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Boardwatch Magazine Volume VII Issue 9
$3.95
B O A R D W A T C H M A G A Z I N E
Guide to the World of Online Services
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Editor: Jack Rickard Volume VII: Issue 9 ISSN:1054-2760 September 1993
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Copyright 1993 Jack Rickard - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Boardwatch Magazine is published monthly in printed form at an annual
subscription rate of $36. In most cases, the operator of the local system
carrying Boardwatch Online Edition can process your subscription order.
Editorial comment may be addressed to Editor, BOARDWATCH MAGAZINE, 8500 West
Bowles Ave, Suite 210, Littleton, CO 80123. (303)973-6038 voice,
(303)973-4222 data, (303)973-3731 fax. These files may not be posted on
electronic bulletin board systems without written permission of the
publisher.
SUBSCRIPTION VOICE ORDER LINE - 1-800-933-6038
EDITOR'S NOTES
==============
1 Do Cattle Dream and Can Pigs Fly?
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
=====================
2 Telecom, TelMex, and Mexico
3 UNIX Bashing
4 Online, re-discovered
5 The Cynedd Project
6 BBSing in Southern Tip of Africa
7 AFS Students
8 A Source for Policy
9 Information Overload
10 XT, Old But Not Dead
11 Wired to the Internet
12 The World via Modem
13 Education and the Current Crop of Students
14 Cover to Cover
15 Marlboro Sells Cigarettes
16 Kids Can Do Good
17 ROBOboard is Good
18 Demos and SVGA with a SoundBlaster
19 Confessions, Oops
20 Newsgroups and a BBS
21 Photos Over the Internet
22 Electronic Mail
23 Best Source for BBS News
TELE-BITS
=========
24 Rumors and Factoids
25 Worst Technical Manual Contest
26 CD-ROM Connection for Novell
27 Supra Lowers Sysop Price to $149.95, Enhances SupraFAXmodem V.32bis
28 Hayes Offers Special Pricing on Optima 144+ Fax 144 Pocket at ONE BBSCON
29 U.S. Robotics Offers $99 V.FAST 28.8Kbps Upgrade Through September 30
30 ZyXel's Gone West! BBSCON Show and Hospitality Suite to Spur Interest
31 Oklahoma BBS Raided on Pornography Charges
INTERNET NEWS
=============
32 eSoft to Show Internet Connection at ONE BBSCON
33 Internet File Formats - Delete Star Dot Tar
34 PBS Online
SOFTWARE NOTES
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35 TBBS System Designer
COMMERCIAL SERVICES
===================
36 Update on GEnie
MACINTOSH BBS NEWS
==================
37 NovaLink Professional 3.0: The Review
38 Windows Client from FirstClass
39 TeleFinder Adds Features
40 Stump the Chump
41 MAC BBS of the Month
GRAPHICS ONLINE
===============
42 Understanding JPEG or "Honey, I shrunk the Pictures"
EDUCATION LINK
==============
43 FrEdMail Offers BBS Package Based on ResNova's NovaLink Pro
ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT
====================
44 The Power of the Computer Bulletin Board
LEGALLY ONLINE
==============
45 The Power of the Computer Bulletin Board
DIRECT DIAL
==============
46 Hot Wire you Family Tree - Genealogy Online
47 Boardwatch 100 Reader's Choice BBS Contest Results
BBS LISTS
=========
48 This Month's List: The Boardwatch Top 100
49 Sysop Modem Discount Programs
50 BOARDWATCH List of BBS List Keepers
51 BOARDWATCH National List
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 1
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EDITOR'S NOTES
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DO CATTLE DREAM AND CAN PIGS FLY?
---------------------------------
We hear from BBS operators. I suppose it's natural and pretty much to be
expected. It's not so much that we hear from BBS operators, as it is WHAT we
hear from BBS operators. Accustomed to operating bulletin boards for
similarly intrigued technoids, for years they yearned for wider recognition
and wider participation from normal people. This year, they got it. And the
translation from small community of PC enthusiasts to the wider world has
some problems.
Three operators have called in the past week with fear in their voices and
trouble in their hearts. One had his BBS hauled off by the local police. Two
were facing TV crews, one on a local news station and one on the nationally
syndicated Donahue talk show. The shows were all ready written and scripted
SEX ONLINE. The BBS operators were simply asked to wear shirts with bull's
eyes on them and stand in front of the camera.
The online world is analogous to the real world in many ways and it does
reflect it. But it isn't the real world. In many, many respects, it is a
fantasy. We are all equal. None of us have handicaps. None of us are old.
None of us are ugly. There are no fat people online. No short people. Nobody
stutters. Nobody wets their pants. There is no pain. There is no crime. We
are all safe. We all have good intentions. We can all pseudo-travel around
the continent or world for pennies. We can fall in love and never have to
wake up, chew our arm off at the shoulder, and slip quietly out into the
dawn. Or even deal with morning breath. Rub a lamp.
It does take a certain level of imagination to play. And frankly, a good
percentage of the real world population can barely get dressed and get to
work after a lifetime of practice. Fortunately, for most of them, the modems
and technology are all still too much to tackle. And a tremendous number of
people are just living for the moment when they can be offended about
something or another. We hear from THEM occasionally as well. If I could
grant them the gift of the other twelve IQ points they would need to be able
to bark like a dog, I would give it to them freely, but it just isn't
something you can do.
And the thin lightless line where CyberSpace meets the parking lot distorts
reality in both directions. If you print out a log of CyberSpace, and read it
on clean white paper, it appears to be things that it is not. Likewise, if
you carry too much of the parking lot online, you're going to be a bit
confused. Pigs can fly online, but pigs still can't fly.
I know that this is the editorial where I should note that I "told you so"
last November and that you really have to clean up these GIF images of
slobbering overweight babes of the night to save your systems. And in a
practical sense, I suppose you do. They really aren't center stage in all of
this anyway. But it would help if I could look into the eyes of the cattle,
and see some sense of awareness of what they are doing, and what the price
really is as they "crack down" on the online community. Will it in fact stop
with "obscenity?" IS that all that they are after?
Had we really insisted that the airline industry obey all existing automobile
traffic laws, we might still have an airline industry, but it would work very
differently. It might make perfect sense. It might be perfectly legal. And it
might even work. But it would result in some very slow, low flying aircraft
with a technologically very hard won built in ability to stop at each traffic
light, and I'm not sure that is a good thing in the long run. The price paid
is hard to gauge - particularly if you're waiting on the Presidential haircut
so you can take off. But there would be a price.
For the media, the sex online story is about the only handle they've been
able to get on it so far. You can't have thirteen million people doing
something obsessively that almost no one was doing a few years back and not
cover it. And this is the easy story. Children can access blurry images of
sex by simply taking a computer, a modem, a terminal program, a telephone
line, blending them all together to log onto a service, convince the BBS
operator they are 21 years old, and paw through 9 GB of files to find a
hundred or so slimy ones, download them, and try to get their VGA card driver
working right with a GIF image viewing program. It's simple. Actually, they
are being SUBJECTED to this. I don't know about you, but I'm glad I was
raised in an age where a boy only had to worry about hiding it under his bed
carefully. ALL the rationalizations for this witch hunt are just too strained
- too contrived, to be real. Yeah, some of the images are disgusting. So are
some TV commercials.
But what's next? What if someone commits a crime somewhere, AND was online at
some time? We really need to be able to identify these people, don't we? It
ALWAYS starts with the most extreme cases, and migrates to 4-line BBSs with
shareware CD-ROMs. If you give an inch, they'll take all of it. And if Mr.
Koresh is any example, they want their inch real badly.
The online community is the ONLY medium where everyone can be heard. Not just
those who own large publishing conglomerates, and not those who own
television and radio stations. Freedom of speech in the past has been easy -
anyone was allowed to speak their mind (within certain restrictions) because
we could be assured only a handful could hear them. The online technologies
have the potential to assure, for the very first time, that anyone's voice
can span a continent. It may serve as the first REAL test of what our
commitment to free speech is - or isn't. How badly, as a society, do we WANT
people to be able to speak freely in a forum that might just be effective?
And what price are we willing to pay to allow that, or perhaps to secure it?
A big contingent of the herd is very restless at the uneasy thought of no
intellectual fences. For those able - think about it....
Jack Rickard
Editor Rotundus
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
=====================
Dear Mr. Rickard:
Please find enclosed my check for $59 for a two year subscription to
"Boardwatch". I enjoy the brashness of your prose although I do not always
agree with your outspoken opinions. However, the letters alone are,
debatably, worth the price of admission.
In your June issue you recount your experience of reading "Byte" magazine for
15 consecutive years to achieve a certain level of subject understanding and
seem to advise a reader to follow "Boardwatch" for a similar period to
achieve a similar understanding of your subject matter. Although I have
little doubt that "Boardwatch" will survive that period, as a 71 year old
retiree I am not at all sure that I will. (Are subscriptions assignable?)
With that thought in mind I would like to find a path to substantially
expedite the learning process. Some six years ago I was quite active (at
least as a visitor) in the BBS world. Upon coming to Mexico and TelMex I
gave up due to an apparent attitude on the part of TelMex that each caller
should be given the opportunity to finance the entire TelMex network
improvement program. Since a great deal has happened in the last six years I
find that I am unfamiliar with current configurations, capabilities, etc.
However, I have acquired a Gateway 2000 (386 DX) and installed an internal
Gateway Telepath modem - V.32bis, V.32, V.22, V.22bis, V.21, V.42, V.42bis,
FAX mode Group 3, etc. using Qmodem, X-Talk and WinFax an all that stuff
operating at some near supersonic speed that should reduce TelMex's take to a
few wrinkled pesos! With some difficulties (a broken blade on my favorite
skinnin' knife), this system is now installed and working, by cracky!!
Neaow thin!!! Are there any publications that provide a description of the
nets, how they tie together, how you find addresses, how you send messages,
what all this costs, etc. etc? A few years ago I purchased a Compuserve
"Starter Kit" and spent several hours wandering through an endless succession
of menus like a deer lost in the woods, until I was forced to abandon the
project just short of turning over my entire pension to TelMex. This is not,
from here, a viable route. It appears desirable to seek more "book larnin"
prior to again connecting up to the TelMex Corporate Treasury.
I might point out that if you were to publish such an article(s) one time,
the future demand could be filled by reprints and or addenda (and someday you
could publish a book and retire), all at great profit to "Boardwatch" and
J.R. (i.e. you too, could move to Mexico and live off my pension!!)
If you don't have time right now - never mind, but send the subscription
anyway.
Hoping for your early attention to this matter, I am
Sincerely,
El Gringo Viejo
R.M Titus
Jalisco, Mexico
Mr. Titus:
I checked with TelMex (the telephone company in Mexico) on your behalf. They
inform me they do in fact want the entire pension, and ask that you please
send it in soonest. Apparently there have been some momentary delays between
when you receive your check, and when you pass it on to them. They sounded
genuinely concerned, and asked that I pass on their wishes for your continued
good health for many years to come.
My reference to Byte was perhaps unclear. It did not require 15 years to
"achieve a certain level of subject understanding" through reading Byte -
certainly less than a year in fact. But had Byte focused on the novice
information I originally needed, it would not have been useful once I passed
that novice stage. I would have outgrown it before the first renewal period.
It has held my ATTENTION for a full 15 years after I learned the basics -
which took a few months and a bit of effort on my part.
And it did so by following the industry with pernicious attention to detail
and a knowledgeable view of what was going on, through MANY cycles of new
hardware, new software, new techniques, and so forth. Because of this
experience, we at Boardwatch early on adopted a rather militant stance
against "talking down" to the reader and against seeking least common
denominator status. Certainly this limits our growth, our financial
prospects, and our subscriber base. But it makes it an interesting magazine
for us to produce, and for those who do follow the industry to read. So let
Bill Ziff retire to Mexico. I'm busy.
But the larger issue you raise is the definitive or all encompassing article
or book that will "make you smart" on this technology and the labyrinth of
online services. Were it available, I assure you I most certainly would not
have personally written it, because I would be off doing something else.
Compediums and definitive works are always done AFTER the final brick is
laid, the final wire strung, the final rail has been nailed into place. They
tend to be historical in nature - mapping how it WAS done.
Boardwatch covers an infant industry, just emerging from the minds of men and
women hellbent over the kitchen table, for reasons good or ill, on changing
the way people communicate - with computers. It is technical in a lot of
places, but actually goes quite beyond that - to change the span and reach of
the individual - to the point where we can all live in Mexico or anywhere
else and still have an impact anywhere on the planet we wish.
Boardwatch's role is to try to pick out the pieces we think matter AS THEY
DEVELOP and as they are pioneered, and report on them to a readership we
assume absolutely to be gentlemen and scholars all - and many of which we
happen to know are a lot smarter than we are. If anyone wants to act like a
gentleman and scholar, and try to GET smarter than THEY are, they're welcome
to join us on the journey. But it is a journey. And when it evolves to
become a destination, I'll be long gone.
In the evolution of these technologies, it is my fondest hope that one day we
can all tell monolithic monopolistic entities such as your telephone company
- to go to Tel.
Try Dvorak's Guide to PC Telecommunications (Osborne McGraw Hill), Becker's
"Introduction to PC Communications" (Que Books), and John Quartermann's "The
Matrix" (DEC Press).
Jack Rickard
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 3
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Hi Jack!
The August 1993 Boardwatch was the second one I've picked up recently. I'm
fascinated by both the technology and the social aspects of computer
networking. If this keeps up I might have to subscribe! But, what is this
problem you have with UNIX? Your bashing of the "UNIX community" in the
editor's notes, while amusing, was in stark contrast to the well-informed,
open-minded way you seem to deal with other topics. I would say that the
"UNIX community" and the "BBS community" have a lot in common. For instance,
some (not all) members of each community are so immersed in "their" jargon,
shared assumptions, and technology that they can't imagine how off-putting it
can be to the outsider. Both are religions in a way. Ironically, the UNIX
"religion" started as a rebellion against the overly complex, user-hostile
mainframe operating systems that dominated at the time.
Let's try an experiment. I'll take a short passage from your editorial and
replace "UNIX" with "BBS". Ready? "The interface to BBS isn't an interface at
all. It's a test. And BBS aficionados actually perceive that the world should
in fact learn BBS and pass the test." I have dialed up BBS systems that gave
me this exact feeling. If it had been a UNIX shell interface instead, I would
have had a much easier time of it. But I realize that this is not because one
interface is good and the other bad u it is because one is familiar to me and
one is not. Nor do I assume that nobody in the BBS community knows or cares
about providing a suitable user interface for the uninitiated. I just assumed
that that particular sysop had other priorities.
Paul Perkins
perkinsp@delphi.com
Paul:
I don't quite buy your plug and play exercise with terms. I write very
little by accident - it's hard enough to do it on purpose. The UNIX mantra
does exceed the normal jargon/love of the familiar that IS quite pervasive
throughout technology. THAT WAS in fact the point. That said, I don't
really have any problem with UNIX other than I don't buy the party line on
what it can and can't do. That does tend to irritate the more devout UNIX
apoligists, but there you have it. I do think much of what drives the
Internet and an increasingly "connected" world has come out of this UNIX
community. Some of my best friends are devoted to UNIXology.
Jack Rickard
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 4
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Jack,
I have just finished reading the August 1993 issue of Boardwatch magazine and
I would like to thank you for providing such a good magazine.
I have just recently re-discovered the online world having been away from it
for about five years. A few months ago I bought a new 486dx33 with a good
modem and hit the boards here in Houston , Texas. I also hit the news stands
in search of a magazine that would guide me through the muck of online
services. I spent a lot of money before finding Boardwatch and I now have
ended my search for a satisfying online service and a good magazine.
The online service I have found is Delphi. The Internet gateway is the most
amazing thing I have ever come across. It is what I used to dream about when
I was twelve and calling the local c-64/Atari boards. I really connected to
your "We look for things" motto that you mentioned in the 8/93 issue. I have
the same excited feeling when I read your magazine - like I have found a
whole new world that is growing larger and more exciting every day.
I would also like to comment on the article describing how to take advantage
of Genie's new rate schedule. I think it is great that you can spend just a
few minutes a day actually online and still get a lot done. It sounds very
boring though. Who wants to get on a system and not look around a little
bit? Maybe do some chatting or just read a few news articles.
I just cancelled my Prodigy account after finding Delphi and I feel
liberated. The cost is less and I am connected to the entire world, not just
an electronic island.
Again I would like to thank you for the excellent publication. There are a
lot of "bubble-gum" magazines out there describing the online world and it is
nice to find a meat and potatoes guide that does not take it to the
Mondo-2000 extremes. Not that I don't like to get extreme.
Take care,
Steven Baker
Houston, Texas
Internet: STEVENBAKER@DELPHI.COM
Steve:
Personally, I share your spirit of exploration. I do like to browse about.
But it is an experience in travel, and part of what makes the online world so
fascinating is its many levels and layers. One of those is simply using
e-mail and participating in a few conferences. And many find it much less
expensive, and less of a press of time, to do it on their own machine, on
their own desktop, at their own leisure. I'm pretty onboard with that
concept frankly, and ultimately, I think e-mail wants to be very personally
nailed to the individuals desktop, and the delivery details firmly uploaded
to be someone else's problem. This drives the popularity of offline mail
readers, utilities such as Alladin, OZCIS, TAPCIS, and others to tap into
commercial online services, and increasingly, Windows and Mac programs to
make the Internet connection. Many callers automate this to such a degree,
they couldn't tell you when their machine actually made the call to do mail.
They still have all the tools to go on a walkabout online, but they can
handle their personal e-mail and keep track of a few dozen discussions of
continued interest without even being in the room when the magic digits are
dialed.
Jack Rickard
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 5
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Jack:
Here in Downriver Detroit there is a project called "The Cynedd Project"
dedicated to pairing up homebound (sick, handicapped, injured) children and
used computer systems. The goal is to have these isolated children
communicate with "key-pals" from all over via the Internet and Native
American Network. Although we only have 2 children active right now...as
soon as the next complete system has been put together, the next child will
be found through children's hospitals, schools, and other agencies. Computer
clubs and BBS members have been actively working on this since May of this
year.
Another real need came to light while we were working on this. There are no
BBSes in our area, that cater to young children. Many of the Sysops have
young children, many of my BBS friends have small children, but there is no
place attractive to the under ten year old child.
I wonder if you have ever heard of a board so dedicated. If so I would
appreciate knowing the number so I can explore and research it (or them) and
talk with the persons involved. I can't believe that it hasn't been tried,
but I have not been able locate anyone who has ever heard of a Kiddie Board.
Laura Bashlor
lauralou@gatecom.com
Laura:
I've heard vague rumors of Barbinets and BBS's for tots over the years, but
frankly, few come to mind at the moment. One that does that I've always been
a bit intrigued with is Noel Stookey's CELEBRATION STATION in Blue Hill Falls
Maine. (207)374-5161. Noel is "Peter" in "Peter, Paul and Mary", a folk song
group among whose credits are "Puff the Magic Dragon." Noel is apparently
quite taken with children and started his BBS specifically for children.
Perhaps some of our readers can forward information on BBSs specifically for
children in response to your letter. Somebody has got to be doing a list on
this.
Jack Rickard
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 6
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Hi Jack,
Having been an avid reader of Boardwatch for over a year now, (and a
subscriber via a friend in the US) I have been meaning to get down and write
a short note to you to tell you that BBSing is alive and well on the Southern
tip of Africa! I also wanted to say that Boardwatch is an absolutely
invaluable publication for anyone even remotely connected to BBS's. It might
be the smallest of the 5 mags I read each month, but it is the one I read
from cover to cover!
I've been a BBS user for a few years and an online addict for as long! I also
publish a unique BBS listing covering South Africa, on a monthly basis. As
far as I know it's one of it's kind, in that it creates the dialing
directories for a few of the most popular comms programs based on the users
selection criteria. RFYYMM.ZIP.
Back to the South African BBS scene and a few stats as at end June 93.
Number of active BBS's - 157
Active being the operative word! I don't know what it's like overseas but
BBS's open and close at a rate of knots!
Mail Networks
FidoNet - 75
RsaNET - 20
Link - 11
BBS Software split
Remote Access - 89
PCBoard - 34
Maximus - 8
Wildcat - 5
UltraBBS - 5
Other - 16
What's interesting here is when one converts the number of boards to the
number of nodes, the Remote Access dominance is less apparent.
Remote Access = 95 Nodes
PCBoard = 67 nodes.
Plus of course if we were able to ascertain the registered software stats,
PCBoard would win hands down, as all of them are registered.
Most of the big boards (and in South Africa anything over 5 nodes is
considered big) run PCBoard. In fact all the big boards bar one which runs
MajorBBS run it. If you publish my letter I will expect a rush of abuse from
the RA boys that I get from time to time when I show my bias towards PCBoard.
;-)
Mail packet split
QWK Packet - 105 nodes
Bluewave - 56 nodes
Although the QWK format is dominant at the moment, unless Sparky spends
another half an hour to dream up QWK II, I can see the limitations of the QWK
packet causing more and more boards to switch to BlueWave. I understand that
a release of Bluewave for PCBoard is eminent and that could very well change
the stats.
Modem Split (Nodes)
USRobotics HST - 65
2400 and MNP5 - 63
V.32bis - 55
V.32 - 19
Speedmodems - 7
ZyXel - 6
The modem stats have changed dramatically in the last year with the advent of
the cheaper V.32 and V.32bis modems making their appearance. The HST price
reductions also helped ! ;-) Although the ZyXel modem is only just making
it's appearance in South Africa I think it's going to have a much bigger
market share within the next year.
BTW I'm not a Sysop.... with having to dial each BBS in my list each month to
verify that they still exist, and an active echomailer as well, I don't have
the time, money or the inclination to run a board ! ;-)
Talking about money... some of the boards in S.A. are at last starting to
make a small profit or at least covering costs. We have a relatively small
modem population in South Africa, and it's unlikely that a BBS's income could
support a Sysop for some time to come. Trying to get publicity for BBS's
here is a major task. Of course the only stuff they consider newsworthy is
the occasional porn board that gets busted and the never ending garbage that
is spewn out about viruses.
We do however get some indirect publicity though the advertising of the
government Prestel System called Beltel. At least it gets people to buy a
modem! Once they have the modem they may be lucky enough to find out about a
BBS and then they download my list and we hook another addict!
