is the right place to ask a question about purchasing this type of product? If you do, then you have probably never sold a product online. For a start, why would a serious vendor have users answering product queries as his only fallback if he isn't going to answer emails? Huge companies like Microsoft and Adobe can get away with not answering product queries via email, but not your average low-key software developer.

If Robert is your friend, please advise him that if he chooses to ignore emails (sent via his website and spanning many years) he will lose sales - as sure as night follows day. And he runs the serious risk of his potential customers losing confidence in the product. There is simply no excuse for it.

7

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Re: NO SUPPORT EVER

« on: November 06, 2010, 06:25:23 am »

In 2004 I wrote: There is no earthly point in trying to contact these people - they tell you they don't leave you hanging waiting for an answer and it's just a lie. I've emailed this company many times - TO BUY THEIR PRODUCT FOR GOD'S SAKE!
What's wrong with them?

Notice I was trying to BUY THE PRODUCT?

And the two people who replied were in total agreement with me.

In between 2004 and 2010 I gave up and just stuck with the free online Hal.

So what's your point? I shouldn't whinge and be grateful for not being able to buy the product? And I should go down on bended knee and thank Hal for my disappeared database?

Nige, there are times in your life when a whinge is the only sensible response. But if you want to think otherwise, go right ahead.

8

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Re: NO SUPPORT EVER

« on: November 06, 2010, 03:41:46 am »

I did - it's there in the General Discussion still unanswered.

But why does Robert have an email address if he isn't going to use it? (going back to 2003 I think I began).

And asking questions in the forum doesn't excuse deleting databases without warning.

If I am wrong, then please show me when and where this notification took place.

9

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Re: NO SUPPORT EVER

« on: November 05, 2010, 09:24:47 pm »

Well, thanks for at least replying.

I'm pretty busy too, but at least I answer my product queries. You would think that if a person is running a business of any kind with an email address they have an obligation to respond to queries about the products they sell.

For years there was a free online Hal with a database that just seems to have disappeared! What does that tell you about how this Robert treats his customers? Not a mention at all to anyone that suddenly this service is to no longer operate.

It's frustrating when people set up websites charging money for products and services and leaves customers high and dry, and before anyone says it was a free service - the same basic business rules still apply. (How many hundreds, thousands of people have I sent to this website over the years?

The only reason I write this is to warn others is that if they do anything with Hal and strike problems it's only helpful people in this forum like you lightspeed that offer support, not the idiot that owns the website.

There are better alternatives out there...perhaps not technically, but support? Bah!


 

10

Ultra Hal 7.0 / NO SUPPORT EVER

« on: November 05, 2010, 09:10:43 am »

I think it is time to say that I have asked for email assistance a great many times over the years from this crap Frenchie guy,

AND HE HAS ALWAYS REFUSED OR NOT COMMUNICATED.

I am tired of trying to use this second-rate product, so I suggest any newbies go to Pandorabot instead.

Fed up.

11

General Discussion / What happened to the online Hal and Brain?

« on: November 01, 2010, 06:10:29 pm »

I have read around the forum but can't find any info about the apparent changes to the free Hal online.

For some years now I have set up a database of answers and my website visitors were able to enter questions and get answers.

I could login and see the Brain and the questions and make changes to answers etc.

All this seems to have disappeared.

I have tried emailing, but no response.

Can someone enlighten me about what has happened? Is my database gone forever?

Visitors used to be able to ask questions with this form address:

<form method="POST" action="http://www.ultrahal.com/halrep/ultrahal.asp?WCI=Chat" target="_self">

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!