Carl Tyler's Blog :: Does anyone understand what this email is asking me?

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Does anyone understand what this email is asking me?

Category Email understanding
I got this email this morning, not sure what they're asking, are they asking what's the point of a calculator? I don't mind the question, I just don't understand it, what do you think they mean? Names removed to protect the innocent...

Dear Epilio: Hello, my name is **********. I am a student at Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan. I found your email address on your website. I am doing a research project and I researched calculator. I notice that you work with online technologies. I was interested in your “Epilio Calculator Plug-in”. I know you must be very busy, but I hope you do not mind if I ask you a question. What is the merit of “Epilio Calculator Plug-in”? Thank you very much for your attention to my question. I hope to hear from you at your convenience, and I am grateful for your assistance with my research. Thank you once again, and have a nice day. Sincerely

Posted by Carl Tyler On 12/08/2009 | Permalink |

Comments

1 - Seems obvious to me:

What merits, if any, does your calculator plug-in have?

Heh.

I bet if you reply, he asks for a favor involving a bank account.

Posted by jake At 08:17:40 AM On 12/08/2009 | - Website - |

2 - I don't know Japanese, but could it simply be that the word for "computer" is the same as for "calculator"? I think that in German, the word for computer is "rechner" (litterally "counter" or "calculator"). See { Link }

What he actually want, is another question...

Posted by Karl-Henry Martinsson At 08:46:13 AM On 12/08/2009 | - Website - |

3 - Perhaps he wants to know more about this plugin:
{ Link }

Posted by Ulrich Krause At 08:58:15 AM On 12/08/2009 | - Website - |

4 - found this in the free stuff section of from the link above:

Epilio Calculator for IBM Lotus Sametime
Use the Epilio Calculator Plug-in to perform any of the standard operations for which you would normally use a handheld calculator. The Epilio Calculator performs basic arithmetic, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Posted by Ulrich Krause At 09:11:58 AM On 12/08/2009 | - Website - |

5 - @4 Ulrich, thanks, I realise we have a free plugin called epilio Calculator, I'm just wondering what the guy wants to know about it.

I sent him an email asking if he can explain more.

Posted by Carl Tyler At 11:08:34 AM On 12/08/2009 | - Website - |

6 - Isn't he just asking what additional value if any does the Epilio calculator plugin have for its users? Doesn't merit mean - the quality of deserving to be praised. Emoticon

Posted by Dad At 03:51:12 PM On 12/08/2009 | - Website - |

7 - Since he says he's researching calculators, my bet is that he's trying to find out what someone would get from using a calculator embedded in an instant messaging client compared to a standalone app, Excel, or the trusty old HP-12C.

Posted by Adam Gartenberg At 04:07:42 PM On 12/08/2009 | - Website - |

8 - Agree with Adam, students are asked to write papers about some of the least interesting stuff (not that your plug-in isn't interesting, but the research topic makes me want to fall asl.......

Posted by Rob Novak At 07:15:13 PM On 12/08/2009 | - Website - |

9 - Agree with the others - the sender was asking what the benefits are of the Epilio calculator plug-in.

How does it compare to other offerings, how/why is it useful, etc.

I work with folks in Japan and "merit" comes up often in their English emails to us. Usually it means benefit, key feature, or selling point.

Posted by Brandon At 07:59:08 PM On 12/18/2009 | - Website - |