Compuserve has also arrived in South Africa via Compuserve Africa.
Unfortunately it's just too expensive for the man in the street, as apart
from the normal Compuserve charges that we would incur at our horrendous
exchange rate, there is an addition cost for the high speed line from
Pretoria to Compuserve that we have to pay for. :-( But it again highlights
the use of modems.
Once again, many thanks for a great magazine Jack. We'll be thinking about
you all having fun at ONE BBSCON and maybe I'll rob a bank next year so that
I can join you! ;-)
Kind Regards
Rob Fisher
FidoNet Netmail 5:7103/1.1
rob.fisher@softel.proxima.alt.za
Rob:
Well, we did publish it, and I fear you can expect your dose of grief from
the "RA boys." Thank you so much for the update from South Africa. It is
indeed fascinating and it sounds like bulletin boards are booming there as
well. It is striking that the online model has emerged so universally
similar, from country to country and continent to continent, with bulletin
boards thriving on the edge of the expense of commercial services, the
arrogance of government programs, the popularity of networked mail, and so
forth.
Similarly, the level of things shared in common among people connected by
wire globally is a little charming. I think governments dependent on selling
the concept of the Mongol Hordes gathering just over the horizon in order to
motivate/manipulate their own populations is going to become a bit harder
sell as the result of all this.
Jack Rickard
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 7
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Mr. Rickard:
First off, what a tremendous resource BOARDWATCH Magazine has been. Before
reading BOARDWATCH I was a puny 97lb. network surfer. Now, after months of
the BOARDWATCH program I am a muscular, lean, mean e-mailing machine!
Seriously, I am trying to establish contacts with AFS students that have
attended my school. For whatever reasons, regular mail is very inconsistent
in going to or coming from Russia.
In recent issues there have been letters from a Gentleman from St.
Petersburg, coincidentally, where two of the students live. I have misplaced
the issues with his letters and e-mail address. Can you send me his e-mail
address?
My purpose in contacting him would be to see if there is a way to open up
communications between the AFS students and their parents, and between me and
the AFS students who have just returned to their homes in St. Petersburg.
Additionally I am hopeful that a network of some sort can be developed that
would facilitate communication between AFS'ers and their host families, and
aregular' families. This would not be limited to just Russia as, at least
here, we have AFS students from Turkey and Brazil.
Thanks in advance for your consideration of these comments.
Clear Skies...
Bob Riddle, Planetarium Director
Southwest Science/Math Magnet High School
6512 Wornall Rd.
Kansas City, MO. 64113
(816) 871-0900
Bob:
I too was a 97 lb netweakling. But now I'm a 230 lb net-hog wallowing in my
chair and unable to get up to walk. The muscular, lean, mean period must
have happened during a download or something.
It was in fact our May, 1993 issue where we carried a report from Arcady
Khotin (agh@nwpc.spb.su) bringing us up to date on the state of networking in
the Soviet Union. I'm sure he'd be pleased to hear from you. You might
remind him to update us while you're at it.
Jack Rickard
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 8
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Dear Boardwatch Mag,
I am a big fan of your Magazine, and the area I find most interesting is your
section on BBS laws, Legally Online. I often use it as a source on my BBS
for policy and to aid other SysOps in my area.
My Board, Friendly Fire (Will go public in August after ONEBBS CON) is a
political debate board and a source for BBS law, Political Speeches, and
other topics of political and BBS interest.
I used the policy published in the July version of your Magazine that was
from Exec-PC on the topic of adult gifs to write a policy for this area on
GIFS. My question is, would this be a copyright infringement of your
magazine or of Exec-PC? I rewrote it in afriendly' language, and gave you
and Exec-PC as a source, but I thought the prudent thing to do would be to
check with you.
Thanks for a great Mag,
M Wayne Stefiel, Friendly Fire BBS
Wayne:
We would probably consider it a copyright infringement, however friendly.
But you should really check with the author, Greg Ryan, at EXEC-PC. His
wishes are our wishes with regards to this specific article.
Political debate is warp and woof in the web of online life. You should do
well. Since this issue will be our "ONE BBSCON Special Edition" such as it
is, welcome to the convention.
Jack Rickard
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Jack:
Your June issue was my first. I found it to be an invaluable resource.
I'll probably be suffering from information overload when the next issue
comes out! I'm a contractor assistant to a sysop on an Environmental
Protection Agency BBS. Your magazine has already given me lots of
information, ideas, and contacts. However I was distressed that our board,
The Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards Technology Transfer Network,
wasn't included in your list of government BBS's. The TTN is a 64 line TBBS
based system which contains fourteen individual BBS's covering topics from
the Clean Air Act Amendments to Ambient Air Monitoring (the Ambient
Monitoring Technical Information Center - AMTIC - is the BBS I am personally
working on, with Joe Elkins as the EPA sysop). The TTN receives an average
of eight thousand calls a month, and I would like to think we are one of the
foremost on-line sources of information in the air pollution field. Give us a
call at (919)541-5742 (8-N-1)!
Thanks Again for the Great Magazine!
Jeff Harris
TRC Environmental Corp.
jharris%cenc@epavax.rtpnc.epa.gov
Jeff:
I'm a little distressed about it myself since we did a story on the EPA
system slightly over a year ago. I'll get it over it if you will, but thanks
for calling it to our attention - with the details.
Jack Rickard
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Hi, Jack,
Like a lot of letters I'm sure you receive, this one is more of a stream of
consciousness than an organized missive of thoughts. But I have a couple of
things to comment on -
In a recent issue, you were attempting to come up with some numbers of just
how many modem-equipped computers there were. You went through a list of how
many microprocessors Intel sold of various types over the years, and then
casually wrote off a few million people by saying "let's assume all the PC's
and XT's (8088/6's) are out of commission" or something of the sort.
Nope! In fact, I'm using an XT clone to write this very mail to you. I don't
know how many XT clones are still operating, but it's a safe bet that more of
them are telecommunicating than just about any other application short of
word processing. Most 8-10 MHz and above XTs can run fine even at 9600 baud,
and it doesn't take a lot of horsepower to emulate a dumb terminal.
Heck, even the three online services that either require or push a front-end
program can run on XTs. CompuServe Information Manager's DOS version (as far
as I know), America Online's PC/AOL 1.5a (GeoWorks-based) and Prodigy's PC
software all run just fine on XTs and clones. For the XTs that can't run
PC/AOL due to only having CGA graphics and no hard drive, AOL offers its
PC-Link front-end software.
No, I'm not gonna be one of those screamers that demand coverage of old-style
computers. I know I'm on a relic, and don't expect the kind of attention
that 386/486/Pentium/etc. users get these days...and I don't even want it.
But telecomputing is one of the few pursuits in the computing world that
doesn't require a power machine like a 486/66, and probably one of the few
applications that an XT is good for in 1993.
If someone reading your magazine can pick up a used XT clone for a couple of
hundred bucks or less, and they use it to get on a BBS, an online service or
the Internet, and get enjoyment out of it... well, then I consider it a good
service you've done. And maybe they will have an appetite whetted to move up
to something "meatier", like the aforementioned 486 "power machine", if they
like what they see.
Mike Ward
parth2@aol.com
Mike:
I don't think there is a thing in the world wrong with putting old hardware
into play for communications. As you point out, even at 14.4 kbps, it is
really overkill. If you can get an XT fitted up with a pretty good VGA
monitor and a serial port with NS16550 UARTs to handle the speed, they work
fabulously. Save the big iron for Mandelbrot Fractals.
I wasn't actually trying to denigrate old hardware at all. We try to come up
with all sorts of numbers here at Boardwatch. It's a constant area of
interest both for us and our readership. One of the reasons for this,
unfortunately, is that there are a LOT of people out there generating
numbers, and they tend to be unerringly bogus. Much of it goes beyond even
the usual industry hype. I guess if you are going to generate some, it
doesn't seem like you've done much unless they are "big" numbers. And
unfortunately, that renders them more or less useless.
We tend to be conservative with our number generator. We generally throw out
perfectly good chunks to intentionally err on the conservative side when in
doubt. Faced with the task of estimating how many XT's are still in useful
operation, as opposed to acting as land fill, closet fodder, or desktop
ornamentation, we failed to produce a methodology. So we axed XT's as a
tradeoff for keeping ALL AT class machines, many of which ALSO have been a
long time between drinks from the wall socket. We are assuming the higher
investment in dollars in a386 and a486 iron keeps them in the "active"
column.
Jack Rickard
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Dear Jack,
In reading your June `93 issue, you make an humorous (I believe) comment on
the bottom of pg 14 about connecting to a vending machine in Omaha. In
reading the nets, not too long ago I came across some posts by various
University folks who had their pop machines wired into their university
network, which *anyone* with an Internet IP connection could query to see how
many cans of pop were left inside.
How true this actually is I'm not sure. But it's a scary thought that people
around the world could find out how much pop I have left in my vending
machine. :)
Yours is a good magazine. Keep up the good work!
Tim Kuehn
timk@tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca
Tim:
I saw some similar references. I found them a bit believable. Some of these
Internet heads actually DO things like that. They had a bread toaster wired
up to ethernet at an INTEROP a few years ago.
I don't think it poses much of a threat to our personal pop privacy myself.
But if it is a matter of concern, you might consider developing a pop machine
security software package to see if there is a market for it. Who knows,
there may ultimately be a global network of pop machines where industry
executives can find out REALLY what brands are selling NOW.
Jack Rickard
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Dear Jack,
I've recently received my third issue of Boardwatch and am very pleased with
your publication. In fact, Boardwatch has opened up the world to me via
modem. Thanks to Boardwatch, I'm a PC Pursuit subscriber and have become a
member of over 30 boards around the country, at last count. I never cease to
be amazed at the diversity of BBS configurations, graphics, commands, themes,
and SYSOP attitudes and mentality. In my explorations, I've seen everything
from "WELCOME! This is the BBS, I'm the SYSOP, enjoy!" to "Government
officials, law enforcement officers and evangelists not welcome here" (and
other, more "colorful" greetings which I dare not repeat). I still get a bit
excited when I see the "CONNECT" message on my monitor.
There are two articles in your July issue which I felt were outstanding.
"Dealing With Adult .GIF Images" by Greg Ryan contains good, sound advice and
it is nice to see someone taking the lead in developing some uniform
standards for SYSOPS in this area. Also, "Steve Jackson Games v. US Secret
Service" by Peter D. Kennedy. After reading the outrageously fanatical
rantings by others about this case and the issues involved, Mr. Kennedy's
article was a breath of fresh air. A regular column written by Mr. Kennedy
would be most appreciated by this subscriber.
Keep up the good work, I'll be looking forward to receiving my next issue of
Boardwatch.
Sincerely,
Dave Tracy
71573.3105@compuserve.com
Dave:
Pleased to hear we are hitting the mark. Many times when topics grow beyond
the bounds of normal hysteria, we've found it a good exercise to go back to
the heart of the heat. I actually disagree most broadly with most of what
Mr. Ryan wrote, but thought it would be a valuable exercise to publish the
thoughts of someone that has to LIVE with this issue in a big way and every
day. He expressed their strategy at EXEC-PC quite succinctly, and I think to
the benefit of the community.
Similarly, Mr. Kennedy was the lawyer who actually represented Steve Jackson
in the case. He was actually my second choice for this piece. But when the
judge in the case turned me down cold, Kennedy had to do. He did do a good
job of it all the way through I thought. And who knows, the judge might have
had a dyslexia problem.
Jack Rickard
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Dear Mr. Rickard,
Sorry, but calling you "Jack" seems horribly presumptuous given that we have
no actual acquaintance.
Your column in the August issue of Boardwatch, and the prolix comments of Ben
Blumenberg criticizing education and the current crop of students have
incited me to write, and the wonderful historical and literary scope of your
comments in Boardwatch give me hope that you may find the following thoughts
at least mildly amusing.
While the comments to the effect that much of the message base in the
electronic community is garbage are true, the blame for the causes of that
wasteland may be applied with a brush that is a little on the broad side.
Remember that all of us currently using the electronic medium received
essentially the same education, and that that education contained little or
nothing relevant to using Email, yet we are quite capable of accomplishing
what we wish within that medium. A fair conclusion one may draw from that
evidence, then, is that formal education serves, as it always has, as a means
of acquisition of the vocabulary of dealing with the world and of the
excitement of learning. The public schools can and do accomplish this task
quite well among those willing to listen to the teachers.
While the NEA is undeniably touting messages that a good many of us would
rather not hear, having been married to a teacher for twenty years, I can
assure you that the NEA does NOT speak for all teachers. In fact it may not
speak even for the majority of them. Many of the defects in public education
today are not the fault of the schools, but of the parents of the students in
them. Many parents do not care to spend the time to read to their kids when
the kids are little so that they enter school with a love of reading, or to
help their kids learn manners so that they can interact well with others in
school, or to help them explore all the exciting minutiae of the world around
them so that they will learn the excitement of discovery. Having thus
abandoned their responsibilities as parents, they demand that the schools
adopt an ever greater role as the parents' surrogate while also demanding
that the schools perform these additional tasks without any more tax revenue
and in a politically correct manner; all while not interfering with their
children's' "space"! Having failed either to discipline their children or to
teach them self-discipline (and I speak from the experience of listening to
teachers' "war stories" here), parents become outraged at both teachers'
attempts to apply the discipline necessary to provide an environment for
learning and any lack of such attempts they perceive.
The public media constantly poke fun at learning: "sitcoms" portray anyone
who has any education as a nerd, knowledge of mathematics or the ability to
use English effectively means you are a geek, and knowledge has no intrinsic
or extrinsic value. As we raise the current generation of "vidiots", we can
hardly blame the schools for failing to exert enough influence to overcome
the message in which we all swim daily that one can not display an interest
in any subject other than sex or football without screaming to the world "I
am a dork" by doing so.
Our society considers money to be the ultimate reward for displaying the
characteristics the society values most, so let's take a look at who makes
the most money, and by implication, who displays the most value to our
society. So, who tops the list? Actors, rock musicians, and sports figures
have more money than God, constantly brag on television talk shows about how
they are ignorant and "durn proud of it!", and have never needed any
education to make all that money. People who can hardly talk consider that
society's accolades of showers of money make them experts on all kinds of
social and psychological issues, and reinforce the message to the "vidiot"
generation that paying attention in school is a total waste of time. And you
(and Mr. Blumenberg) then want to blame the shortcomings of public education
on teachers? Given all these factors, I find the fact that public education
functions AT ALL nothing short of miraculous!
Before we throw out the baby with the bath water, we ought to consider that
the public school system, besides the obvious functions, also provides a
great equalizing system; in that most of the population of the United States
shares common experiences: sitting at those little desks with "Mary Sue
loves Bobby" carved into them, having your tongue stick to those little
wooden "spoons" while eating ice cream from little cups, being chased by the
playground bully, and generally having to deal with people with whom one
would rather not associate.
These experiences provide a common fabric that ties us all together in the
warp and woof of its weave, and help to keep us headed in something of a
common direction as we travel through life. Take these shared experiences
away, and you leave us with the situation outlined most clearly in countries
like the former Yugoslavia; in which the lack of shared experience and common
referents causes the total destruction of both society and culture.
And so, having become quite prolix myself, I conclude by suggesting that we
ought to recognize that our education system has performed miracles in both
providing a culture that allows us to enjoy freedoms and a standard of living
unlike any mankind has ever seen, and a basis to expand those freedoms and
living standards in directions we can only imagine. Let's stop dumping the
blame for all our problems on teachers and place it where it really belongs:
on ourselves, for not accepting our responsibilities as parents and for
spending too many Sundays, doing carrot imitations, beer in hand on the sofa,
while a bunch of highly-paid illiterates perform ritualized combat in the
best tradition of the Roman circuses on the tube. Instead of just bitching
about the problems we perceive in the public schools, let's get together and
shoulder the responsibility of fixing them. After all, we have an
infrastructure investment there of billions of dollars, and we can ill afford
to pay the social and economic costs of throwing the whole system out and
starting over from scratch.
On a separate, but related, topic, one of the failed hopes of the BBS world
in my view is the promise of forums for conversations on topics such as the
one above. Search as I may, I have been unable to find a place where such
discussions are going on. As the BBS world promises to be the medium of
choice for communication in the future, I submit that we need to develop
places for such conversations. Both your editorials and the letters your
readers write show a pent up demand for such a forum, yet we have not
provided an outlet for this demand.
I would be delighted to hear you comments on either or both of these
subjects.
Nigel Mends
Compuserve 71174, 2523
Nigel:
Ok. I'll buy it. But I want some pretty big things in return. FIRST, if
there are any inaccuracies in this issue of Boardwatch, we will agree they
are the READERS fault. Secondly, any color anomalies are the printers fault.
If any of the pages are out of order, it's Gary's fault. If I say something
stupid, it's YOUR fault. And if you don't get this issue at all, for
whatever reason of nondelivery, it's your wife's fault. Or my wife's fault.
Or perhaps Clinton's fault.
In the REAL world I live in Mr. Mends, anything in Boardwatch that isn't up
to snuff really is MY responsibility. This is total, unrelenting,
unforgiving, merciless, and I not only accept it, I approve of the whole
system. If you don't get your issue, call me. I replace it at MY expense
and with all due haste we can muster. I live in a world where it is a
PRIVILEGE to be read and the highest compliment in the world to be paid for -
in mailboxes across 60 countries that GROAN under the weight of things
waiting to be read. But it is a curiously unforgiving industry. If I fail,
the world simply turns away to other things and I am forgotten in a universe
of 26,000 periodical publications.
Teachers, by contrast, have complained bitterly of lack of money, while
funding for the education of our children has TRIPLED to some $6500 per
student per year. Now, the story is that parents are unfeeling, uncaring,
uncommitted monsters who did a fun thing in a jacuzzi somewhere, stopped by
the hospital 3/4 of a year later, and then dumped the result on the school
house steps on the way to their next Perrier party. It's our society. It's
our parents. It's the administrators. It's Supreme Court rulings. It's
busing. In the letter you refer to, it was TV and junk food.
Nigel - what it is is heartbreakingly simple - no stones. There is no one in
a profession employing millions of individuals in pretty good style and at a
public expense of billions and billions of dollars with the strength of
character, vision, or upbringing to say "I stand responsible for this, and I
will fix it."
Until someone DOES say that, the various elements in the machine, the printer
communications, dealing with the post office, adopting the latest page layout
technology and getting it to work, selecting articles, graphics, researching
technologies, dialing online services, retail distribution agreements - they
don't matter, and they don't count. No one needs or wants to hear about it -
they are excuses, not causes. They certainly aren't the reasons for failure.
They don't matter for magazines, and tv, junk food, parents, society, the
welfare state, buses, funding, student motivation, pressure groups, unions,
societal decay, guns in the classroom - don't matter for education. These are
structural elements of a process - not a result.
Eventually, if no one IN education does take responsibility, someone outside
of it will. Three things come to my mind immediately. One - I CAN fix it.
Two - you and almost everyone else IN the education field will be MUCH
happier if I don't. And three, there are many out there who would be even
less pleasant and considered about it than I would be.
Jack Rickard
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To whom it may concern;
I'm not sure who to direct this to, so the title will have to do. I purchased
a copy of your magazine last month, and read it cover-to-cover. It's been a
long time since I've done that with any periodical. I decided to cast a vote
for my favorite BBS. Much to my surprise, I received a copy of this month's
edition in the mail today, and was thrilled. I've already read through it,
and I'm looking forward to the next edition. I'm not sure why I received
anything, although it does mention that I voted in the contest on the
shipping label. I've purchased other communications periodicals in the last
few months as well as read Modem News on a local board here in Philly. Your
magazine far exceeds anything else I've read, and is generously
text-oriented, a real short coming of others, namely, Online Access. So I'd
just like to post a note of thanks and appreciation to the culprit
responsible, and also would like to add that I pass the magazine on to
friends. It's real hard to find your magazine on any racks, and I'm limited
to one book store, and if you're not one of the first to get it..then you
miss the boat. Being disabled, I really appreciate the sometimes critical
info. that you exhibit. To some, I guess that's not important, but for me,
more times than not, this computer and modem is my mode of transportation.
Thanks again,
Sincerely;
Bill Hartzell
6046 Newtown Ave.
Phila., PA 19111
BILLSOVIET@AOL.COM
Bill:
Well, Nigel, there's the good side to being the "responsible" culprit.
Seriously, Mr. Hartzell, we're pleased we're hitting the mark in Philly. We
are battling the retail distribution thing pretty hard. We win some, we lose
some. Basically, if we tell stores they will need more Boardwatch because
we're good and they will sell out in four days, they are a bit skeptical,
probably understandably enough. But we are winning one store at a time.
Typically, they have to deal with dozens and in some cases hundreds of
titles. Our newsstand performance falls a little out of their "typical
magazine" range.
We mail Boardwatch to selected "balloters" in our contest in a crafty effort
to enlist the post office in our validation process. Works pretty well
actually. And if you took the time to vote, you deserve a copy. The way the
world works, almost every time, is that the harder you try to give it away,
the more it comes back. I keep having to learn that part for some reason. We
really did intend it as a "thank you" for those voting, and we probably get
as many subscriptions back as a result of this as anything we do. If I can
ever figure out what it is we're doing right, I promise we'll do a LOT more
of it.
Jack Rickard
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Jack:
I enjoy being a subscriber to your publication and think it is a great
resource for information about the online community. My reason for this
letter is to complain about is the "Marlboro" stories you have run in two
recent issues.
Marlboro sells cigarettes. In order to get more recognition of their brand
name, they sponsor events like the racing. This allows them to use
familiarity and association techniques to later sell those fine tobacco
products once you are in your local store.
Why keep mentioning Marlboro in your publication and even printing their logo
(twice in the picture from the August issue)? This is yet another ad from
this company, and will help to sell cigarettes (whether you intend it to or
not).
Unless, of course, Phillip Morris is PAYING you to run these photos.
Roy Batchelor
Burn This Flag BBS
San Jose, California
roy@burnflag.ati.com
Roy:
Sometimes I'm sure I MUST have just hauled in on the Pumpkin wagon. There is
so MUCH about this world I don't have a clue how it works or how it got so
hosed before my arrival.
First, what's wrong with Marlboro, what's wrong with them selling cigarettes,
why should I care whether they do or don't, and most curiously, why should
you?
