COMPUTER-USER ACTIVISTS IGNORE STANDARDS, COSTS ''A computer user's manifesto'' ((AAPL) and thousands of tech journalists can testify to that. Users need much more than a responsive complaints mechanism. They need independent standards for usability and computability to get the right decisions made at the design stage. In all industries, vendors build products to deliver specs that are often meaningless. Usability needs an index (with a catchy marketing name) that can be objectively measured and reported. For far too long, monopolistic vendors have captured user data in proprietary formats and held it for ransom. Computability requires that users develop and own open standards for their data. It's time for an organized, standardized users' revolt. Ian R. Cheong Brisbane, Australia Clare-Marie Karat wants to promote her ''user's bill of rights''--I wonder if she is willing to pay the price. Ever since software became a consumer good, publishers have recognized the trade-off between quality and price. You want bug-free software? Fine, but be prepared to go back to the days when a simple word-processing program cost $400 or so. Statements like ''the user is always right'' do little more than inflame. They most assuredly do not recognize the costs associated with attempting to make every user very happy with your product. Tony Lima Hayward, Calif.

Updated Oct. 8, 1998 by bwwebmaster
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