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          GISes are often used to to produced ugly maps--as has been
          pointed out GIS instructors rarely teach cartography.  I would
          also add the cartography teachers don't often know the
          capabilities of GISes like ARC/INFO--anybody who makes a bad map
          with ARC/INFO has not used the full capabilites of the system (or
          has bad taste, or hardware limitations).  That ARC/INFO is hard
          to use is expensize and hard to use is true, but I'm under the
          impression that email lists like UIGIS-L (User Interface) exist
          to help address that problem.  Undoubtedly, there will be (if not
          already) easier to use systems that are just as capable.
 
          As to the complete replacement of paper maps, obviously not. As
          has been pointed out, computers have not replaced books and other
          paper documents--however how many of those documents are still
          produced on typewriters?  Part of the intent of the National
          Spatial Data Infrastructure is to allow the rapid and cost
          effective update of map products; by storing data digitally,
          rather than on mylar, map products can be changed easily.  The
          control of these changes is a known issue; addressing this is
          part of the FGDC's charter.  This will, I think, also makes mass-
          produced maps like the 7.5' series, for the most part, obsolete.
 
          More coal on the fire, Alan Brenner