Marlboro isn't paying ME to run these photos, I'm paying THEM. Or at least
Jim Thompson, who's done a bangup job with a series of articles on "graphics
online." In case you were out of the country, this is a hot area of
interest online. This is a perniciously technical area that is developing
widely and narrowly on dozens of fronts at once. I'm inadequate to the task
of doing it well.
Mr. Thompson runs Marlboro Racing News, a BBS with a somewhat unique mission
to take photos of automobile races, and put them up on a BBS in a matter of
minutes for about 400 journalists around the world who download them and put
them in their newspapers. These people need an easy graphic interface - and
photos. This rather puts the onus on Mr. Thompson to stay at the edge of this
technology, and the funding to do it to whatever degree it can
technologically be done. But his main line of business is running Western
News Service - and writing. So I found someone who CAN write, AND has a
vested interest in keeping up with this graphics technology, AND a heck of a
nice guy, AND willing to help me with this. And as I understand it, YOU
DON'T LIKE HIS HAT!
And I don't even understand the first part of WHY you don't like his hat.
Marlboro is a company. They sell cigarettes, they sponsor a Marlboro
automotive racing team (doing pretty well this season actually), and
apparently they make a baseball cap for Jim. If you are implying that by a
terribly complex ruse, they have plotted and planned to get this in
Boardwatch, I'm flattered, but confused. If you are worried they will sell
more cigarettes, I hope they do. If you just wanted to write a letter, the
hot topics now are education, the Internet, and Amiga abuse.
As it so happens, I smoke about two packs of Pall Mall's a day - they're made
by American Tobacco Company and can be found "Wherever Particular People
Congregate." I hope they sell an extra truckload or too as well - to kids,
environmentalists, and educators.
Hey Roy - GET A LIFE! A smoke-free one if you like, BUT A LIFE.
Jack Rickard
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Dear Mr. Rickard and Mr. Gram-Reefer,
This is just a quick note to thank you for the kind words you printed about
my classroom in the August issue of Boardwatch. I truly believe that people
outside of the Education field should know about the good things kids do in
the classroom. By printing an article about my class, you have spread the
message that kids can do productive and meaningful projects in the classroom
if/when given the right tools.
Is it possible that the people at KidLink/Kidcafe can post the article in
their library??? They will give proper credit to Mr. Gram-Reefer and
Boardwatch.
Again, thanks for the kind words.
Sincerely,
Sheldon Smith
Atascadero Junior High School
6501 Lewis Ave.
Atascadero, California 93422 USA
805.466.2417 (voice)
shsmit@eis.calstate.edu
Sheldon:
Even a blind hog gets an acorn now and again. Hang in there.
Jack Rickard
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Dear Jack:
Ok, I was reading the July 1993 "Letters to the Editor", and I saw someone
highly praising ROBOboard...I seem to agree...It's much like the traditional
RemoteAccess or SuperBBS, but with EGA /VGA graphics. Hudson Message Base &
all... But, while computers are speedily upgrading, EGA/VGA/SVGA,
286/386/486, there are some (one of my best friends comes to mind) who run an
8088, one floppy not even 640k, putting along on a 2400 modem, plus a CGA
monitor.
The question is, what to do with the users not supported by the RoboTerm VGA
interface? The answer, either run 2 bbs's (which I did for a while), or dump
RoboBoard! No real SysOp, serving the community, can alienate all CGA users!
The Answer: Go RIP or NAPLPS. I support RIP, only because both Renegade and
Synchronet (The 2 best softwares on the market at this time, in my opinion)
support RIP well. I hear NAPLPS is a nice graphics protocol, but it seems
most major BBS programs (Wildcat, MajorBBS, and others...) have already made
their descisions. Sorry NAPLPS people....
So, I think MajorBBS is doomed, until it can support the users without EGA or
VGA. What'cha think?
Joshua Remus
SysOp The LightHouse BBS
1:2340/130@FidoNet.org
ae185@freenet.hsc.colorado.edu
St. Joseph, Michigan
Josh:
I think you are one very confused person, and take it as a personal failure
that we haven't explained this better in Boardwatch.
First, major BBS programs make "their decisions" every day and tomorrow they
get to make them again. Those that don't fall by the way and leave it to
others willing to innovate every time they finish breakfast. Nothing is
"done" in this industry.
Second, MajorBBS has nothing to do with NAPLPS, in fact they are one of the
heartiest proponents of RIP, which you apparently like because it doesn't
abandon CGA. Actually, RIP is solely EGA and this hardware dependence is the
most broken thing about it, while NAPLPS does offer some true hardware
independence.
Finally, I think if any "true sysop serving the community" did alienate all
the CGA users, I don't think anyone would notice.
Jack Rickard
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Hi Jack,
Read your recent article on demos in Boardwatch. What a timely
(coincidental) thing u I recently tried out a couple demos on a friend's
machine that happens to be equipped with SVGA and a SoundBlaster.
I can guarantee as much as you enjoyed viewing the demos on a computer with
the PC speaker, the experience is ten times as intense once you have a SB
hooked up. One demo was all it took to convince me that I _had_ to get this
sound board for my next computer (which I am buying this weekend). Anyway,
for the hundred bucks, you should treat yourself to a SB. I'm not being paid
to say this or anything, but the combination of slick graphics, amazing
sound, and a little good programming yields a REALLY excellent experience.
Dim the house lights, crank up the speakers, and you've got yourself a
tremendous show.
Good luck & as usual, great mag.
Pete Zurich
1:2604/201
p-zurich@uiuc.edu
Pete:
I think something like "demos" or
"intros" will finally get sound cards off
the ground in a big way, and get them universally installed. We had some
amazing response to the article on demos and plan a followup for an issue
soon. John Smith of Gravis sent us CRYSTAL DREAM II demo with one of his
superb Gravis sound cards and yeah, we're a little wowed. Crystal Dream
demo, by Triton, was reviewed in our August issue. We have it on the
Boardwatch BBS now as CD1.ZIP and the Crystal Dream II demo as CD2.ZIP. We
think this is an emerging new art form, and we predict big things for this
stuff in the future. If you haven't seen these, grab them and run them now,
before they mature and get really interesting.
Jack Rickard
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TO: jack.rickard@boardwatch.com
I just finished reading your editorial in August Boardwatch. I read the
first two pages and agreed with everything you said u in fact at the bottom
of the second page I decided to write to ask you if I could quote it to some
of the educational bureaucrats I deal with. Then I came to your paragraph on
the third page:
> One reader actually sent us a flyer from a Maine educational BBS that had
> Consumed some $180,000 in grant money used to operate a single line
> Macintosh BBS with 2400 bps modem and no graphics and had had OVER 400
> CALLERS log onto the system during the period. Be still my heart.
Waal, shucks ...
(1) We're a disabilities board, not an educational board.
(2) The $180,000 is totally bogus u we budgeted $60,000 for the first year,
of which a great deal went to the telephone company for 800 access (required
by our funders) and some of the rest went to purchase a bulk lot of old
Viewtron Sceptres to pass out to consumers.
(3) It was a multiline system running TBBS 2.2M16 and using v.32bis modems.
(4) We defaulted ANSI to OFF in deference to the many users who were logging
on for the first time ever using Sceptres u but ANSI was available for anyone
who wanted to go turn it on.
The reader who sent you the misinformation is a frustrated shrink who got his
nose out of joint because he tried to sell access to his private board to the
Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, and they turned him down
flat. He's been targeting our operation ever since, and no matter how often
we publish the truth, he always pops up somewhere else with his fiction.
I realize that it's unreasonable to expect you to check the truth of
statements like his u one of the unsolved issues of the new electronic age,
after all, is how to winnow out the deliberate misinformation u but I wish,
just a little bit, that you'd refrained from echoing it to the electronic
world.
If PIMP v.2.19 will really handle enclosed files, I will send along a zipfile
(packed with 1.01, sorry!) containing some additional messages on the topic
which you might find enlightening. They're part of an exchange of messages
between me and our mutual acquaintance on the topic of his misstatements.
The rest of your editorial is so exactly on target that I'd still like
permission to repeat it u maybe read it in a VERY LOUD VOICE u to the
public-policy types here who still think the sun rises and sets on GTE
SpecialNet. That's one of the reasons we bought PIMP and got a domain name
u not because we aspired to become those people's carrier (after all, there
are plenty of private operations who can do that job and make a legitimate
profit at it) but because we just want to get it through their heads that
such a thing exists. The day we see that they've really gotten the message u
and have got off their control trips u we'll go quietly away, and the public
coffers will be safe again for the next generation. Until that time, we're
darn proud of what we've done and we're going to keep doing it u as long as
you and Phil Becker continue to do your respective parts.
Sincerely,
Lou McIntosh
Sysop, Maine Meeting Place
Lou:
Thanks for one of the most entertaining confessions I've read in a long
while. We've all thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes, PIMP does do file attachments
and I did get yours. The war with your frustrated shrink friend is
hysterical, but irrelevant. And I'm afraid you're going to find this
embarrassing.
Actually, we DO make mistakes. This just wasn't one of them. I do generally
make an effort to get the "facts" straight. There is a reason why we got
them a little hosed in your case. As you point out, YOUR grant was $60,0000,
not $180,000, you run a multiline TBBS system - not a single line Macintosh,
you run V.32bis modems, not 2400 bps, in short - what, aside from some sort
of "grant guilt", made you think we were talking about YOUR BBS?
Amazingly, we also received two other letters with basically the same theme -
neither so hysterically self-confessing as yours - but both taking umbrage at
our characterization of their system. Since there are only 60 or so bulletin
boards in the whole state of Maine, I think we've unearthed the latest trend
- grant scams with sysops suffering the pangs of guilt for accepting
thousands of dollars of public money to do what they know can be done for
pennies. We did NOT hear from the sysop of the system we actually mentioned,
which we did not mention by name, but just noted it's description as you have
quoted.
For what it's worth, I think a multiline V.32bis system at $60,000 is a MUCH
better deal for the taxpayer than a single line 2400 bps Macintosh system for
$180,000, even if it is for disabilities rather than education.
But - thanks for writing.
Jack Rickard
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Jack,
Immediately after receiving the Boardwatch with the PageSat article in it,
Sean, the sysop of Data World BBS in Knoxville (Public 615-675-4753, private
615-675-3282) purchased the system. After installing it we found that there
is no real standard way of integrating 4,000 news groups into PCBOARD. We
looked at putting them into conferences, but decided not to as that seemed to
required huge amounts of maintenance time, almost continuous message packs,
and a 300 meg USERS.IDX file for us.
Instead we decided to use the Waffle utilities for importing. We are using
the ZNEWS door for user access to the newsgroups, and for private mail
capability. There was no on-line reader available for viewing news articles
that we found to our liking, so I wrote one, called USENET. It allows a user
to view the Usenet news, all 4000 groups, and uses exactly the same hierarchy
as the newsgroups themselves use. Selection is done via cursor keys. This
software is available both from Data World, as well as Salt Air BBS. It can
be used on Data World by typing USENET at the main board prompt. The setup
seems to be well liked by our users.
The mail insertion is handled by Waffle's RNEWS utility, which is called when
a bag is ready by Jack Kilday's PageNews program (jkliday@nlbbs.com). This
program allows us to run a batch file after each bag is inserted, and the
batch file checks disk space and runs expire whenever the news drive has less
than 20 meg remaining on it. The only disadvantage we have found to the
setup is that Waffle makes each newsgroup a subdirectory, and each news item
is a file. With files of approximatley 1k each, residing in clusters of 8k
each, the news drive becomes very inefficient unless Stacker or similar is
used.
The PageSat system installed easily. The only problem we had initially was
that the horn was mounted 90 degrees from what was needed, and we could not
receive any signal until it was rotated. Here in Eastern Tennessee the
humidity and clouds are a problem. We receive quite a few garbled mail bags
every day and it is not unusual during heavy cloud cover to lose the feed for
hours at a time. We have been working with PageSat, re-aligned the dish, and
installed an in-line amplifier, but all to no avail. PageSat is sending us a
.75 meter dish to replace the 18" dish, and I feel certain that will fix the
problems. Garbled mail bags can be a significant problem as RNEWS will
sometimes lock up or give a QEMM exception error. It also tends to export
any news with a garbled header back to the Internet with a new and totally
wrong header.
I appreciate the Interenet articles in Boardwatch. At first it was all Greek
to me, but I can see it is rapidly becoming the way things are going. Keep
up the good work!
Marshall Dudley
dwbbs!mdudley@nlbbs.com
Marshall:
Since our June article, we have received numerous reports of garbled data,
weather problems, and so forth with PageSat. We tried to contact PageSat
several times to do a followup and some detailed testing, but they won't even
return our calls - a fairly unusual response from someone we've put on the
cover of Boardwatch. Oh, well....
One of the many things I like about the online world is the grassroots driver
behind all of it. If something doesn't work the way you want it to, you just
by Jimminy go write something different to make it do what you want. It's a
story repeated a dozen times a day, and some of these solutions cause
companies and industries, and...oh... I get all misty just thinking about it.
For those who are new to the game, Marshall Dudley is the author of DOORWAY,
an early program to let anyone write a program and run it as a door on a BBS.
It eventually emerged as a full-featured remote access program and one of the
most fascinating and flexible tools used for communicating in BBSland.
Thanks for updating us on your latest work. As you know, we think the
Internet connection for bulletin boards is a pregnant one. We need all the
tools we can get.
Jack Rickard
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Bill,
I completely forgot! Here's something you may, or may not want to mention. In
the July 1993 issue of BoardWatch, the cover story dealt with how one could
grab Space Shuttle photos over the Internet. Here's a relatively painless way
to do that using a Mac which has MacTCP and NCSA/Telnet v2.5. Following the
article's advice, one telnets to sseop.jsc.nasa.gov. Then, assuming one has
turned the Capture file on, you grab a listing of available images. You can
proceed by enabling FTP access from within NCSA/Telnet, which means that the
two-step process outlined in the article becomes a single step for the
well-connected Mac owner. I tried this out over the weekend and it worked and
even worked pretty well. Due to the huge file sizes, it looks like the
connection has hung until you realize that the hard drive is spinning
furiously in the background all the while as your requested file is
downloaded. When I finished grabbing a couple of these files, I used JPEG
converter v1.0 (available for free from sumex-aim and posted on Spider
Island) to interpret the Targa files and batch-convert them into JPEG files.
Then I used JPEG View v2.0 to preview the files and used the "Save as..."
option to automatically generate those nifty previews that TeleFinder v3.1
can now display on screen.
Keep in mind that I am lost when it comes to graphics programs! If I knew how
to operate PhotoShop I would, no doubt, have some rather spectacular files.
As it is, I have some very nice images and some which are really stunning. I
was a happy, if somewhat exhausted, camper by the end of the night.
Eric Hoffmann
CCS bbs
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Jack:
My August edition of BoardWatch Magazine arrived. Delighted in your editorial
titled "The Emancipation Constipation of Electronic Mail." I have a few
observations:
I agree with your thesis that the local BBS will be the average user's
connection to Internet/USENET (BTW, what is a "backplane"?). As you state,
local BBSs are "cheap" and people already know how to use them.
Your thinking on this subject is innovative. In the 1990 edition of _Dvorak's
Guide to Telecommunications_ the WELL (p178) is described as One of the
few[!] places where any individual with a computer and modem can become a
terminal in this huge international network [UUCP and USENET] that connects
universities, businesses, and research institutions."
However, for your vision to become a reality, several difficulties must be
overcome. One difficulty in particular is the present QWK mail format.
As you state, if we are to have Internet/USENET on local BBSs (probably using
a UUCP-type connection), offline mail readers are *critical*. I subscribe to
a local BBS (Cloud Nine BBS) which carries more than 2,500 USENET conferences
(plus fidonet, etc). On average, using the QWK mail format, I download a
paltry 300 messages a day (this takes less than 5 minutes on my 14.4 bps
modem). If I were a "conference junky" I could easily download over 1,000
messages a day. Reading and occasionally responding to these messages would
be impractical without an offline mail reader (its sorts my conference mail
by "threads" and permits me to place obnoxious writers on a "kill" list). Yet
the QWK mail format is not completely compatible with the Internet/USENET
offline format (my reading tells me that Internet offline mail uses
RFC1036/RFC822). For example, the subject field of most USENET messages is
truncated by QWK. Furthermore, QWK does not provide enough space in the "TO:"
field for the complete Internet "at-sign syntax" address. This limitation
looks increasingly regressive now that PCBoard version 15.0 has increased the
size of the address fields. In sum, the present QWK format is restricting the
ability of most local BBS to bring Internet/USENET to the masses.
I know that other people have developed proprietary formats (for example,
BlueWave and Rosemail) that overcome the shortcomings of the QWK format.
However, we need a standard that everyone can take advantage of.
I am a strong fan of offline readers for another reason. It encourages people
to edit and spell-check their messages before sending. Messages become more
concise and thoughtful. The time delay of offline mail provides a check to
impulsive "flame-mail."
The *critical* nature of QWK is not appreciated by everyone. Approximately a
year ago, I recall discussing the need for TBBS to have an offline mail
capability. I was told there was few requests for this feature. The last I
looked, the TBBS offline reader was still not compatible with PKWare ZIP
version 2.04g because upgrading the software was a low priority.
I believe the BBS community needs to get together and agree on a new standard
for offline mail (QW2?) that's compatible with Internet and meets future
needs. This community has moved quickly in the past when properly focused. I
still recall how quickly the BBS community changed "en mass" from the ARC to
the ZIP file compression format.
Perhaps *you* could get the BBS community to make a new offline mail format a
*priority* at the One BBSCON convention August 25-29. A new format would
remove one roadblock on the journey of bringing Internet to the local BBS
user.
Sincerely
John Vindekilde.
John:
And you WANT WHAT YOU WANT WHEN YOU WANT IT - RIGHT?
I couldn't agree with your comments more John - frontwards and backwards.
And I think you'll find Sparky Herring, the original author of QWK, in
agreement as well. But the world is in a process of making - it isn't over
yet. QWK was designed to do a small thing, and has been rode hard and put
away wet. Sparky nor anyone else ever imagined all that would be asked of
QWK. It's not a young standard. And now it is everywhere and has a bit of a
life of its own. If anyone can change that, it would be Sparky, but I
imagine he's wondering at this point if even HE can change a world gone QWK
mad.
But yes, Mr. Herring has a session at ONE BBSCON, prominently featured. We
stand ready to extend that with working meetings. I expect a QWK II will be
announced or come out of it, and I would predict one of the main elements
will be more facility with RFC-822 style Internet messages.
Cross your legs...
Jack Rickard
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Howdy!
First a quick line to say how much I enjoy your Boardwatch magazine..
definitely the best source for bbs news and views!
Now, on to the juicy part.. in reference to an article appearing in the June
a93 issue concerning the new RIP graphics protocol I'd like to mention there
is a new freeware RIP drawing program out there (DPAIN11.ARJ) which may fit
the bill for all those sysops out there who otherwise can't afford to pay for
the Telegraphix paint program ($200.! Ouch!)... of course, the features are
spartan but it will get anyone started in the right direction.
Second, a statement was made in the same article re: Imagen's Fracterm
product being the only current interface supporting photo-realistic images
online... this is no longer true! Shawn Rhoads of TurBoard fame (PC Atlanta
1-404-395-6327 14.4k) has released a GIF2NAP GIF to NAPLPS conversion utility
that will convert GIFS from 2 to 256-colors to NAPLPS with NO loss of
resolution! Its quick, easy to use, with a mouse interface (for selecting any
portion of the GIF for conversion) and the resulting NAPLPS frames may be
viewed with either TurShow or displayed online any TurBoard bbs v1.20 or
above.. a truly wondrous and remarkable advance, allowing any sysop to create
and display photo-realistic images online his/her TurBoard bbs.
BTW- both utilities are available for d/l online Shawn's bbs.
Cheers, and keep up the good work with Boardwatch!
David Gridley
1:2613/313
Rochester, New York
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========
TELEBITS
========
AT&T is introducing a new feature on their long distance service they call
TrueVoice. It dramatically improves the sound quality of voice conversations
and may in fact improve data transmission as well. The feature is not an
option, but will be automatically added to all AT&T long distance switches.
The upgrade will begin in September of 1993.
The technology, originally developed by Bell Labs, increases bass response
and also increases total audio volume through the switch across the
bandwidth. The result is much more realistic sound for voice conversations.
The company currently has a demo line up at (800)932-2000 where you can
listen to Tom Sellack (Magnum) ooze an unctuous line of AT&T spiel with the
old, moldy technology, (press 1), or the new, improved, high-speed trick
double throw me down TrueVoice (press 2). The demo is pretty impressive,
despite our personal preference for Higgins voice. You can also press 0 at
the end of the demo to connect directly to an AT&T service rep to have your
long distance service changed for free right then. Actually, it sounds
pretty hot to us. But note that we have not as yet actually tested modems on
this new service.
An interesting bit of legislation has been introduced in both houses of
Congress. Titled the SPACE ADVERTISING PROHIBITION ACT, it denies launch
licenses for space billboards, bans import of products advertized on space
billboards, and asks the President to seek an international agreement banning
space advertising. The legislation comes out of plans to put a mile-long
inflatable billboard with lit messages in orbit around earth - which could
substantially change the ambiance of that starry, starry night.
ALSO on the legislative front, Senators Danforth and Inouye introduced the
Telecommunications Infrastructure Act of 1993 as Senate Bill 1086 on July
14th. This may be the most seminal piece of legislation regarding
telecommunications introduced since the 1930's. The Senate Communications
Subcommittee is now in the process of thrashing it out, but the heart of the
bill would ELIMINATE the legal monopoly currently enjoyed by local telephone
companies in local telephone service. It would allow ANY communications
provider to offer local telephone service. As part of the buyoff there, it
would also allow local telcos into the cable TV business.
The bill contains many provisions revolving around interconnection
obligations (everyone has to), telephone number portability (you can change
phone services and keep your old telephone number) and a lot of thrashing
about rural and non-competitive markets in an effort to retain the current
"universal service" philosophy. While this bill has some problems and is
unlikely to get through the telco/cable lobby meat grinder unscathed, at its
heart it incorporates almost completely the position published in a
Boardwatch editorial in 1988 asserting that every man with a battered pickup
and a rusty pair of pliers be allowed to offer local telephone service.
