After reading the discussion of SPIN and IRIS with only  a brief mention
of DIALOG, I am wondering if anyone out there uses DIALOG.  We
currently use this product to conduct searches, but it sounds like I
need to check out the competition.  I'd like to get some feedback
from those who use this product.  Here are my comments on DIALOG:

* I have found some of the information to be out of date (I'm talking
years).  The provider of the GRANTS database, Oryx Press, indicates
that they update the database monthly, but I am not so sure they
routinely purge their records.

* DIALOG is expensive. We use the on-line search process
via DialLink.  Expenses are incurred at every stage.  Users
are required to purchase the software, pay for the necessary training
courses and pay for on-line time and download charges which vary
according to the database used.

I have no idea how these costs compare with the costs of SPIN or
IRIS, but I intend to do some comparison shopping.  If there are
other DIALOG users out there, I would appreciate your comments.

Thanks.
Cindy R. Burroughs  xxxxxx@ovpr.uga.edu
Grants Coordinator
Office of the Vice President for Research
Sponsored Programs
The University of Georgia
622A Boyd GRSC
Athens, GA  30602-7411
(706) 542-5972