A lot of things COULD come out of passage of this bill. First, local
telephone companies would finally be able to offer cable tv to the home, a
market they never will make any money at but which they have lusted after in
their heart for years. This always was going to be the ONLY way fiber to the
home will ever happen. It is quite likely that you will have glass to your
house late Tuesday of the week after this bill goes into effect. The local
telcos are that wired on the concept of being in the cable business.
Windows NT appears imminent. Some of the last minute additions would seem to
be a bone to the communications world - most notably an FTP SERVER and
expanded TCP/IP features. With pre-emptive multitasking, strong LAN server
functions, and good Internet features, this smells like a good platform for
online services.
But OS/2 isn't giving up. The best kept secret in the industry right now,
and I mean virtually a secret, is IBM's TCP/IP for OS/2. OS/2 2.1 appears to
be a working platform, with good serial port support. The TCP/IP connection
here seems like a pretty full bag - SLIP included. Something is going to
break here either late this year or early next with a BBS package designed to
take advantage of all this. Most likely guess - Andrew Milner's Remote
Access. RA is very popular in many countries, quite flexible, and they are
looking for life as a commercial package. Windows NT or OS/2 would give them
the multi-line part they need, and some good TCP/IP Internet functionality
would give them the WOW feature they need to break out of shareware and
become a viable option.
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WORST TECHNICAL MANUAL CONTEST
------------------------------
Any technical support person can tell you that at least 90% of all support
calls are covered by RTFM - loosely translated this means the customer
probably could have found just what they needed had they bothered to look in
the manual. And any software customer can also note another truism - the
manual isn't any good.
If both of these are true - the information is in the manual, and the
customer can't find it, the product documentation isn't entirely doing its
job. Some do, and some really don't.
The Communication Circle, a group of technical writers led by Jonathan Price,
author of "Put That in Writing" (Viking Press), is sponsoring a competition
titled "The Worst Manual of the Year." The contest is directed at shaming
product vendors into improving their documentation. You may submit a manual,
with a letter nominating it as the worst manual of the year. If your
candidate places in the competition, you'll receive a T-shirt with "I
fingered the Worst Manual of the Year, 1993" with an imprint of the cover of
the winning (??) manual on it. You also get a copy of Price's book, and a
certificate of honor in the war against useless manuals.
The winning vendor also gets a certificate - a garish Certificate of Bad
Taste, along with a copy of Price's other book "How to Communicate Technical
Information." To nominate a book, send a copy of it with a letter outlining
your complaints to The Worst Manual of the Year, c/o The Communication
Circle, 918 La Senda N.W., Albuquerque, NM 87107. The deadline is Holloween,
1993 and the winners will be announced on December 7, 1993. Inquiries can be
directed to T. Outler at itso@hydra.unm.edu.
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CD-ROM CONNECTION FOR NOVELL
----------------------------
Connecting a CD-ROM drive to a Novell server should be easy. Plug in a drive
with an SCSI controller, and make happy. Those who try this find they have
just entered a new world of "you can't get there from here - you have to go
somewhere else first."
Microtest, Inc. of Phoenix Arizona has a new product that does simplify
things a bit - for a price. Their new $695 Discport product connects to the
BNC or 10BaseT LAN wiring. About the size of a videocassette, it terminates
in an SCSI cable that allows you to connect up to seven CD ROM drives. The
server software supplied with it makes these CD-ROM drives look like any
other published hard drive on a Novell Netware server, and may comprise one
of the best and easiest solutions to putting CD-ROM drives on a Novell
Network. Microtest, Inc., (602)952-6400.
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SUPRA LOWERS SYSOP PRICE to $149.95 - ENHANCES SUPRAFAXMODEM V.32bis
--------------------------------------------------------------------
With a growing price war in the 14,400 bps V.32bis modem market, Supra
Corporation made a bold pricing move with a July announcement to reduce sysop
prices on the popular SupraFAXModem V.32bis external model to $149.95 and to
$129.95 on the internal model.
"Sysops are on the cutting edge of communications technology and we feel it
is important to support them in the work of evangelizing and supporting
high-speed communications," said John Wiley, president of Supra. "To achieve
this goal, we've lowered the sysop pricing on our top-of-the-line modems
while also adding some performance enhancements to the products."
These modems include the latest Rockwell chipsets and Supra's most recent
firmware revisions to improve operation of the Supra - most notably improving
high-speed operation on noisy lines. The new firmware also eliminates some
isolated problems in connecting with other specific modem brands.
The units feature the 14,400 bps speed for both fax and data operations,
V.42/42bis, and include Caller ID as a standard feature. If caller ID is
available from the telecommunications provider, BBS operators can use it for
such functions as automatic identification and logon of BBS users.
Qualified sysop orders are fulfilled in 24 hours. Ordering information is
available in the online order area of the Supra BBS. The modems feature an
unusually generous five year warranty. If users have a problem with a modem,
for a $20 fee Supra sends out a replacement modem and return mailer for the
old one by overnight carrier to anywhere in the United States - virtually
eliminating downtime. For sysops who have already purchased older
SupraFAXModems, upgrades are provided free of charge as they become
available. For more information, call Supra's BBS at (503)967-2444 or the
sales voice line at (800)727-8772.
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HAYES OFFERS SPECIAL PRICING ON OPTIMA 144 + FAX 144 POCKET AT ONE BBSCON
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc. will show its latest range of computer
communications products for bulletin board users and sysops at ONE BBSCON
(Colorado Springs, CO, 25-29 August). They will demonstrate V.Fast Class
(V.FC) 28.8 kbps modem technology, Millennium 8000 Network System, Hayes ESP
Communications Accelerator for Windows, and Smartcom for Windows
communications software. Also on display will be Hayes ISDN products and
award-winning modem products.
In addition, Dennis C. Hayes, President, will be speaking on his vision of
ISDN on Saturday, 28 August, at 1:30 PM. Alan Clark, Hayes Vice President -
Product and System Planning, will be participating on the Future of Modem
Technology Roundtable on Friday, 27 August at 9:15 AM. Randy Cooper, Hayes
Marketing Specialist will talk about scripting capabilities in Smartcom for
Windows on Saturday, 28 August, at 9:15 AM.
"We are very excited about our expanded participation in this year's ONE
BBSCON," said Dennis Hayes. "Our global Sysop Program, with it's aggressive
pricing and marketing activities, has reinforced our commitment to the sysop
community."
For BBSCON attendees, Hayes will be offering special $339 pricing on Hayes
Smartmodem OPTIMA 144 + FAX 144 Pocket Edition, for both DOS and Macintosh
computers. The estimated retail price of OPTIMA 144 + FAX 144 Pocket Edition
is $599. Hayes will also be holding drawings for 300 free copies of Smartcom
for Windows for those attendees visiting Hayes booth. Hayes Microcomputer
Products, Inc., PO Box 105203, Atlanta, GA 30348; (404)840-9200 voice;
(404)441-1213 fax; (800)US HAYES - BBS.
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U.S. ROBOTICS OFFERS $99 V.FAST 28.8KBPS UPGRADE THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30
---------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Robotics, Inc. announced July 2 a $99 upgrade to the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU - formerly CCITT) 28.8kbps V.Fast standard with
the purchase of a Courier modem. The offer gives Courier customers a $200
discount of the list upgrade price of $299.
The upgrades themselves will not be available until the ITU approves the 28.8
kbps recommendation - expected late this year or in early 1994.
All Courier V.32bis or Dual Standard internal and external modems, with and
without fax, are included in the special offer. Any modem purchased by
September 30 will include a certificate for $200 off the price of the
upgrade.
"We are committed to growing the very high-speed modem market - this offer
makes a V.Fast solution extremely affordable," said Marshall Toplansky, U.S.
Robotics Vice President of Marketing. "Our solution not only lets our
customers know up front how much this technology will cost and precisely how
upgrades will be implemented, but also gives them an incredible value. The
Courier V.32bis modem, at a list price of $695, can be upgraded for $99,
bring the total cost of a V.Fast solution to less than $800 - far less than
most competitive products."
The Courier V.32bis, Courier HST Dual Standard, and Courier HST external
desktop modems contain a motherboard and smaller daughterboard holding the
microprocessors and firmware. The upgrade process consists of simply
unplugging the daughterboard and plugging in a new one containing the 28.8
kbps technology. The upgrade takes less than five minutes and can be
performed by the customer. U.S. Robotics, 8100 North McCormick Blvd., Skokie,
IL 60076; (800)-DIALUSR voice; (708)982-5092 BBS.
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ZyXEL'S GONE WEST! BBSCON SHOW AND HOSPITALITY SUITE TO SPUR INTEREST
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ZyXEL, a leading supplier of high-speed land and cellular modems, will be
hitting Colorado Springs with a vengeance to prove they are providing top of
the line high speed modems at unbeatable prices. ZyXEL will be demonstrating
their new VoiceFax software, ZyCellular and their new portable modem at ONE
BBSCON, August 26-29. Everyone is invited to visit them at booths 61 & 62 to
receive special show discount prices on their modems.
ZyXEL is also throwing a Wild West Party at the Broadmoor Hotel Crystal Room
at 8:00 PM on August 27. ZyXEL will have drawings for free modems, games,
food, beer, prizes, and more all set in a wild, wild west theme.
ZyXEL will be demonstrating ZyCellular, an option available for its complete
line of modems at the show. This option provides 14,400 bps data rates for
both land lines and cellular telephone connections by overcoming many of the
imperfections of the cellular channel, including handoff and power change
problems. ZyCellular uses V.42 error control with selective reject, which
increases throughput by allowing the modem to handle frequent block errors.
The modem incorporates six unique protocols designed specifically for
cellular networks.
ZyXEL is also now bundling VoiceFax software for DOS, Macintosh, and Windows
with its entire line of modems. With these programs, users can take
advantage of the data, fax, and voice answering machine capabilities built
into the ZyXEL modems. Users can review, delete, save or forward past voice
mail messages, access their voice mail remotely, and record and store
hundreds of voice mail messages.
In recent months, the ZyXEL line has one numerous awards including PC
Magazine Editor's Choice, Computer Shopper Top 10, Byte Magazine Best Two-Way
Communications Modems and Best Value for High Speed Modem, and PC Computing
200. ZyXEL, 4920 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA 92807; (714)693-0808 voice;
(714)693-0705 fax; (714)693-0762 BBS.
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OKLAHOMA BBS RAIDED ON PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES
------------------------------------------
The legal assault on bulletin boards continues this month with a raid by
Oklahoma City Police Department Vice Division on Tony Davis's
OKLAHOMA INFORMATION EXCHANGE BBS and his associated Mid-America Digital
Publishing Company.
About 4:00 PM on July 20, four officers of the Oklahoma City Police
Department arrived at the offices of Mid-America Digital Publishing with a
search warrant for "pornographic CD-ROMs." Davis was arrested on suspicion
of the sale and distribution of pornographic CD-ROM disks. Of the 2000 CD
ROM disks available on site, they confiscated about 50 disks, and an
estimated $75,000 worth of equipment Davis runs his 10-line OKLAHOMA
INFORMATION EXCHANGE BBS on. The equipment including two computers with
gigabyte hard drives, two Pioneer 6-disk drives, four single CD ROM drives,
10 High Speed Hayes modems, Novell network software and associated hardware,
etc.
Apparently, an undercover agent had contacted Mid-America Digital Publishing
on two occasions and purchased CD-ROM disks containing adult material from
the company. At the raid, Davis cooperated with the police showing them
whatever they wanted to see, and even removing four disks from CD-ROMS on the
BBS machine and showing them to the police. Curiously, these were standard
off-the-shelf CD ROM collections NOT published by Davis, including "Busty
Babes", "For Adults Only #2," "For Adults Only #3", and "Storm II". More
curiously, the police themselves put the disks BACK into the BBS in order to
video tape callers accessing the files on the disks.
Videotape seemed to play a major role in the raid. Department employees
filmed the entire raid, and released the film to the press which played it on
all three local tv network affiliate stations.
Despite Davis' notification, none of the specific procedures required by
federal law (Privacy Protection Act) when serving search warrants on
publishers was followed, and no acknowledgement or even apparent cognizance
of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act made when notified of the
electronic mail for some 2000 BBS users available on the system. OKLAHOMA
INFORMATION EXCHANGE carries some 750 FidoNet conferences, an additional 750
Usenet Newsgroups, and offers callers private FidoNet mail and Internet mail
and actually hubs mail for other bulletin board systems as well.
Ironically, Davis DID have a thriving CD-ROM publishing business that
produces the Magnum series of CD-ROM's including "Magnum 1," "Magnum Games
and Windows," and "Magnum Sight and Sound." But NONE of Davis's own titles
had ANY adult material on them at all - they are entirely "G" rated titles.
The CD-ROMS of interest to the Oklahoma City Police were all titles by other
publishers that Davis resold.
Davis was released on bail of $4500 and faced arraignment on August 3rd. No
formal charges were brought on that date, and the prosecutor asked for a
delay with no specific new date brought. One complication that has already
arisen, aside from the blatant infractions of the PPA and ECPA, was that the
warrant was fairly specific about CD-ROM discs. The seizure of the BBS
equipment appears to be outside the scope of the warrant - a perhaps
unfortunate improvisation by the officers at the scene.
And Davis may have been the wrong person to pick as a test case. A fairly
mature, strong willed individual with some financial resource, Davis is
represented by Attorney William R. Holmes. While we could not entice him to
speak directly to the case, he did not seem a happy camper, and didn't seem
too cowed by it all at this point. With the very public televised bust, the
city appears to be in the difficult position of now wishing it would all go
away without a lawsuit, and no real way to get there from here.
All possible charges relate to Oklahoma State statutes against obscenity.
Located in the heart of the Bible Belt, this could be serious. A penalty of
up to $5000 and 5 years in prison per infraction is possible. If you count
each file on a CD-ROM as an infraction, Mr. Davis could in theory be facing
over a 100,000 years in jail and nearly a $100 million in fines - another
contrast between technological reality and our legal system. From what we
understand, in Oklahoma, it is technically illegal to actually BE naked at
any time when not actually getting wet somehow, and some legal theorists
posit that HBO and Showtime cable television channels are actually
infractions under the state laws as written.
The future of Oklahoma Information Exchange BBS is unknown, and Davis himself
was unable to comment on the arrest. Mid-America Digital Publishing, 1501 SE
66 St., Suite E, Oklahoma City, OK 73149; (405)677-6136 voice; (405)677-9663
fax; (405)670-6900 BBS.
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==============
INTERNET NOTES
==============
ESOFT TO SHOW INTERNET CONNECTION AT ONE BBSCON
-----------------------------------------------
eSoft, Inc. plans a demonstration of an inexpensive box they have tentatively
titled a TBBS Internet Protocol Server (TIPS) that may hold one of the keys
to connecting an electronic bulletin board system to the Internet for full IP
services.
Increasingly, electronic bulletin boards across the country are now offering
Internet mail and Usenet Newsgroups, but a few are also struggling to work
through the puzzle of actually connecting their bulletin boards TO the
Internet using the Internet Protocol and offering TCP/IP services such as
telnet and ftp to their callers. Additionally, many of these bulletin boards
would like to be available to those on the Internet who may wish to access
their BBSs by ftp or telnet - particularly those with a need for
International connections which can be prohibitively expensive via direct
dial. Typically, this process is bit of a plumbing job involving terminal
servers, routers, CSU/DSU units, none really designed for this job and often
costing thousands of dollars. A basic IP connection alone can run anywhere
from $250 per month for a SLIP connection up to $1200-$1500 per month for a
leased line and full IP connection. The terminal servers, routers, etc.
further drive up an up front cost of $7000-$15000.
Phil Becker, author of eSoft's TBBS bulletin board system, avows that IP and
the connections required to make a BBS fully functional on the Internet are
actually something less than rocket science, and can be done for a fraction
of that cost. Since he was in fact one of the programming team members that
put the Viking lander on Mars, he is actually qualified to make the
comparison. And he's pieced together a "demonstration" project to illustrate
that this isn't just a matter of opinion. Using a very small PC costing less
than $600, a modem, and a heavily modified version of Phil Karn's KA9Q
software, he's built a small IP server for TBBS that does some pretty amazing
things.
KA9Q itself is quite a piece of work. It is a multi-tasking software system
to connect a DOS machine to the Internet for telnet, ftp, ping, smtp mail,
nntp newsgroups, etc. And it can actually act as a router. It is freely
distributed and although originally authored by Phil Karn, it has had
hundreds of modifications made by a number of individuals. The result is at
least 11 distinct versions of this program available for download online,
each with varying capabilities. The documentation is spartan to the point
that the biggest challenge to KA9Q is getting it running. But it does do a
passable job of extending some pretty heavy duty TCP/IP functionality to a
PC. The primary drive to the origins of this program revolves around packet
radio and the AX.25 protocol. Hundreds of ham radio-based bulletin boards
are connected via packet and TCP/IP, mostly using KA9Q (Phil Karn's call
letters?)
Becker took one version of KA9Q apart, and rewrote many of the applications
such as telnet, ftp, smtp mail, and a few others around the edges of it, and
reconfigured it more or less as a terminal server specifically designed for
bulletin boards. He connects the IP server box running this heavily modified
software to a TBBS system using null-modem serial cables, and his INTERCHANGE
option module on the BBS provides access to these ports. The IP server will
automatically route telnet requests to the next available serial port,
allowing telnet callers access to the BBS. Additionally, Internauts can FTP
to the BBS, which works a bit differently. The IP server allows ftp access
to file directories on the BBS itself via a LANtastic local area network.
BBS callers, conversely, can pick items off a TBBS menu to access the IP
server to telnet or FTP OUT to other services. In the case of telnet, this
allows them to basically logon to any Internet service worldwide. In the
case of ftp, they can ftp a file which is transferred to the BBS drive, and
from there they can download the file as they would any other. The result is
a system that allows TBBS callers access to the Internet, and Internet
callers access to TBBS.
The IP server we saw demoed connected to the Internet using an ordinary
14.4kbps modem via a Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) account. Using
this pipe, the system can support up to about four simultaneous sessions.
With more serial ports, more connections are possible, but probably not for
anyone with a normal human attention span.
We were excited about this product for a couple of reasons. For one thing,
it replaces a LOT of hardware, software, and adapters with a pretty simple
little PC with modem and software, to accomplish an IP connection many BBS
operators have laid awake nights trying to piece through. It does it in all
cases for less than a $1000 total investment in hardware and software. And
it seems to work. We telnetted into TBBS systems, out of TBBS systems,
performed FTP sessions in both directions, and it all more or less hung
together - which is approximately our experience with Internet as a whole.
Becker stresses that the TBBS Internet Protocol Server isn't a product - yet.
With the KA9Q heritage, he's not certain he can sell it, or even give it away
at this point. Internally, they characterize the product as a "lab project"
to prove the concept. But he does assert that there is nothing mysterious
about the Internet or KA9Q and that ultimately he believes that DOS-based
bulletin boards will actually do a better job of providing services on the
Internet than do the UNIX systems many Internauts commonly encounter.
"Ultimately, I have to build this product," says Becker. "The question is
when."
But with the experience gained in puzzling through the demo system, he does
have a pretty good idea how. "In rewriting this task in assembly language
from scratch, we believe we can service 16 serial ports from a relatively
modest PC, and connect to the net through SLIP, a 56 KB leased line, ISDN, or
even a T1 connection with little problem - AND perform routing functions
aside from the BBS access." asserts Becker. "This just ISN'T that hard."
Meanwhile, eSoft plans on having the TBBS IP Server up and running at their
booth at ONE BBSCON to allow show attendees to telnet or ftp into esoft.com,
telnet or ftp out of it, and generally get over the "mystery" of connecting a
BBS to the Internet. We think ultimately a lot of bulletin boards, TBBS and
others as well, will be using this "Becker Box" to make the connection.
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INTERNET FILE FORMATS - DELETE STAR DOT TAR
-------------------------------------------
Each particular pond of the online world has its own set of conventions that
seem overwhelming at first, and pretty basic once you know them. The list of
file transfer protocols and file formats on bulletin boards seems
unnecessarily complex to new callers, and pretty simple to those that have
become accustomed to dealing with .ZIP files, .ARC files, and .ARJ files.
Once you get used to automatically picking ZMODEM off the protocol list, you
hardly see the other protocols listed.
But throw a BBS user in Internet waters, and they do flounder a bit in a sea
of .tar and .z files, and dealing with directory names longer than their
neckties. But it really isn't a lot different.
Many who find a way onto the Internet naturally enough begin to learn about
various treasure troves of files. Often, file collections specializing in
MS-DOS programs will already be compressed in the familiar .ZIP file format.
But for text files, descriptions, and source code most at home in a UNIX
world, some slightly different file formats are quite common.
In general, the UNIX world does separate the archiving function that combines
multiple related files into a single entity, and the compression function,
which reduces the total file size.
Archiving is most often done using a file extension .tar or .TAR. This
stands for Tape ARchive and naturally enough it was originally developed to
store directories off of disk onto 9-track tape. These files can contain
both files and directories, and it generally includes the subdirectory
structure needed to restore the files.
.TAR files can be extracted on a DOS machine using several programs. But
there is a bit of a problem. UNIX file names can be multipart and quite long
as in a.really.long.MixED.CAse.UNIX.file_name. They can also be mixed case
with upper and lower case letters. So simply extracting TAR files onto a DOS
machine also requires some form of filename translation, usually referred to
for no particular reason we can devine as file "munging".
One program that handles .TAR extractions pretty well is ExTAR. ExTAR was
written by a German named Gisbert W. Selke and distributed as free software
in the file EXTAR10.ZIP. It was written in Turbo Pascal and we've been
unable to locate a version past the original 1.0. I wish I could write a 1.0
of something that worked, but Mr. Selke seems to have handled it.
Another basic port of the TAR program for DOS was done by Mark Colburn of The
USENIX Association in St. Paul Minnesota. Mr. Colburn wrote TAR4DOS.ZIP.
Both these utilities are available by file transfer protocol (ftp) from
ftp.uu.net in the subdirectory ystems/ibmpc/msdos/simtel20/filutl.
The compression function most common on the Internet is referred to,
appropriately enough, as COMPRESS. This is a compression program similar to
PKZIP in that it uses Lempel-Ziv coding to compress data - though generally
not with as good a compression factor as we are accustomed to on bulletin
boards. COMPRESS files are generally, but not always, noted with the file
extension .Z. Further, the tape archive and compression processes can, and
often are combined to form files like filename.tar.z. You would want to
perform the processes from right to left to get the original file.
Uncompress the .z, and then extract the .tar.
We also found a couple of passable DOS utilities for uncompressing. Probably
the standard workhorse is COMPRESS version 4.3c available in the file
COMP430D.ZIP. Like much of the software in the Unix community, this is free
of charge and the source code is available in the file COMP430S.ZIP.
Generally, you would use the syntax compress -d filename to decompress a
particular file. As best we can tell, the first release of this program was
in July of 1984, it's had as many as eight official authors, and the 4.3c
release was in January of 1990. This one has made the route.
An interesting relative newcomer is a program titled GZIP. Written by
Frenchman Jean-loup Gailly, GZIP is also freely distributed with source code
in the file GZIP123.ZIP. GZIP is interesting in that it actually
automatically detects and decompresses several file formats, including
COMPRESS, ZIP version 1.9, and it's own .GZ format. While compress .Z files
are still the most ubiquitous, .GZ actually is much improved with regards to
the resulting data size.
Both GZIP123.ZIP and COMP430D.ZIP are available by ftp in the directory
/wuarchive/systems/ibmpc/msdos at the ftp site knot.queensu.ca.
We have put up a small Internet support files file area on the Boardwatch BBS
with uuencode/decode, a few specific RFCs, and these .tar and .z extractors
for those who have difficulty ftping about the Internet.
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PBS ONLINE
----------
by Bill Gram-Reefer
This past Spring, the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) circulated a Request
for Information (RFI) to a wide variety of software developers and
communications consultants involved in the telecommunications field. The
purpose of the RFI was to get as much feedback as possible on how PBS could
fulfill its new mission of launching a bulletin board system (BBS) that will
eventually link 196 PBS stations via satellite and allow for local
member-users to access local PBS nodes using modems and telephone lines. As a
lesson in state-of-the-art proposal writing for a BBS, to help you plan,
pitch, and fund a BBS for your own home, business, school, or non-profit,
this document takes the cake with over 40-dense pages, including appendices,
glossary, and bibliography. There's even a video on how the proposal was
made, so now you really know where all of your pledge-night dollars have been
going!
While a commendable project for PBS in itself, the document, as a vision of
what a BBS should look like, and what kind of features it should have,
powerfully illustrates the current, highly-evolved state of BBSing in terms
of technology, user ergonomics, networking capabilities, and slam-dunk
usefulness as a meaningful communications tool for businesses. BBSing is just
not for hobbyists, anymore. Consequently, like it or not, the proposal also
acknowledges many new standards concerning what hot, new, and public BBSing
should require, including true cross-platform support, and graphical user
interface (GUI) that, with the introduction of the Mac-based GUI systems now
supporting Windows, have become must-have items to accommodate new users
unfamiliar with kludgy, unintuitive, command-line frustration traps offered
by other outmoded BBS systems.
Content for PBS Online will vary from station to station, but generally, each
node would provide access to the following selection including but not
limited to: PBS Online instructions, tutorials, and manuals; PBS programming
schedule, transcripts, and classroom support materials; Linknet Learning
Link, K12 USENET news groups, FidoNet K12 file libraries and conferences,
KIDSNET and EDUCOM files relevant to K12 schools; ERIC and other educational
resources, the Project Gutenberg archives, congressional contact information,
and public domain software and file libraries.
Here are some system requirement highlights from the proposal:
1. Network requirementsuusing TCP/IP as its primary networking protocol,
provide gateways to Internet and offer an Internet sub-addressing scheme for
member stations; add potential e-mail connections to FidoNet, FrEdMail,
OneNet, CNN News, Clarisnet, and USA Today; automated address translation,
network management and control, content screening including virus protection,
copyright enforcement, and obscenity screening; and the ability to act as a
bulletin board clearing house service for disseminating articles and general
files.
2. Server specificationsuin addition to supporting a command-line user
interface, the system requires a graphical user interface as well, using
client-based application software supporting Windows and Macintosh. Auto
registration, time limits, search tools, file transfer tools including
ZMODEM, and online help round out the feature wish list. Additional
consideration is given to extendibility to include access or "doorways" to
other applications including Wide Area Information Service (WAIS).
Furthermore, the electronic mail function will include a text processor and
attachment capability for file transfers. A hierarchical data structure will
incorporate folders. Users shall also enjoy real threading, private mailing
lists, forms, and moderated conferences.
System Administration should be remote capable by calling in with the client
software to administer groups of users assigned with certain levels of
privileges and access to various folders, as well as have links to
conferences for cleaning up after a telethon. Real-time server monitoring is
also an item mentioned, as in forced logoffs and server logs with full
reporting with an array of user stats. Interestingly, mention of inter-node
messaging and chat room capabilities were not found in the proposal, so
there'll be no "type-along Messiah" during pledge night.
3. Client specificationsu At minimum, RS232 asynchronous connections and
TCP/IP via Ethernet; hopefully include support for connections via AppleTalk,
IPX, Netbios, or X.25. One or more active file transfers while also reading
files is cited as a must-have feature, along with platform specific
multitasking, previewing, user scripting, and platform specific off-line mail
and conference readers. The graphical user interface should include
overlapping, scrollable, and resizeable windows, mouse support, icons,
pull-down and pop-up menus, and dialog boxes, although, on the Mac side,
there is no mention of AppleEvents compatibility or true drag-and-drop
functionality for the icons other than graphic representations of folders.
According to a knowledgeable professional familiar with the project, expect
this RFI process to take about a year to filter through to reality. More so,
when you look at the shopping list, you realize pretty quickly that some of
what PBS wants in one package just hasn't been shipped yet and it might
become a matter of hot wiring a version of NovaLink with a substantial
customized feature set that could take a year to implement soundly. But the
end product, even if it incorporates only 80% of the initial specifications,
will still prove to be ahead of the pack; something like a cross between
FirstClass and MacIntercomm, but with a functional off-line reader, one might
imagine; combined with the administrative power of a Wildcat, for instance.
Whatever the outcome, though, this proposal has certainly pushed the envelope
for higher standards within the BBS software community. In effect, the
proposal legitimizes several areas, particularly cross platform support for
Internet connectivity, and GUI-based, point-and-click ease-of-use via
client-based user interface programs as forwarded by the newer Mac BBS
programs. More importantly, the PBS proposal will stand as a critical link in
the evolving picture of how Americans will access public, distributed
networks. Should such a venture come from the schools, freenets, quasi-public
orgs such as PBS or Red Cross? Or, will we still need local, independent
freenets in each burg? PBS, 1320 Braddock Place Alexandria, VA 22314; (703)
739-5126 voice.
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==============
SOFTWARE NOTES
==============
TBBS SYSTEM DESIGNER
--------------------
by David Hakala
PC Information Group Inc. has released its long-awaited Menu Conversion
Utility, a suite of programs which convert existing TBBS menu control files
(MENU????.CTL) into the formats used by the company's System Designer
application generator. Provided at no cost, the utility eliminates hours of
work formerly required to upgrade an existing TBBS system to the System
Designer programming environment.
The Menu Conversion Utility reads existing menu control files and generates
System Designer Project (PRJ), Library (LIB), and User Access (ACC) files.
These files contain all of the screen information and control settings
specified in the original *.CTL files, in System Designer's object-oriented
format. The conversion process can simultaneously generate any desired
combination of three versions of each menu: color ANSI/IBM graphics,
black-and-white graphics-only, or ASCII text-only.
In test runs, the conversion utility performed quickly and flawlessly on an
80386/33Mhz PC, taking about two to three seconds to convert each menu of a
representative TBBS system. Minor manual adjustments, such as giving
mnemonic names to User Access Level database records, were highlighted by the
utility itself and swiftly accomplished.
The conversion process is also a learning experience, even for an experienced
TBBS developer. The SDL code generated from the resulting System Designer
files was noticeably more readable than the piecemeal original, and the new
MENU????.CTL files precisely duplicated the functionality of the originals u
only more efficiently than the original design.
SYSTEM DESIGNER PUTS FUN BACK IN BBS DESIGN
System Designer, a $149 Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tool,
makes eSoft Inc.'s powerful butdaunting TBBS bulletin board system software
accessible to novices and a dream come true for expert TBBS developers. No
matter what your level of expertise, System Designer will help you design a
better BBS in record time, and have fun doing it.
Like BBSing itself, System Designer is hard to explain to the uninitiated.
Those who have not tried the program may think it is "just another drawing
utility" like The Draw, or at best a TBBS-specific menu painter like ProMenu,
that generates ANSI/graphics, graphics-only, and text-only menus from a
single template. System Designer does menus, but it also does a whole lot
more.
OVERVIEW: ALL YOU NEED IN ONE PROGRAM
System Designer integrates menu design, SDL source code generation, user
access control, macro maintenance, menu control file compilation, even live
TBBS test runs, in an elegant, mouse-driven programming environment. BBS
developers no longer need to learn a text editor and an ANSI drawing program
in addition to learning the components of TBBS. You can also throw away your
cheat-sheets of SDL macro definitions, security flag and privilege level
settings. System Designer does it all under one roof, and keeps house for
you.
A customizable batch file can be run from the System Designer Compile menu to
compile the generated SDL source code using TBBS' SDL.COM. If errors are
found in the source code, a source listing including SDL-generated error
messages is displayed. If no errors are found, the batch file runs TBBS so
you can see how the system works online.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT FEATURES
Consultants who design BBSes for multiple clients and sysops who maintain a
number of subsystems on their BBSes will appreciate System Designer's Project
Manager module. It makes selecting and working on any project or subsystem
as easy as point-and-click, keeps track of which menus in any BBS project
have been compiled, and lets you specify which menus should be compiled and
tested during the current session.
MENU PIRATING & TREE DISPLAYS
System Designer makes it easy to track and re-use all the bits and pieces of
every BBS you have ever designed u or ever seen. Portions of previously
designed BBSes can be copied and modified for use in new projects. A TSR
utility called SAVER.COM captures any DOS text-based screen and saves it as a
binary file that System Designer can import. If you loved that opening
screen on The Hot Muddy Duck BBS, you can load it into System Designer and
edit it to suit you. (This feature is sure to set off minor copyright
infringement wars among sysops, but that's what keeps BBSing interesting.)
System Designer includes a menu-tree function that will show you at a
keystroke what each option on a menu does and where GOTO or GOSUB commands
lead. Does "<G>oodbye" log the user off immediately (command type 10) or
take him to a final menu (command type 5)? The menu tree will show you.
DESIGNING A BBS WITH SYSTEM DESIGNER
Creating a new BBS starts with making a Project File, a control file which
maintains a list of all menus, their definitions, access control settings,
and other information about the new BBS. Each BBS menu is defined on a
screen that asks for the menu's four-character MENU????.CTL file name, a more
meaningful description stored in the Project File, i. e., "Hackers Forum File
Menu," and optionally a Billing Class for the menu.
The rest of the Menu Definition Screen consists of checkboxes and radio
buttons. First, you specify which version(s) of the menu to create as SDL
source code: ANSI, black-and-white graphics-only, and/or ASCII text-only.
Second, decide whether to
clear the caller's screen before displaying this
menu. You would not clear the screen if this menu were an overlay on an
existing menu, as in a pulldown menu application. Third, set the background
color to use when the screen is cleared, by clicking on a color bar.
The "Complex menus" option enables creation of menu entries larger than SDL's
normal limit of 4096 characters. TBBS v2.2 includes a new ENTRY: command
that loads and displays external menu display codes on demand. Setting
System Designer's "Complex" menu definition option lets you take advantage of
the ENTRY: feature by storing complex menus in external files instead of
compiling them as SDL code.
BUILDING MENUS FROM OBJECTS
After defining a menu, you find yourself staring at a blank screen set to the
background color previously defined. This challenge to your creativity is
where the real fun of using System Designer begins.
Use the mouse to mark a rectangular block on the screen; such marked blocks
form the "objects" of which all System Designer menus are composed. An
object can be a whole menu, one line of text on the menu, a single character,
or any other piece you might want to move, define as an SDL menu entry, or
re-color.
A pulldown Block Manipulation Menu lets you draw a box to define the
boundaries of the menu, using effects such as single- or double line
boundaries, and shadows that provide "depth" to a menu display. Shadows can
be "transparent:" if they fall on existing text, the underlying text will
still be visible in grey-on-black colors - a nice effect. Custom shadows
composed of any graphics character can also be created; they will obliterate
underlying text. You can also draw freehand using single or double lines, or
any printable ASCII character you wish.
Adding text to a menu is a matter of positioning the cursor in an object and
typing away. Text can be centered within the object's left/right borders
with a single keystroke. System Designer includes a database of TBBS v2.2
insertion parameters, making it easy to insert these system variables in any
menu.
OBJECTS MAKE BETTER BBSES
The ease with which you can move objects and blocks encourages good menu
design; "good enough" just isn't good enough when perfection takes so little
effort. Any rectangular portion of a menu can be highlighted and moved to a
new location. Predefined objects can be selected by simply double-clicking
on them. You can drop a block or an object anywhere on the screen, but
System Designer will warn you if you are about to obliterate an underlying
object.
AMAZING ANSI CONTROL
The minute and easy control System Designer gives you over
foreground/background colors and the attributes of every object is one of
this program's greatest strengths. Just highlight a block, select Block
Attribute from a pulldown menu, and you can pick any combination of colors
and intensity from a matrix while viewing a sample of the result. A press of
a key can make a block blink.
If you don't like the new color scheme, it is easily changed. Let's say most
of the text on your menu is white-on-blue, but you made the menu keys bright
green and that now looks awful. Just highlight the portion of the menu that
contains bright green foregrounds, select Foreground Attribute, specify the
old foreground color (bright green) and then choose a new foreground color.
Only the bright green foreground colors will be changed! Background colors
are just as easily and selectively modified.
You can also precisely set the position of the ANSI cursor by row and column,
useful when designing animated ANSI screens and other applications where the
cursor must "jump" to a new screen position. You can also set the cursor's
colors and make it blink.
ADDING FUNCTION TO MENUS
You must add TBBS commands to each menu if you want it to do something when a
user presses a key. System Designer keeps this process easy and well
organized.
Just create a separate object for each menu option, i. e., "Upload,"
"Download," "Read Messages," and so on. System Designer lets you specify an
activating menu key, TBBS command type, and any optional data (Opt Data) for
the command. System Designer maintains convenient popup lists of available
menu names, message boards, and conferences, so you do not have to remember
all of those cryptic names when specifying Opt Data.
ACCESS CONTROL LIBRARY
Security flags and privilege levels comprise a user's access profile, which
determines which menu lines will appear to a given user and how each menu key
will function for him. Keeping track of different access profiles is a
never-ending struggle for most sysops. System Designer lets you assign
meaningful names and descriptions to all of the different flag/privilege
combinations used on your BBS, and choose the appropriate access profile for
a menu entry from a scrollable picklist.
AUTOMATED CODE GENERATION
The heart of System Designer is a unique module that generates flawless,
well-structured SDL code from the menus you design. You can specify whether
to generate SDL code for all menus, only for menus that have changed since
code was last generated, or only for a specific menu.
The Code Generator module writes SDL code the way it was meant to be written
u the hard way, but the most efficient way for online display. ANSI screens,
for example, are best written using one SDL menu entry per screen line, like
this:
ENTRY:
[14;2H[45mThis is a [1m[33mFRAME Object[1m[37m.[40m
ANS=-
Few BBS designers do things this way; it's just too tedious and error-prone.
But Code Generator automatically does it for you. The results include
smoother and faster menu displays, faster returns from menu function calls
(Read Messages, Display a text file, and so on), and fewer disk drive
accesses.
This code generation method, combined with other System Designer features,
let the sysop precisely determine which menu items will be displayed first.
For example, some sysops like to paint boxes, then fill in text; others want
the user to see the text first while the box is being drawn. System Designer
lets you easily determine the order in which menu objects will be displayed.
If you want line 3 of a menu displayed before lines 1 and 2, no problem.
Once SDL code is generated for all menus, a list of any code generation error
messages is displayed at the top of the screen, along with a picklist of
three action options: Return to Project Manager; Execute BATCH.BAT (the SDL
menu compiler/TBBS test-drive routine); or Exit to DOS.
PRODUCTIVITY GAINS
Sysops accustomed to the normal way of designing TBBS systems find it hard to
believe what System Designer can do for their productivity. But your author
designed in two 8-hour days a BBS which includes eight separate subsystems,
with a total of 88 different menus (ANSI, graphics-only, and text-only
versions of each menu), and 40 distinct access profiles.
That project would have taken over a week without System Designer. The ANSI
menus would not be as pleasing, and half of the extra time would have been
spent debugging minor typographical errors. Instead, the human designer was
able to concentrate on the appearance and functionality of the BBS from a
user's perspective, and leave the machine-level details to System Designer.
Building a BBS became a more creative, fun occupation, and less of a
nitpicking chore.
FIRST-CLASS PRODUCT SUPPORT
PC Information Group backs System Designer with the kind of support
professional sysops expect. There is a BBS where you can test-drive and
download several examples of BBS menu sets built with System Designer, confer
with tech support and other TBBS designers, download upgrades and utility
files. The program's documentation is bound, typeset and well illustrated.
Technical support is provided by experienced TBBS designers from 9:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. CST Monday through Friday.
System Designer is a whole new way of designing bulletin board systems u the
best way currently available, in your author's opinion. If you run or plan
to run a TBBS system, "You just gotta get this thing!" (Sorry, Prodigy.)
PC Information Group Inc.: 1126 East Broadway, Winona MN 55987. Voice:
800-321-8285; in Minnesota, 507-452-0450. BBS: 507-454-8025.
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 36
Type P to Pause, S to Stop listing
===================
COMMERCIAL SERVICES
===================
UPDATE ON GENIE
---------------
by Donn King
First, some updates on information: just as we went to press for the August
issue, GEnie made some changes to its software. Two of the items mentioned in
that column thus need updating.
1) PCAladdin is now in version 1.70, and older versions will no longer be
supported. In a press release, PCAladdin sysops said, "Although the primary
reason for this change to Aladdin is to work properly with GEnie's new rate
structure, we have taken this opportunity to add in a number of
frequently-requested features, including additional script commands."
To obtain the new version of Aladdin, you may either enter M110;4 at a
numbered GEnie page prompt, or you may download it from the PC Aladdin
Support RoundTable software library (enter M110;3) as ALAD170.EXE. Normal
GEnie connect time charges will apply.
2) The C command that would take you back and forth between using menus and
using a kind of "expert" mode that only showed you page prompts has been
dropped. If you are going to use Aladdin, or just want to use the expert
mode, you need to enter the keyword SET at a numbered GEnie page prompt, then
step through the menu items. Remember that whenever you go to an unfamiliar
page and need to see the menu momentarily, entering a question mark (?) will
bring it up.
Internet mail update
I made online friends with Alan Seaver a few months back. He was about to
leave the Internet though, because he was leaving his school and had no other
access. I told him about GEnie's rate changes, which would make it one of the
most inexpensive and accessible services for getting Internet e-mail.
A couple of things limited GEnie for Internet, though. You can only use it
for e-mail; ftp and telnet are unavailable. As Alan said, though, it had been
months since he used either of the latter. The biggest irritant was the limit
on the address field; you could include no more than 35 characters, which
effectively prevented participation in many usenet groups and correspondence
with long-named schools. I couldn't send through GEnie to my own main
address, the one which used to end these articles!
Although the ftp and telnet situation has not changed, Internet RT sysop Andy
Finkenstadt said, "The 35-character limit that would prevent some messages
from going out has been eliminated as of July 15, 1993. So now an address to
a Fidonet node, or to some long mailing list addresses, will work just fine.
Some routing problems were fixed as well with the America Online service.
Mail to people @AOL.COM now works."
Maybe I'll see Alan around GEnie now.
VR RT becomes reality
Actually, it's the Multimedia, Desktop Video and Virtual Reality RoundTable
(they call it Multimedia RT for short).
Co-managed by Denny Atkin, COMPUTE Magazine's Interactive Entertainment
editor, and Peggy Herrington, freelance editor/writer and founder of the
industry's first multimedia disk-based magazine, the RoundTable is scheduled
to open in early September.
Herrington told me they have planned in October Real-Time Conferences with
Lou Wallace addressing desktop video, Howard Rheingold on virtual reality,
and J. Micheal Straczynski on graphics production for the "Babylon 5" TV
series.
They also plan an extensive software library of downloadable commercial
multimedia program demonstrations and sample projects, plus graphics, audio
and information files for IBM-compatible, Macintosh and Amiga, and product
support by hardware and software manufacturers.
"Commercial VR endeavors include shopping mall projects such as the
franchised parlor chains, Virtuality, and Paramount's aStar Trek: The Next
Generation,'" Herrington said. "The Multimedia RoundTable will address
developments in the VR arena, providing current, in-depth information for
people interested in this emerging technology."
RTs sprout
The opening of several new RoundTables followed in the wake of GEnie's rate
changes in July (see the August issue for a run-down of the new rates.
Briefly, at 2400 baud, GEnie costs $3.00 per hour between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.
local time, with four hours included in its basic monthly fee of $8.95). They
include both general interest and product support RTs. They include:
* The Europe RoundTableuadvertising for it says, "We will cover all countries
in Europe. If we haven't started a topic on your favorite European country
let us know and we will start one for you." The Europe RT is part of the
Germany & Europe RT; European categories begin in Category 25. Enter M725 or
keyword EUROPE or GERMANY.
* The SCA RoundTable, which supports the worldwide activity of the Society
for Creative Anachronism, a group of nearly 25,000 members dedicated to the
study and selective re-creation of aspects of pre-17th century cultures. The
Bulletin Board includes categories for each of the SCA's 13 "Kingdoms"
(regional-level groups), plus Arts and Sciences, Heraldry, Fighting, Bardic
Arts, Offices, Events, a Revel for socializing, and other support topics.
They also have an online version of SCA combat. You don't have to be a member
of SCA to participate or play. Enter M1425 or keyword SCA.
* The OS/2 RoundTable, which provides support for IBM's controversial
operating system. Sysops say, "Recent updates of OS/2 make it easier to use
and more powerful."
The RoundTable offers technical support for OS/2 itself as well as
applications; the software library has utilities, shareware and public domain
products for use with OS/2.
Featured RT: Homeschoolers in the Education RoundTable
We're going to start featuring a RoundTable each month to help you get to
know the people on GEnie. This month we consider the ERT.
The Education RoundTable provides an online home for professional educators,
parents with school-age children, commercial trainers, and homeschoolers.
Bobbi Pournelle is the "principal"uthe sysop of the ERT.
Bobbi has been with the ERT since coming to GEnie in 1987. She is married to
Jerry Pournelle, a well-known science fiction and nonfiction writer who also
has the distinction of heading the only GEnie RoundTable centered around an
individual, the Jerry Pournelle RoundTable. The Pournelle family thus finds
GEnie a major part of their lives.
"I came to GEnie at the invitation of Neil Harris (who left GEnie recently,"
she said. They had known each other professionally for years and were on BIX
together. "He suggested that GEnie would reach a totally different audience
and that my contact would be wider with more students, more teachers and
certainly more parents. My desire was to encourage the Learning Triangle to
communicate. I always thought of the triangle as parents, student and school
folks. Things took an interesting turn with the addition of the
HomeSchoolers."
Although homeschoolers gather on other electronic services, their reception
among professional educators vary. Some see homeschoolers as a threat to
either their principles or their livelihood, but on GEnie "Our teachers are
secure enough that they seem to like the interchange and don't feel
threatened by these dedicated parents. We all learn from each other."
Homeschoolers have a variety of reasons for their educational choices. The
popular conception of homeschoolers centers around religious "fanatics." Many
of the homeschoolers on GEnie homeschool for religious reasons, but hardly
strike you as fanatic.
For instance, Rich Shalvoy said, "We are homeschoolers of the Christian
variety, having just finished our third year. GEnie offers networking with
like- and dissimilar-minded parent-educators. There is the chance to help
share ideas with others and to learn from them.
"There is the community aspect, too," he added. "Many homeschooling parents
are good, caring people who are also intelligent and usually are not afraid
to express an opinionuthe kind of people you'd like to have as friends if
they happened to be in your neighborhood. Through the wide reach of GEnie,
this now becomes possible."
Al Sutherland said, "The two main things I get from GEnie are the ERT and
Grolier's Encyclopedia. The ERT gives you fast responses if you have a
problem or question you need help with. This is also almost my only contact
with other homeschoolers."
Homeschoolers from Hawaii to Florida to New England gather to compare notes
on curricula, suppliers, and teaching tips in Categories 8 and 9, overseen by
Topic Cop Anne Wasserman. Twice monthly Real-Time Conferences provide
real-time contact, and participation will likely go up with the lower
per-hour rates.
When I first got to know the homeschoolers in late 1991, Beverly Marshall
told me, "I never would have attempted homeschooling until the Education
RoundTable showed me I could. A year ago I didn't know anyone who did this,
and now I know a lot of wonderful people."
Other homeschoolers do so primarily for educational reasons. Oak Ridge,
Tennessee, has one of the best public school systems in the nation; it also
has one of the largest concentration of homeschooling populations in the
state. David Olive and Jacki Willard homeschool their son, James, because
they believe it is educationally superior to methods that collect 30 or so
children into one room and attempt to teach all of them the same thing at the
same time. James has also been diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder. Several homeschoolers on GEnie have similar circumstances; their
children do much better educationally at home. In fact, a study conducted by
the Tennessee Department of Education showed homeschoolers across the state
scoring in the 80th percentile on standardized tests, significantly higher
than the 50th percentile of the average public school student.
The most accurate generalization about homeschoolers is that they homeschool
for a huge variety of reasons; each family generally has more than one
reason. "Our kids are still young yet, but we are planning to keep them
home," said MacBeth Derham. "We are homeschooling for political and religious
reasons (Catholic), and because I work for a consortium of school districts
and have seen horrible things done to kids' self esteem in the name of
education. I first found out about homeschooling CI$ (Compuserve). Someone
there said that GEnie had a wonderfully active homeschooling group, so I
checked it out and here we are!
"Right now, GEnie is a way for us to network and find out what different
methods, materials and resources are available to us," she continued. "The
support from others who have made the same choices is invaluable. With GEnie
we can make connections that are impossible even within local support
groups...and we can do it in our pajamas! My house doesn't have to be clean,
yet you can all come over and talk. I can visit without getting into a car,
or finding a sitter. These things (and Aladdin), make GEnie a great online
value for our family."
Not all homeschoolers agreed about the value part. When the rates changed on
July 1, a dozen or so explicitly departed the service; it is difficult to
tell how many others may have done so. Many of them had noted for a long time
that they could only afford to come online because of GEnie's $4.95 a month
flat rate, since bulletin board under the old scheme were free. You could
count a couple of hundred posters, and attendance in categories (prior to
GEnie disabling the command that showed this) showed a couple of thousand,
yet fewer than half a dozen would show up for the average Real-Time
Conference. Homeschoolers were among the 15 percent whose actual charges were
expected to go up under the new pricing.
Still, many of the old regulars stayed around; many of them say their
personal charges are lower, and that they can find no better place for
networking (some of them joined other services while considering leaving
GEnie; many of them report homeschool groups on other services to be not
nearly so active or welcomed within the education areas).
"Perhaps GEnie is the forerunner of how home-centered schooling and community
centered schooling will operate in the future," said Bobbi Pournelle.
"Through the electronic nets the roads of learning merge and hopefully
politicians will begin to pay more attention to what is happening and how
folks are willing to accommodate to the needs of the family with learners -
ALL!"
Pournelle sees the homeschoolers as an integral part of a RoundTable
dedicated to education in all its forms. "The best thing about running the
ERT over the years has been meeting [interesting] folks. The GEnie folks are
brighter than the average bear and wish to become better informed and are
most willing to share with others. We try to create light while sometimes
creating heat. Things on GEnie run in cycles which reflects what is happening
aon the street.' The latest issues and concerns such as vouchers,
standardized testing, educational spending and policies are aired here.
"Another joy has been meeting so many bright kids. Watching their growth in
self-expression has been great. This reflects upon their self-esteem and
growth in using the technology to enrich their lives. When the teachers are
exchanging innovative and successful teaching techniques such as aMath in the
Cemetery, and the kids are talking about writing their essays for college
applications and parents are debating how to ensure that they have covered
all bases for finding the ideal nursery school for their cubs I am the
happiest."
Bit and pieces
The 1993 Northern California Nude Beaches Guide is available in the Left
Coast RT library. This is the 18th edition of the guide that is updated and
expanded annually by Gary Hanauer. For information on naturist aquatic
recreation, download files 1701-1707.
For continuing discussion on naturist recreation and social issues, read Left
Coast Naturists Online, CATegory 17 of the Left Coast BB.
More than 400 leading databases from the top publishers in the world are now
available 24 hours a day in the Dialog Database Center. The center includes
information on worldwide businesses, government news and regulations,
computer technology, national and regional news, science, grants and
contracts, education, medicine, law, marketing, and more. The information
encompasses more than 3,000 fulltext sources plus hundreds of business
directories and leading reference collections.
We'll take a look at personal and business information resources in a future
column. Next month: a look at navigating GEnie, and a focus on the Amiga
RoundTable.
NTN Communications, Inc., a company based in Carlsbad, CA, that provides
interactive trivia and live sports games to over 1,000 restaurants, bars and
hotels throughout the United States, Canada and Great Britain, has joined
GEnie. A front end is available for IBM, Amiga, and Atari, and a Macintosh
front end is in beta testing now. The area includes several games, including
Countdown (played from 6 p.m. until 2:30 a.m. most nights), Showdown (played
Tuesday beginning at 9:15 p.m.) and Sports Trivia Challenge (Thursdays
beginning at 9:15 p.m.). All times are Eastern. Each time you play and do
well in the rankings you earn prize points that accumulate. Organizers say
they give free time, TVs, VCRs, and other items as prizes.
Donn King
DKING@GENIE.GEIS.COM
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 37
Type P to Pause, S to Stop listing
==================
MACINTOSH BBS NEWS
==================
NOVALINK PROFESSIONAL 3.0: THE REVIEW
-------------------------------------
by Chris Holmes
I have run a BBS for almost 10 years. When I started, it was with Networks
II on a 64K Apple II+. At that time, Networks II was considered "state of the
art" and offered "modern" features such as private e-mail, Sysop chatting,
and a public message area. Since then, communications have come along way and
I have used many different BBS packages.
My system took the biggest step when I upgraded to a new software package
from ResNova Software Inc., NovaLink Professional 3.0 for the Macintosh. What
this software offers for a system operator is unequaled in the desktop
BBS/Server industry: graphic user interface, sophisticated message editing
features, a powerful user scripting language, networking, plus compatibility
with hundreds of existing "externals" (also known as "plug-ins," or "doors"
to our DOS friends).
Let's start from the top. The major feature of NovaLink is its versatile
graphic user interface (GUI). ResNova's GUI allows users to access online
information through simple icons, sounds, and pictures, instead of navigating
through many levels of text based menus. Using the GUI also provides for
multiple typefaces, sizes, and styles of text to be used within messages.
And, unlike most graphical software packages available which are very rigid
in their interface style (the Sysop cannot modify the "look & feel"),
NovaLink is very flexible. A small application, dubbed "NovaMondrian" permits
the BBS operator to build his or her own interface (icons, buttons, and all)
from the ground up. Because of this, each NovaLink system can have a truly
unique look. If an operator does not wish to put effort into a unique
interface, the administrator can employ the built-in "NovaView" system.
NovaView automatically creates a Finder-like environment for the BBS. The
user will see message forums and file areas as folders, and other functions
as icons. The operator merely sets up the file areas and message forums,
NovaView does the rest.
To access NovaLink in GUI mode, a user must dial in with a special terminal
software package called "NovaTerm," which is available for both Mac and
MS-DOS systems with support for RIP graphics. NovaTerm incorporates a special
protocol that ensures an error-free connection even when not using a V.42 or
MNP type modem. Another benefit of this protocol is simultaneous uploads and
downloads, even while reading messages, sending mail, and using other
functions of the BBS. If you have more than one file queued for transfer in
either direction, a queue list will allow you to view the status of each file
(similar to the Macintosh PrintMonitor which allows you to view the status of
each print job waiting in a printer queue). To save on long distance fees, a
simple off-line message creation feature lets users compose letters before
they actually connect. NovaTerm comes in three flavors: Regular (for modem
connections), Network (for network connections), and PPC (for local computer
logons). NovaTerm also allows the user to choose which interface is actually
seen when calling the BBS: the custom interface (if the Sysop has created
one), or the NovaView interface.
If users do not have NovaTerm, they can log on to NovaLink with any regular
terminal program. One of the strengths of NovaLink Professional, along with
its GUI, is its completely customizable text interface. Each text screen can
be independently composed, utilizing the full ANSI character set if needed.
Using NovaLink's scripting ability, different menus can even be displayed to
users with different emulations. A graphic imaging model named "RipScript"
has also been developed by ResNova. RipScript allows callers with
non-graphical systems (such as DOS machines not running under Windows) to get
the same GUI point & click functionality common to graphics based operating
systems while still using their favorite telecommunications software.
The messaging and text editing features of NovaLink are among the best found
online. In the GUI mode, a user writing a new message is presented with a
window similar to that of MS Word. The top portion of the window is a toolbar
which contains many useful features such as font selection, text
justification, and font style. Files can be attached to messages simply by
clicking on the "attach" button. The bottom portion contains the text editing
window. Here, all the standard Macintosh text editing functions apply.
Message forums are especially powerful. Using a technique called threading,
NovaLink Professional organizes messages by topic. Although other BBSs claim
to "thread" messages, NovaLink does this in a way that makes sense. When a
message is posted with a new topic, a new folder is started. All replies to
this message are stored within that folder; new topics start a new thread.
Using the GUI, this is exactly how it appears; a message forum is like a list
of folders, each folder being a thread.
NovaLink also comes stock with a powerful scripting language, NovaScript,
which allows the operator to easily add functions to the BBS that are not
normally present. NovaScript is easy even for the "un-programmer" to
understand. It reads like English and is quite similar in structure to
HyperTalk. Using this scripting ability, such items as online quizzes can be
created with a minimal expenditure of time.
One of the most impressive features of NovaLink is its suite of networking
capabilities. Each NovaLink package comes with a proprietary network exchange
protocol built-in. This protocol allows for NovaLink to NovaLink exchanges of
private mail, files, and public message forums. A ResNova sponsored network,
InfoLink, is available for any NovaLink sysop to hook into. As an option,
ResNova will offer NovaLink with an InterNet gateway. This gateway will allow
any NovaLink BBS complete access to all UseNet message feeds and InterNet
mail.
Another exciting feature of NovaLink is its ability to use "externals."
Externals are programs that add functionality to any NovaLink BBS. These
externals can range from online games to user maintenance utilities. And,
because NovaLink Pro 3.0 has evolved over some years (the first incarnation
of NovaLink was originally written by a high school student), there is
already a large base of externals available for use.
Setting up a NovaLink system is easy. Each BBS starts out as a blank "page".
The operator selects functions from a toolbar and drags them to the page.
Double clicking the icons allows for operational parameters to be set (i.e.:
in the case of a message forum, the message expiration date can be set). In
the case of a folder icon, a new "page" (which appears as a new window to the
user) is opened. This folder can contain file areas, messages, externals, or
any other function. Continuing on in this fashion results in a unique system,
in only a few minutes. To create the customized interface, run
"NovaMondrian" and build an interface for each page (window) of the BBS.
Administering the system is just as easy. All message forum and file area
data are kept within any folder on the hard drive that the operator
specifies. Thus, files and messages can reside on several different drives.
Any mounted volume on the Mac's desktop can be used. As an added benefit,
messages are stored in a single random access file. This is useful especially
for BBSs with active forums u you don't end up with thousands of tiny files
wasting precious space all over your hard drive. Within file areas, files
are stored on the disk in their native format. As a Sysop, you can access the
file directly from your hard drive u- you don't have to logon to your own BBS
to download it. To add files to the BBS, just drag them into the
corresponding folder on the hard drive. The BBS file list is automatically
updated!
An area that could use improvement on NovaLink Professional is NovaMondrian,
the custom interface builder. In its current form, NovaMondrian creates small
data files that must be imported into the NovaLink server application before
a custom interface actually becomes active. This process would be much
simpler if NovaMondrian were integrated right into the NovaLink server
application. And for those who like to write externals, especially ones
taking full advantage of the GUI, a more complete toolkit would be handy.
Many important graphics routines are missing from the current version. Also
lacking on the external front is the ability to schedule events. No third
party external can be set to run automatically at a given time. This greatly
inhibits programmers writing externals to perform automatic user purges every
night, running a disk optimization routine without user intervention, or
other automatic system maintenance functions.
Overall, NovaLink Professional is a versatile, competent communications
package capable of handling from the smallest hobbyist BBS to large and
complex corporate systems. Other than some minor glitches, the product is
quite stable and bug free. Also, direct support is available from ResNova's
BBS where free software updates and bug fixes are available to registered
NovaLink users.
Chris Holmes is product of Abbott Integration, a Vancouver, BC-based
wholesale distributor of Macintosh-related peripherals including monitors,
modems, video cards, and hard drives. To contact ResNova for more
information, call ResNova Software, Inc. at (714) 379-9000 (voice); (714)
379-9004 (bbs). NovaLink Professional 3.0 requires an Apple Macintosh SE or
later with at least four megabytes of RAM, running System 7.0 or later. A
hard disk is also required.
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 38
Type P to Pause, S to Stop listing
WINDOWS CLIENT FROM FIRST CLASS
-------------------------------
by Bill Gram-Reefer
SoftArc, developers of FirstClass BBS software for the Macintosh, has
released its graphical client program that can be used on PCs running
Windows. The FirstClass Client for Windows permits users to connect to
Macintosh-based FirstClass servers via a network or by modem for
instantaneous e-mail, asynchronous multiple-file transfers, cross platform
chat, and conferencing. With features and functionality almost identical to
the Mac-based client, FirstClass Client for Windows requires an Intel
386-based PC running Windows 3.1 or newer, with a minimum of 4 Mb of RAM.
FirstClass Client for Windows operates on FirstClass systems running host
version 2.4, which is freely available, but only when downloaded by any
registered FirstClass owner. In addition to version 2.4 of the host program,
sysops must also purchase the necessary program modules. In order to accept
Windows logins via modem, FirstClass servers require the FirstClass Windows
User Interface option ($295) for unlimited users. Sites wishing to
accommodate Windows users over a network require the Windows interface, plus
the FirstClass IPX connection module available for $495.
Freely distributable, those wishing to obtain a copy of the Windows client
can download it from SoftArc Online, SoftArc's corporate support system at
416-609-2250. The program is also available on CompuServe and America Online
in their respective networking forums. Also available from the same sources
is a freely distributable demo of FirstClass that runs under Windows. SoftArc
Inc. Global-Area Communications, 805 Middlefield Road, Suite 102,
Scarborough, Ontario, CANADA M1V-2T9, (416)299-4723 voice; (416) 754-1856
fax; (416)609-2250 support BBS.
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 39
Type P to Pause, S to Stop listing
TELEFINDER ADDS FEATURES
------------------------
Spider Island Software, maker of TeleFinder, a leading multi-line bulletin
board system (BBS) for Macintosh , is now shipping Version 3.1 of its Group
Edition Host software. With the addition of a Chat Server module, Spider
Island now gives TeleFinder BBS operators (sysops) the ability to offer
callers real-time, private messaging with other active modem or AppleTalk
nodes on a system, where the number of simultaneous one-to-one sessions is
limited only by the number of telephone lines supported by the Macintosh CPU.
While online, users are able to view a list of current callers available for
chat. Additionally, special chat rooms can be created where multiple callers
can hold live conferences via a Chat Window that clearly identifies
participants and displays a group+s conversation, which can be logged and
saved for review. Sysops can easily restrict and regulate access to any of
these conference areas by assigning privileges according to groups and or
individuals.
In addition, version 3.1 of the client software allows users to preview
compressed, thumbnail PICT files and their captions online. This enables
users to view files, compressed using JPEG or any other ANPA file-standard
format, before they decide to download the file. Another important addition
allows sysops and users to format text in both the messaging and conference
areas. This new capability gives callers the ability to customize their
messages in a variety of ways: by adding color, or in choosing any
combination of font, size, and style commands.
TeleFinder 3.1, runs on all Macintosh computers from the Plus to the Quadras,
is 32-bit clean, System 7 Savvy, can be fully controlled via AppleEvents for
customized system integration, and includes full Balloon Help. With a retail
price of $425 and available direct from Spider Island and through its
authorized resellers, TeleFinder Group Edition Version 3.1 includes the full
suite of BBS host program modules, user-access software with unlimited
distribution license, and full documentation.
Spider Island Software, 4790 Irvine Boulevard, Suite # 105-347, Irvine, CA
92720; (714)669-0260 voice; (714)669-1383 fax; (714)730-5785 support BBS.
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 40
Type P to Pause, S to Stop listing
STUMP THE CHUMP
---------------
Most of you don't know this, but Santa Claus was a liberal arts major and,
although he uses FileMaker Pro on his frocked Quadra system to keep track of
the naughty and nice, he's still not very technically proficient when it
comes to bits and bytes. So, just to keep him sharp and up-to-date, I like to
send him some of the tough, technical BBS questions you dear readers send me.
That way Santa and his elves have something to ponder as they totter through
the summer in Belize while knocking down an endless procession of Strawberry
Margarita Slurpees. (Now you know why Rudolph has a red nose). And, just to
make it really tough, I like to throw in the occasional cross-platform
conundrum just to keep the big guy honest.
For instance, Dennis Spector, of Oakland, CA writes: "I'm the sysop of the
Miata BBS running on a PC with Mustang's Wildcat BBS software. I know callers
are concerned about keeping phone bills down to a minimum, and I usually
suggest that besides using a long-distance service (such as Global Access or
PC Pursuit), the best way to cut phone bills is by cutting down time online.
"I've come to really appreciate off-line mail readers for this reason. Most
BBSs have a amail door' which allows a caller to logon to a BBS and download
a compressed mail packet containing all new messages, a list of any new
files, and any updated bulletins or newsletters, all compressed into a .QWK
mail packer which requires the use of an off-line mail reader, like Mustang's
OLX (Off Line Express) to decipher. In addition to allowing the caller to
read all the new mail while off-line, mail readers also allow the caller to
compose replies and new messages while off-line. Replies are compressed into
a .REP mail packet which is uploaded to the BBS through the mail door.
Usually uploading a .REP packet and downloading a .QWK packet only takes a
minute or two, significantly reducing user phone bills. The problem is, I
want to provide this same service to Mac users. Can you help me solve this
dilemma?
Santa responds: "First, its important to offer .QWK packet compression with
PKZIP110. Using this older version will allow Mac users to unzip their mail
with UNZIP101.SIT, then read their mail with a Mac off-line reader such as
FREDDIE. If you offer these files to your Mac users it will also help to have
STUFFIT LITE and COMPACT PRO so users can uncompress the .SIT and .CPT
files."
Easy enough, North Pole U., but that was the 20-point toss-up. Now, here's
you're bonus question from Bob de Violini of Oxnard, CA: "The basic question
is this, aIs there a means for a Macintosh computer to transmit the Function
and Cursor Key codes generated by an IBM-compatible PC?'
"The situation is this. My wife and I run a PC-based BBS that contains the
card catalog for the American Philatelic Research Library. The library itself
is in State College, PA, and a second version of this BBS is being
established here in Oxnard, CA. Our site is a test site established several
months ago so we could learn the system and try to make it as simple as
possible for non-computer techies to utilize.
"Called the Philatelic Lit BBS, the system runs on Wildcat! 3.55. It uses
Doors to let users get into the catalog program and browse the holdings of
some 12,000 titles so that they can leave a message asking that a particular
title be sent to them on loan. To properly use the catalog program, the
Function keys must be accessible on the caller's keyboard. QModem and Telix
let the caller do this with a Doors toggle (ALT=); Procomm Plus does this in
the IBM PC terminal emulation mode.
"We have a number of people who call in on their Macs, and though they can
get into the catalog, they cannot move around in it or exit gracefully. If
the sysop doesn't happen to be on hand top see what's happened and can take
the caller back to the BBS menu, then about the only way out is to hang-up
with an ALT-H command. Is there some procedure that we can advise our
Macintosh clients about that will let them access this database. I understand
that some Mac keyboards have function keys; perhaps they can be programmed
for that purpose; but I'm not sure if other keyboards can be remapped. Any
guidance that you can provide will be appreciated."
Santa responds: "This is a tough one, so I deferred to my elves who recommend
the following: Don't use a PowerBook (ha-ha, just kidding; those elves are
always trying to jerk my chain). Their overall opinion is your users must be
using non-ANSI, rock-bottom shareware instead of more fully-featured
products. Keyboard remapping utilities are available that can indeed reassign
keys and combinations for specific custom purposes. The problem is trying to
redefine W, A, Z, and S to replace up, left, down, and right can get a little
dicey, especially if your name is WAZ. Have your callers use an
Apple-compatible extended keyboard that includes the function keys. In
concert with Quick Keys they should be able to map the commands safely.
Alternatively, some commercial telecommunications packages for the Mac offer
a keypad simulating DEC VT100 mode, allowing access to some otherwise
unattainable commands. Freesoft's White Knight telecom package, for instance,
lets users employ macro keys to map commands. Another alternative provided by
White Knight version 11.14, is its VT status bar that has all the commands on
screen as push buttons that users can access.
Thanks to Santa and his many elves, two tough dilemmas in the ongoing
struggle for cross-platform connectivity have been solved. So keep those
cards and letters coming. And, don't make the questions too hard; cause if
you do stump the chump, come Christmas, you just might get a lump of coal
instead of that Quadra. Miata BBS, (510)658-0138; Philatelic Lit BBS
(805)485-8811.
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 41
Type P to Pause, S to Stop listing
MAC BBS OF THE MONTH
--------------------
Bud Grove writes to tell us that he runs the BBS for Hughes Aircraft,
MacHACers Computer Club. They run two lines under Second Sight. Line one
employs a USR Dual chopper. Loaded for bear, the system includes a 650 Mb
optical drive, a Pioneer 6-deck CD-ROM player, and a 310 Mb hard drive
keeping over 1,500 users happy since 1979 on an Apple II. Give them a call
and check it out: (310)549-9640 bbs.
We were pleased to see the launch of DESIGNLINK, a BBS based in Walnut Creek,
CA. Accessible by Macs and PCs running either DOS or Windows, DESIGNLINK
intends to be a complete online resource for designers, publishing
professionals, photographers, and artists.
The BBS features conferences for free job listings, technical help, legal
advice, and professional counseling. Designers, artists, and photographers in
the PHOTOLINK section can display their portfolios for online viewing or
downloads using very low resolution thumbnails for security purposes.
DESIGNLINK also has a wide selection of of shareware applications including
fonts, utilities, music, and graphics files. By January 1994, according to
Ash Mehta, the system administrator, DESIGNLINK will also support an Internet
gateway for global e-mail and file transfers. Access is free for 30 minutes
per day. Other plans for more daily time allotments are available for a
reasonable fee.
While the BBS offers photographers and others space to display their work,
DESIGNLINK does not act as the artist's agent. If you like what you see, you
can contact the photographer directly. In addition to photography, the BBS is
interested in showcasing portfolios from other artists including
illustrators, designers, and other commercial artists. Art displayed in the
PHOTOLINK and other sections is NOT public domain or shareware, being the
property and copyright of the artists. Use without the permission of the
artist is against the law.
The premise here is that art directors and designers in need of photographers
or illustrators can view photos online, like Mr. Phelps in Mission
Impossible, when he determines which special agents he'll use for each week's
episode. More than a half dozen photographers with many national credits had
already signed-on when we took a look at the board in early June. The
response, according to Ash, has been tremendous, while the California Lawyers
for the Arts has already rented a folder for its own organization which
features a workshop and library in addition to private conference areas.
In addition to PHOTOLINK, the BBS offers VENDORLINK, PORTFOLIOS, MAC FILES,
LEGAL, WINDOWS, HELP, AND DISCUSSION folders. The MAC FILES, include
subfolders for fonts, demos, graphics, multimedia, page layout, word
processing, utilities, modems, updates, music, and more.
The payment plans, themselves offer intriguing possibilities. Besides the
free, 30-minute-per-day plan, subscribers can sign-up for an hour or two of
access time per day for $50 or $100 dollars respectively. Plan C, for $500 a
year, with an introductory discount at $250 provides even more intruiging
possibilities. For this paltry sum, you get a folder on DESIGNLINK to do with
as you wish. Your company could use this folder as its own BBS for customer
support, 24-hr. tech support, or use it as an inexpensive e-mail system.
Alternatively, artists, photographers, cooperatives, or stock agencies could
display artwork (in very low resolution) for callers to peruse as a form of
advertising or previewing of work by potential clients.
One of the few BBSs I've seen that actually has a merchant account for Visa
and Mastercard, DESIGNLINK is a smart concept and well executedu-so far.
Renting space to allied organizations, service providers, and commercial
interests makes a lot of sense and more fully takes advantage of the BBS
technology available for the Mac that actually lets you run many BBSs through
one system by controlling paths and privileges or access to particular
folders. $500 for a year's worth of access to Internet e-mail and your own
folder to run your business BBS approaches "steal" territory, and I imagine
that if local concerns don't take advantage of this quickly, the price will
go up.
But, unless DESIGNLINK looks into 800, 900, or X.25 access, I don't believe
it will attract the critical mass of art on hand if photographers and other
dirt-poor, children's-book illustrators have to pay long-distance fees to
upload their work. That chicken-egg problem could militate against big-time
agencies keeping accounts to keep track of new artists. It would seem that
having your portfolio built up in the first place is the key to taking
advantage of such a service. It will be interesting to see if the BBS works
out any distribution rights for stock images from specific artists, groups,
or syndicates along the lines of a Wieck Photo Database. DESIGNLINK, 2034
Montclair Circle, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (510)934-7355 voice; (510)933-9676
BBS.
Bill Gram-Reefer, based in Concord, CA, is president of WORLDVIEW,
specializing in connectivity and communications. Bill has been writing about
Macintosh computers since 1984. E-mail Bill at: wk05156@worldlink.com
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 42
Type P to Pause, S to Stop listing
===============
GRAPHICS ONLINE
===============
UNDERSTANDING JPEG OR "HONEY, I SHRUNK THE PICTURES"
----------------------------------------------------
By Jim Thompson
Western News Service
Working with high quality color images is not all fun and games. The initial
excitement of capturing and manipulating full color images and photographs is
soon tempered by the many challenges and difficulties that are part of the
equation.
One of the biggest problems is dealing with the large file sizes such images
require. A high quality 24-bit, full-color photo typically requires
approximately 4-megabytes to 7-megabytes of disk space. An image suitable for
publication in a high-gloss magazine can take up as much as 30-megabytes of
disk space!
If you are offering such images on a BBS, the problem becomes major. A
1-megabyte file requires approximately 15 minutes to transmit at 9600 baud.
That means approximately an hour and 45 minutes to transmit a 7-megabyte
file!
Fortunately, there is an answer u JPEG image compression. A 1-megabyte image
that is compressed at a ratio of 10:1 using the JPEG standard would,
typically, take only 90 seconds to transmit at 9600 baud. It would take less
than 11 minutes to transfer a 7-megabyte file compressed under JPEG at 9600
baud.
You should be aware that there is a difference between image compression
(such as JPEG) and data compression (such as PKZIP, STUFFIT and STACKER).
Under data compression, it is assumed that all data is critical, so nothing
is lost during the compression process. This is known as lossless compression
because the data is simply stored in a more compact format. You can use data
compression on images but the savings of space is only marginal. Normally,
the file can be reduced by 10% to 20% but it can go as high as 50% if the
image has large regions of the same color. This may sound like a lot, but
considering that high quality images will be approximately 8-megabytes, a 20%
savings still means a file that is 6.4-megabytes.
Image compression, like JPEG, is much more complex and more efficient. Image
compression programs must be able to reduce file sizes by up to 99% which
means a certain portion of the image will be lost. This type of compression
is called lossy because it eliminates some of the "unnecessary" data without,
at least in theory, affecting the overall quality of the image itself.
JPEG stands for "Joint Photographic Experts Group" which is a joint committee
of the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the Consultative
Committee of the International Telegraph and Telephone (CCITT) standards
associations. The core committee members are from leading image processing
and computer companies including DEC, IBM, Mitsubishi, Kodak, NEC, and
Siemens.
Working with some of the top technicians in the world, this group has
developed a standard for the compression and decompression of continuous tone
images which is know as JPEG.
JPEG compresses images by removing redundant data and data to which the human
eye is less sensitive. According to recent experiments, the human eye
requires lower frequency information for visual understanding. This
understanding lead scientists to develop the Adaptive Discrete Cosine
Transform (ADCT) image compression method, upon which JPEG is based.
According to Storm Technology, one of the leaders in the development and
application of JPEG, "ADCT quantizes high frequency image data less
distinctly, so that the majority of coefficients, each identified with a
given frequency, will have a zero value. Multiple, repetitive zeros can be
expressed with fewer bits, thereby compressing overall image file size."
JPEG analyzes and recodes image file data while economizing on bits. The bits
removed are either redundant (because they describe the qualities of one
pixel that also pertain to the range of pixels around it), or they contain
visual information that can be eliminated without affecting image quality.
These bits represent luminance (light intensity) and chrominance (color)
values that have frequencies which fall outside the range of frequencies to
which the human eye is sensitive.
What is means is that the JPEG process eliminates redundancy in an image
during compression and attempts to replace the lost areas on decompression.
While this is great in theory, the result is a loss of quality. You can
compensate for much of this loss by selecting the amount of compression under
JPEG. A photo that is destined only for on-screen viewing can use maximum
compression (a ratio of 100:1). You can select a less drastic compression
ratio for a photo that will be published. Generally, a compression ratio of
8:1 or less will result in no perceptible loss in quality.
Also, once data has been removed from an image through the JPEG compression
process, additional data will not be removed if the JPEG process is
re-applied to the image. "JPEG will not remove any additional dataueven if
compression is applied over and over againuprovided the image is decompressed
and compressed again using the - initial compression setting," says Storm
Technology.
The actual amount of compression will depend on the image in question. Visual
information is distributed differently in every image. One image might have a
complex, multicolored background that is difficult to compress without
affecting quality, while another might have one background color with a lot
of redundancy that can be compressed easily.
The speed of compression depends on several factors. The most important is
the type of computer you are using. As always, the faster the processor, the
faster the compression speed. On a 386/33 machine, it takes approximately
2-minutes to compress a 4-megabyte image at a ratio of 20:1. The decompress
process takes approximately the same amount of time. A number of companies,
among them SuperMac, offer a hardware solution. Their Thunderstorm
Accelerator card, which sells for $995, can speed up the compression process
by as much as 500-percent.
JPEG MOTION COMPRESSION
A variation of JPEG, called MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group), is also
available for the compression of video images.
The goals of the two groups, JPEG and MPEG are inherently different. The JPEG
standard is quality-driven, i.e. when working with still images, maintaining
the highest possible quality during compression is the key goal.
According to Storm Technology, "The MPEG standard is speed-driven, i.e. MPEG
is optimized for CD-ROM applications, where data is compressed at 1.1
megabits per second. Video should move at 30 frames per second, and since
images are shown in motion on relatively low-resolution monitors, the MPEG
algorithm uses interframe correlation to deliver very high compression ratios
while sacrificing image quality."
Under JPEG still image compression, every part of an image is examined. A
decision on which information can be removed is made and then it is removed.
Under video compression the process is similar with the addition that an
inter-frame correlation is conducted. This process consists of examining a
sequence of video frames, comparing the changes from frame to frame, and then
only storing the changes.
As a result, entire video sequences must be decompressed in order to view or
edit one frame. With still image compression, on the other hand, images are
stored as individual files, so they can be recalled and edited one at a time
quite easily.
Video image compression is still in its infancy. The compression and, most
importantly, the decompression process requires specialized hardware. Various
accelerator and/or compression cards are available, but most still do not
allow for full motion decompression.
Normal motion pictures run at 30-frames per second. Typically, a motion
picture shown in a 160x120 pixel frame can be decompressed and viewed at
14-frames to 20-frames per second depending on the speed of the computer
processor. But all this is changing and the day will soon arrive when full
motion video compression/decompression will be widely available.
NEW STANDARD FOR WINDOWS
The JPEG standard is rapidly being adopted by both the publishing industry
and the computer industry. In July, 20 leading multimedia software and
hardware vendors agreed to standardize on JPEG for bit-mapped images and
compressed video data under the Microsoft Windows operating system.
JPEG still-image files will be supported under Microsoft Windows as device
independent bitmaps (DIB) files, and JPEG video files will be supported under
Video for Windows as audio/video interleaved (AVI) files.
The acceptance of JPEG means that hardware and software products running
under Windows will work together seamlessly. This means better products and
lower costs.
Vendors who have agreed to endorse the standard JPEG format include AMDRIX
Software; C-Cube Microsystems; Cirrus Logic; Creative Labs; Dolch Computer
Systems; Fluent Inc.; Intel Corporation; LSI Logic Corporation; Microsoft
Corporation; Motorola; New Media Graphics; Optibase; SuperMac; Telephoto;
Texas Instruments; Truevision; U-Lead Systems; Videologic; Xing Technology
Inc.; and Zoran.
To give the technology an additional push, Microsoft is offering
specifications on the JPEG file format to anyone who requests it.
WEALTH OF PROGRAMS AVAILABLE
If JPEG sounds like what you need, you will find a wealth of programs, both
commercial and shareware, that support this standard.
For PC users, the top commercial programs include Aldus PhotoStyler, Adobe
PhotoShop for Windows and Picture Publisher from Micrografx. For the MAC
user, there is Adobe PhotoShop and PicturePress from Storm Technology.
Of these commercial packages, PicturePress is the only one dedicated to JPEG.
In my tests, I found PicturePress to be the fastest of all the packages in
both the compression and decompression process. It also compresses images to
a greater degree than any other Macintosh program. Additionally, it includes
a plug-in module for Adobe PhotoShop, so it can be accessed directly from
this program.
The user's license also includes PictureDecompress. This utility program can
be distributed at no cost with your compressed images. It allows users to
decompress and view the images and to store them in either PICT or TIFF
format. Frontier Runtime (also included with the package) is a script
language that allows for PicturePress to be run automatically in the
background and for batch compression of images. PicturePress also produces
thumbnails of the image so you can quickly identify the image before
decompression. The ability to attach text (up to 32k) to the image means that
you will always have full information about the image.
One of the best features of the program is selective image compression. This
allow you to save selected portions of an image at different quality levels.
For example, in a single image, the focal point could be saved using a high
quality compression while a high amount of compression could be applied to a
less important area, such as the background.
If you are a MAC user and need or want JPEG compression, you should
definitely have PicturePress. Unfortunately, Storm Technology does not make a
PC version.
The other commercial packages mentioned above not only include JPEG
compression and decompression, but also offer most of the power of a color
prepress system right on your own desktop.
PhotoStyler, PhotoShop and Picture Publisher all allow you to enhance, crop
or color correct electronic photographs. In fact, they offer all the tools of
a full-featured electronic darkroom. They will even convert your photos or
images to or from a multiple of formats. In addition to JPEG, the supported
formats are GIF, EPS , PCX, TIFF, TARGA, and BMP. They all also support the
new Kodak CD format.
There are also a number of surprisingly sophisticated programs on the
shareware front. They include: Graphics Workshop and Image Alchemy from
Alchemy Mindworks, Inc. Both offer JPEG along with the ability to convert to
and from various other formats including IMG, PCX, GIF, TIFF, WPG, MSP,
IFF/LBM, BMP, RLE, Halo CUT and Targa.
If you are looking for more information about image compression, image
capturing or the latest in hardware, one of the best places is Samy's Camera
in Hollywood, California. Besides being great guys, Alan Adler and Jack
Etzion in their electronic imaging department are two of the most
knowledgable people in the field.
CONCLUSIONS
JPEG is rapidly becoming a standard for the transmission and storage of high
quality images. However, this does not mean it is the best method for all
applications. When storing and transmitting images that are ultimately
destined for publication in a newspaper or magazine or in applications where
a high quality output is required, JPEG is as good as it gets. Although there
is loss in the compression process, this can be minimized because of the
ability to select the compression level. Also, JPEG viewers are plentiful and
cheap. With the acceptance of the JPEG and MPEG standards for the Microsoft
Windows operating environment by 20 of the major computer corporations, JPEG
will soon be available to virtually everyone.
However, when it comes to "on-line
viewing" where highly compressed images
are required, the best method I have seen is "fractal compression" as
developed by Iterated Systems, Inc. and implemented by Imagen, Inc. in their
Fracterm program. (See the May, 1993 issue of Boardwatch Magazine for a full
explanation of fractal image compression and a review of Fracterm.)
For an on-line environment which allows for "real-time" image viewing, it is
necessary that images be very small (10-25k). This allows for quick
downloading and display. A JPEG image of such size is of marginal quality.
Generally speaking, a 20k JPEG image would look fine if it filled no more
than one-fourth of a 14-inch monitor. The quality of the image would
noticeably decrease as the image size was increased.
When displaying an image "on-line" this means either a larger file size for
an image that can be "downsized" without loss of quality or it means
providing several copies (each of a different size and resolution) of the
same file. This is not the case with fractal compression.
Fractal image compression has the advantage because it is "resolution
independent." If you want to display an image on a larger monitor (for
example, a 19-inch display) the fractal image will expand to fill the entire
screen without the need to increase the file size of the image.
We use both JPEG and fractal on Marlboro Racing News. Callers go to the
fractal area for on-line viewing of images. This allows them to actually see
the photos and caption text. After selecting the image or images they want,
the caller can download the more robust JPEG image (approximately 250k). When
uncompressed, this image expands to approximately 5-megabytes and is suitable
for insertion into a newspaper or magazine.
HOW THE IMAGES WERE COMPRESSED
All five of the images were compressed using Aldus Photstyler running on a
386/33 with 16-megabytes of RAM. When compressing with JPEG, a slider bar
with a range of 1 to 100 allows for varying levels of compression. Image
quality decreases as the compression increases. A compression level of 1
yields the least amount of compression but the highest quality. A compression
level of 100 yields the highest possible compression but the least quality.
COMPRESSION COMPARISONS
-----------------------
Original file. WOMAN.JPG was Scanned from slide using a Nikon Coolscan
File Size: 8,019,012 bytes
DPI: 145
Scan Resolution: 1,441 DPI
Transmission Time: 105 minutes
File Name: WOMAN1.JPG WOMAN2.JPG WOMAN3.JPG WOMAN4.JPG
Compression Level: 100 75 40 3
Compression Time: 120 115 120 130
Compressed Size: 62,440 113,368 246,173 597,972
Ratio: 128:1 71:1 33:1 13:1
Transmission Time: .5 minutes 1 minute 2 minutes 6 minutes
Transmission time based on an average of 1650 cps on a 14,400 bps connection
JPEG SHAREWARE
--------------
Image Alchemy - $79.95
ALCH162.ZIP
Handmade Software, Inc.
15951 Los Gatos Blvd. Ste. 17
Los Gatos, CA 95032
(408)358-1292 voice
(408)358-2694 fax
(408)356-3297 BBS
hsi@netcom.com
CompuShow - $25
CSHW861.ZIP
Canyon State Systems
PO Box 86
Sedona, AZ 86339
(602)282-5070 voice
76555.167@compuserve.com
Colorview - $29.95
DCVIEW21.ZIP
Millennium Technologies, Corp.
649 61st Street Ste. 205
West New York, NJ 07093
71055.2625@compuserve.com
ImageFun - $35
IFSE101.ZIP
Speedy Software
173 Franklin Ave.
San Gabriel, CA 91775
(818)280-8018 voice
WinJPEG - $15
Norman Yee
58 Chandler Street
Boston, MA 02116
nyee@osiris.ee.tufts.edu
CONTACTS
--------
The JPEG file format can be obtained by calling Microsoft PhoneFAX server at
206/635-2222 or on the CompuServe WINEXT forum.
PICTURE PRESS
Storm Technology
1861 Landing Drive
Mountain View, California 94043
(800) 275-5734
(415) 691-6600
COST: $199.00
PHOTOSTYLER
Aldus Corporation
411 First Avenue South
Seattle, Washington 98104-2871
(206)622-5500
COST: $795.00 for version 1.1a
PHOTOSHOP
Adobe Systems, Inc.
1585 Charleston Road
Mountain View, California 94042
(415) 961-4400
COST: $895.00 for the MAC (version 2.5)
COST: $295.00 for Windows (version 2.5)
PICTURE PUBLISHER
Micrografx, Inc.
1303 Arapaho Road
Richardson, Texas 75081
(214) 234-1769
COST: $495.00
GRAHPICS WORKSHOP & IMAGE ALCHEMY
Alchemy Mindworks, Inc.
P.O. Box 500
Beeton, Ontario, Canada L0G 1A0
(800) 263-1138
(416) 729-4969
Registration: $40.00
SUPERMAC
SuperMac Technology
485 Portrero Avenue
Sunnyvale, California 94086
(800) 334-3005
(408) 245-2202
SAMYAS CAMERA
Alan Adler & Jack Etzion
263 South LaBrea Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90036
(800) 321-4-SAMY
(213) 938-2420
IMAGEN, INC.
504-1168 Hamilton Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 2S2 Canada
(604)687-7511
(604)687-1030 BBS
ITERATED SYSTEMS, INC.
5550-A Peachtree Parkway
Suite 650
Norcross, GA 30092
(800)4FRACTL
(404)840-0728
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EDUCATION LINK
==============
by Bill Gram-Reefer
FrEdMail Offers BBS Package Based on ResNova's NovaLink Pro Following a May
announcement, the FrEdMail Foundation, in partnership with Irvine, CA-based
ResNova, and educational technology consultant Raymond G. Harder, continues
its plans to introduce a turnkey BBS package to schools based on ResNova+s
NovaLink Professional host and client software for the Macintosh. With five
schools slated to begin testing the package in September, the system has been
designed to give students and teachers access to all of the acclaimed
FrEdMail and SCHLnet news groups, mail, and curriculum development services
without limitations.
By using NovaLink Professional as the basis for the system, multiple users
will be able to access the Foundation+s services directly by modem or across
local or wide area networks using AppleTalk, Ethernet, or TCP/IP. Users can
access information or electronic mail from a friendly Mac graphical
interface. Or, by teaming up with Telegrafix Communications Inc., ResNova has
also provided DOS and Windows users with an easy-to-navigate graphical
interface based on RipScript, an emerging industry graphics standard.
Current FrEdMail call-in methods and platforms will not change. Because the
system will support terminal windows and the VT100 protocol, Experienced
FrEdMail users not using the graphical systems will see virtually the same
"ASCII-like" system they have become comfortable with.
Attempting to provide an affordable plug-and-play communications package, the
specially designed NovaLink BBS will be totally compatible with existing
FrEdMail formats. The package consists of NovaLink Professional host software
capable of supporting two telephone lines providing access by up to five
AppleTalk nodes, supporting 25 users. TCP/IP connectivity tools are included
for Internet access to SCHLnet. Pricing for this standard package is pegged
at $799. By purchasing an upgrade module the system will support 40 AppleTalk
nodes and unlimited users for a total package price of $2,500. The FrEdMail
Foundation will continue to provide its high-quality content services and
domain addressing for an annual fee of $250 for access to FrEdMail, all
associated news groups, and SCHLnet. Additionally, the FrEdMail Foundation
manages all of the news groups, supervising the electronic hallways for
compliance to the rules of engagement.
"It may not be as sophisticated as a Microsoft Mail," noted Al Rogers,
president of the FrEdMail Foundation, "but with point and click ease-of-use,
and multi-user access to the FrEdMail services, it's an attractive offer. We
are impressed with ResNova's technology, customer service, and commitment to
and interest in the educational market."
In addition to news groups, and mail, teachers have access to the FrEdMail
curriculum projects where they can seek customized assistance for developing
lesson plans for students using computers in the classroom. Additionally, via
NovaLink's TCP/IP connection capability, subscribers will have full access to
to SCHLnet, which takes advantage of Usenet transport protocols to deliver
distributed conferencing to educators from around the world. SCHLnet uses
Usenet format news groups to create mini-usenets specifically targeted to
K-12 teachers and their students. SCHLnet offers an interactive flea-market
of ideas, resources, opportunities, and information of specific relevance to
teachers and students. Because SCHLnet's audience includes young children, it
prohibits profane, discourteous, abusive, racist, sexist, obscene, and
sexually explicit language within its news groups, the sometimes offensive
distractions posed by some of Usenet's careless users intent on making
"freedom of speech" an annoyance. SCHLnet takes care of most of the typical
"noise control" problems found on Internet news groups by actively moderating
the groups, and by moving your listserv and group mail topics out of personal
mail boxes and putting them into the SCHLnet conference area, organized by
topic, and ready for browsing when you are ready. Your mailbox is used only
for personal correspondence.
The FrEdMail Foundation is a California non-profit organization sponsoring
electronic mail, and educational conferencing. In addition to FrEdMail and
SCHLnet, the organization offers Telesensations: The Educator's Handbook to
Telecomputing, its newsletter FrEd News, and a variety of training videos.
For further information on NovaLink Professional contact Daniel Link at
ResNova Software (714)379-9000 voice; (714)379-9014 fax; (714)379-9004 bbs;
Res.Nova AppleLink. To contact Raymond G. Harder Consulting, call (909)
983-4713 voice; rharder@eis.calstate. edu Internet. To contact Al Rogers and
the FrEdMail Foundation, call: (619)475-4852 voice;
arogers@bonita.cerf.fred.org Internet.
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ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT
====================
LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
-------------------------------------------------
by Jim Warren
We were told in school that our government was by the People, for the People
and of the People. But many of us think it has become government by career
politicians, for special interests and of the bureaucrats. Most just snarl
and try to avoid it, whine when they are forced to face it, and say ya can't
fight city hall. But we can; all it takes time and effort.
And networked computers are the potent weapons for achieving and defending
freedom into the 21st Century Begun perhaps appropriately on July 4th, this
column concerns practical [electronic] access to public information,
government decision-making and to effective political action. First, some
principles, then generalities and finally some specifics u and many more in
future columns.
Some principles of [21st Century] freedom:
Timely [electronic] access to useful information is the foundation for
sound decisions.
Mass [electronic] communications are the essential tools for successfully
pursuing change.
[Online] citizen access to [computerized] government information is an
absolute prerequisite for a free society.
Government Records Access
Government maintains the largest repository of information essential for
societal decision-making. And, it's said that by the mid-`90s, the majority
of government records will be computerized u to aid governmental operations
and efficiency.
But, there remains major controversy surrounding who u outside of government
u will have access to what records, in what time-frame, distributed where,
for what uses, inwhat forms u and most especially, for how much cost.
Most states have "open government laws" including Public Records Acts (PRAs),
and the feds have the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). These mandate
public access to government records, although with numerous exclusions.
Most open records laws however, focus on permitting citizens to examine
[paper] records and receive paper copies, regardless of their
often-computerized internal form. And paper is the least-useful form of
information storage u all one can do is read paper records (and perform
environmentally-unkind acts with them).
The Data Wars
Although we rarely notice the gunfire, electronic access to these government
treasure troves are major battlegrounds. And most of the war will be
concluded before the end of the decade.
The outcome will go far to determining whether we have a free society where
citizens have a reasonable opportunity to be fully informed and effectively
participate, or one where only corporations and well-healed hustlers will
have timely, useful access to government u with most folks remaining
obedient, ill-informed, drones, occasionally exercising delusions of
democracy in well-orchestrated elections separated by numerous ineffective
outbursts of frustration.
The maneuvering armies include:
Funds-hungry government agencies.
The information industry, especially the online database purveyors.
The RBOCs u the regional Bell [telephone] operating companies.
Many of the larger cable operators.
A few broadcast license holders.
Some cellular operators and radio manufacturers.
State and federal regulatory agencies (PUCs, FCC, etc.).
Some database and GIS [geographic information system] software vendors.
Personal-privacy advocates.
A few consumer and good-government advocates.
And there's one more notable army:
The 10- to 20-million users of interconnected computers u a growing force
that is irresistible, when it acts.
Some posterior-protecting politicians and bureaucracy barons treat these
computer-wielding citizens as Mongol hoards; as malcontents arrogantly
seeking to be informed participants in their own governance u and through
fear or fury attempt to pull up the data-drawbridge before the serfs can
enter their turf. But most agencies appear to be quite willing to grant the
public electronic access u provided their off-budget profits are sufficient
[they call it revenues]. I.e., they're willing to perform as desired;
they're just haggling over the price.
The info-turf being coveted includes:
Legislative, executive and judicial records.
Federal, state and local records.
Text, database, graphic and geographic information.
Control of access.
Control of distribution.
Control of use.
Legislative Data: The Key
Sovereignty u power u ultimately always rests with the People, but only when
they act in concert, which requires information, communications and
coordination.
Okay, recognizing that our connected thinkertoys can fulfill those
prerequisites, consider the impact on legislation u the legal form for
exercising our power.
Convenient, timely access [online] to full information about
legislation-in-process, priced no greater than its incremental distribution
cost [near-nil], available in useful form [computerized], can empower
informed, effective citizen participation in the legislative process u that
is simply not functionally possible when information is only available via
paper records delivered [eventually] by snailmail.
Adequate online access permits:
Access at all times on all days.
Electronic copies at less cost and delay than paper information.
Independent citizen access to complete records u not just evening
sound-bites or all the news that fits.
Indexing and searching bills, amendments, analyses, minutes, schedules and
votes for items of interest.
Cross-referencing to diverse related online and archived information within
and outside of government sources.
Extracting and circulating items to as many or as few people as desired,
often within only minutes or hours, at little or no cost to the transmitter
or recipients.
Tracking amendments almost as quickly as can lobbyists, legislators and
bureaucrats.
Remaining automatically-notified of new legislation and amendments
containing "interesting" words or phrases.
Providing timely legislative information-access to those with impairments
of hearing, vision, dexterity or mobility.
Using the public networks for timely access to legislative information and to
each other can permit the People to retake much of the power that is
currently limited u by lack of access u to Beltway Bandits, capitol hustlers,
lobbyists, etc.; i.e., well-organized special-interest groups that can get
the information and organize their actions.
Example: California Legislative Data
If Assembly Bill 1624 authored by Debra Bowen (D-Torrance) becomes law,
California may become the first state to offer public access via the public
nets to almost all public legislative information [already-computerized] u
including the state codes [statutes] and volumous State Constitution.
Implementation would require little more than a $5,000 file-server with a
gigabyte disk and a $2,000 network connection that will cost about $200 per
month to operate. Since prorating those costs across perhaps a million
potential users would be orders of magnitude less than the expense of billing
and collection, AB1624 mandates that the state charge nothing for this
access.
[Full disclosure: Bowen introduced the bill without implementation details,
mandating only public access by computer modem. I drafted a 15-page analysis
and implementation proposal and have assisted with much of the amendment
language that would require its use. However, I have no business or
financial interest in its outcome; just a great civic interest.]
There have been no official opponents of this bill. However, some of the
Legislature's most powerful insiders u unelected, profit-seeking bureaucrats
u have been fighting it with misdirection, foolish fears, misleading
information and even by providing flat-out false information to legislators
and their staff.
For snailmailed details of AB1624, contact Hon. Debra Bowen, State Capitol,
Room 3126, Sacramento CA 95814; (916)445-8528; fax (916)327-2201.
The only thing that has kept this legislation afloat has been massive public
support in the form of letters and faxes generated almost entirely from the
nets. [Note: Phone calls are nice, but count for very little in persuading
other legislators.]
Emailed details, updates and action-alerts are available from
jwarren@well.sf.ca.us.
FidoNet and other nets' access
If AB1624 passes, it will be implemented using an Internet file-server. That
would make the files directly available to all users of 1.4-million Internet
host computers.
FidoNet gateway operator Tim Pozar, who created UFGATE connecting the
Internet to FidoNet, has already said that he will provide free access for
FidoNetters if the state will provide free access in the first place.
Thus, 700,000 to a million Californians (and 10- to 20-million net-users,
worldwide) who already have direct or indirect Internet access through work,
schools, universities, FreeNets, libraries or low-cost personal accounts u
for the first time u would have timely, comprehensive access to California
legislative information.
America Online (AOL), Compu$erve (CIS), General Electric's GEnie, Delphi,
MCImail, etc., [but not Plodigy] all have gateways to the Internet and could
provide their customers with access, if they choose to do so.
Netvolks in all states can initiate and push through similar legislation.
Next month's column will address various specific issues and problems that
surround online public access to any state's computerized public legislative
records. Later columns will address local access and federal access u to
decision-making processes as well as to data u and address how to use
networked computers to impact those decisions.
[Jim Warren is a columnist, lecturer, organizer and member of the Board of
Directors of Autodesk, Inc., a $440-million software company. He founded and
chaired the First Conference on Computers, Freedom & Privacy (1991) and the
early West Coast Computer Faires (1977-1983), drawing over 47,000 people in
`83. He was a first-year recipient of the Electronic Frontier Pioneer Award
(1992).
He began working as a programmer in 1968 after ten years as a math teacher
and professor, and has been involved in personal computing since before the
phrase was invented. He was founding Editor of Dr. Dobb's Journal
(1976-1978), founding publisher of InfoWorld (1978-1979), founding host of
PBS TV's "Computer Chronicles" (1981-1982), founding Editor & Publisher of
the Silicon Gulch Gazette (1977-1986) and founding President of the
Microcomputer Industry Trade Association (1978). He has chaired ACM,
SIGMICRO and SIGPLAN chapters, and served on numerous IEEE Computer Society
conference committees.
He was also an elected community college district Trustee (1985-1989), editor
and publisher of a rabble-rousing Peninsula Citizens' Advocate occasional
newspaper and General Secretary for three terms of the "alternative"
Midpeninsula Free University in the hippie `60s.
Jim holds graduate degrees in EE-Computer Engineering (Stanford), Medical
Information Science (UC Med. Ctr.-San Francisco) and Mathematics & Statistics
(UT-Austin) and finished all but his dissertation for a Ph.D. at Stanford.
He may be contacted at 345 Swett Rd., Woodside CA 94062; (415)851-7075;
Internet: jwarren@well.sf.ca.us.]
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LEGALLY ONLINE
==============
THE POWER OF THE COMPUTER BULLETIN BOARD
----------------------------------------
by Lance Rose
The recent film The Player portrays Hollywood screenwriters as a sorry lot.
They submit their careers meekly to the inane caprices of film studios and
producers, the tedium relieved only by the occasional frustrated psycho.
Based on recent BBS events in Tinseltown, reality may go the movie one
better. Writers hoping for work in Hollywood need to join a union called the
Writers Guild of America West (WGAW), because it holds an exclusive contract
with the major producers known as the Minimum Basic Agreement. The Minimum
Basic Agreement, or "MBA", controls the pay scale, working conditions, and
most other aspects of every writer's deal with the studios and producers.
And the guy who represents the writers on all MBA matters is the executive
director of the WGAW. As it turns out this hired hand, this union
administrator, has wielded more power over the collected writers of Hollywood
than the most powerful and despotic studio boss.
WGAW's current executive director, Brian Walton, has not worn the mantle of
power with an excess of grace. According to WGAW member and activist Fred
Haines, Walton compromised the WGAW's position on almost every major industry
issue in the past ten years, all in the name of a don't-make-waves agenda
lovingly termed "industrial harmony." For instance, Walton settled a
contract dispute with producers in 1985 by agreeing that guild writers would
not take a cut of videocassette royalties. Videocassette revenues soon
afterwards became a major source of revenues for the entire film industry,
and the writers saw barely any of that money. Similarly, in 1988 Walton
agreed that the writers in his union would not get royalties on foreign sales
of American films. Haines claims that this cut writers out of one of the
most lucrative of all modern U.S. industries, a film export industry
currently running a foreign trade surplus of over 4 billion dollars. In
between crafting these wimpy deals, Walton set up a "contract Adjustment
Committee" within the WGAW charged with supervising changes to the MBA. This
group fulfilled its role admirably while belying its name, making no
"adjustments" at all to the MBA for seven years stretching from its formation
to the present.
Walton had no trouble getting his way. Through his control over WGAW's
newsletter and all other channels of communication, his every concession to
the other forces of Hollywood was presented to the writers as a fait
accompli. Who had the time to second-guess the executive director? Most
WGAW members scrabble for writing gigs full time. The eleven WGAW members on
the Board never made much difference, either. When a new guild problem came
up, the executive director presented them with stacks of paper to wade
through on their own, together with his own bite-size solution ready for
approval. Approval readily granted. The executive director, paid to spend
his time on the guild's business, was the only one who could afford to deal
with the guild's business. He ruled by fiat.
About five years ago, WGAW set up a computer bulletin board for WGAW members
only. It was devoted largely to the conduct of official WGAW business, but
also served as a social meeting spot for WGAW members. Official forums
included the WGA Talk Forum, devoted to union politics and business; the
Executive Director's Forum, where Walton answered questions from union
members; and the Announcements Forum, where meeting dates and agendas and
other important notices were posted to the membership. Business-related
forums included the Business of Writing Forum, the Craft of Writing Forum,
and the Featured Writer Forum, with a monthly guest writer of some
achievement in the Hollywood writer community. Finally, there were purely
social forums dealing with subjects like sports, restaurant reviews and the
BBS itself.
As the WGAW BBS grew more popular, a new level of awareness of union
activities arose among the membership. Haines says that about 1300 of the
WGAW's 8000 member writers eventually logged on to the board. They started
learning about new union developments before the executive director dumped
his version of the news in their laps. They filled in the gaps in each
others' knowledge, discerning the real problems and opportunities faced by
the WGAW, as opposed to the filtered version presented in the
Board-controlled newsletter.
Following awareness came action. In a dramatic break from their tradition of
accepting the smallest of crumbs from new film industry opportunities, WGAW
members coordinated to take advantage of the latest such opportunity:
interactive video productions. Normally, WGAW members would be barred from
such work. Interactive video is being developed largely by producers who are
not signatories to the MBA, and "Rule 8" of the WGAW bars union writers from
working with non-MBA producers. But by achieving consensus within the union
through discussions on the BBS, WGAW members pressured the Board to suspend
Rule 8 and enable union members to get work in the interactive video arena.
The union structure itself is also changing. In the past, union members were
not able effectively to propose alternatives to the slate of Board directors
proposed by Walton at each election. But through the power of the BBS, union
members who differed with the Board organized sufficient votes to defeat
incumbent directors at their last two elections.
The BBS organizers' swelling voices were not received with great equanimity
by the traditional ruling structure of WGAW, especially Mr. Walton. The
computer BBS started as a low-cost, high-tech experiment bound to appeal only
to the techno-weenies of the union, but it grew into a Frankenstein's monster
threatening to engulf the entire union in a wave of democracy. The power
elite responded at first with selective censorship, deleting BBS messages by
those most outspoken in their criticism of the union's leadership.
Complaints about the censorship arose, which caused the censorship to
increase, surging to as many as 200 messages deleted in a single night.
With resistance rising, the Executive Director took things to the next stage
by mailing WGAW members a written agreement, which they were told they must
sign or lose their BBS access. The agreement provided, as a fundamental
condition of BBS use, that union leaders could remove or censor BBS messages
for virtually any reason at all. It also provided that if any members had
disputes about how the BBS was operated, they must take it to arbitration
before an arbitrator chosen by the Executive Director. That would lead to an
interesting arbitration, especially if the union member in question was
complaining about the Executive Director himself.
The most vocal of the dissident union members took this latest move as a
direct attempt to silence them and end their influence on union affairs.
Accordingly, they refused to sign the agreements, and their BBS access was
suspended. The suspended members protested these actions within the union,
but the feedback from union management, mostly the very people cutting off
their privileges in the first place, was not encouraging. Union management
did revise the agreement somewhat to create a paper recognition that union
members have a right to speak out within their own union, but on a practical
level it continued seeking total control of discussion on the BBS.
Not to be put off, the dissident members went straight into federal court in
Los Angeles, seeking reinstatement of full access to the WGAW BBS and a
judicial declaration that the BBS user agreement being pushed on members by
the union leaders was invalid. Such legal action may seem a bit odd to those
of us who are accustomed to viewing BBSs as being primarily under the sysops'
control. If a sysop does not like the name "Jim", then he should have every
right in the world to keep all people named Jim off the BBS. If a sysop
wants to dictate that callers to his BBS will only talk about apple pie a la
mode, then even postings on such closely related topics as peach cobbler or
cherry pie will get the axe, and no one can complain they were treated
illegally.
But it turns out that a union member's rights within his union are somewhat
like the rights of a U.S. citizen under the federal government. We all have
First Amendment rights to speak freely, with no government interference.
Similarly, union members have the solemn right to speak openly within their
union, to roundly criticize leadership if that is their wish, and the union
leaders legally can do nothing about it. This, then, was the basis for the
dissident members' claims against the union: the BBS operated as an open
forum for the discussion of union issues, and the union's leaders had no
legal power to limit access to the BBS or censor messages. By doing so, they
denied the free speech rights of union members, and violated the law.
As often happens in court, there was some pretty intense procedural jockeying
between the parties. First, Walton and the other defendants managed to delay
the judge in his consideration of the union members' demand to immediately
restore their access to the union BBS. When they could delay no longer, the
defendants completely shut down all public discussion forums on the union's
BBS, leaving only private e-mail and file transfer functions. Based on their
own shutdown, they then argued to the judge that since public BBS forums no
longer existed, it would be meaningless to mandate access for the union
members who started the lawsuit. As lawyers say, the point became moot.
The judge went for the defendants' ploy, holding "the plaintiffs have no
protected statutory right to open BBS public forums, managed and financed by
the Guild." He stated that the union laws relied upon by the dissidents were
not meant to force unions to maintain effective communications channels for
their members, but to prevent unions from keeping their members from
meeting outside official union forums. In a footnote, the judge mentioned
that dissenting union members were in the process of setting up their own
BBS.
In that incidental reference lay the union members' greatest opportunity of
all. About a month ago as of the date this is written, WGAW members not
willing to see their public BBS forums go down in the flames of union warfare
set up a new BBS entirely outside official WGAW purview. The new BBS, called
Page, is open to all WGAW members as well as all other professional writers
(those who believe they qualify can call Page at (310)273-7326, - 7243,
-7395, -7399 or -7419). Strangely enough, Page is supported not only by the
dissident union members, but also by many of the union leaders. It seems
friend and foe alike at WGAW missed the social world of their BBS. At two
weeks of age, Page was already nearly as popular as its predecessor
five-year-old WGAW BBS, with five lines up and more imminently planned.
Haines and other union protestors plan on appealing the judge's ruling
against them, but from here that just looks like mop-up work. The battle's
already been won by the members of the WGAW union. They discovered computer
communication, and the balance of power at WGAW has been forever changed.
[Lance Rose is an attorney practicing high-tech and informationlaw in
Montclair, NJ. He can be found on the Internet at elrose @well.sf.ca.us, and
on Compuserve at 72230,2044. He is also author of SysLaw, the legal guide
for online serviceproviders, available from PC Information Group at
800-321-8285. -Editor]
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DIRECT DIAL
===========
HOT WIRE YOUR FAMILY TREE - GENEALOGY ON-LINE
---------------------------------------------
by Jay Hall
Genealogy is one of the most popular hobbies in the United States, or for
that matter, the world. Literally millions of devotees spend hours each week
looking for their elusive ancestors. While these seemingly normal-looking
people are often seen roaming cemeteries, rifling library shelves, and
sleeping in microfilm readers, a growing number of them are beaming into
cyberspace. It is a common sight at genealogical conventions to see sixty and
seventy year-olds swapping stories about comm software, e-mail addresses, and
remote databases.
You'd almost think it was some kind of "gray power" revolution! What are
these people doing playing with laptops instead of planting petunias?
Frankly, although I've been a professional genealogist for almost twenty
years, it's a little hard to explain. Genealogists range in age from the very
young (ten or less), through young mothers and successful executives, to the
most common group; grandparents. Some do it because they want to pass on
something to their posterity. Some do it because they have a personal
interest in history. Relatively few do it to find glory and lost
inheritances. Can you explain why you get excited about what you find
interesting?
Of course, for readers of Boardwatch, the question is, "What are these people
doing in the ether, and what are they finding here that I'm missing?"
Like a lot of things available via modem, what they are finding is probably
information that can be found elsewhere, they are just finding it faster.
First, a little background on genealogy and research. If you want to know
about your ancestors, the first place you would look was to your own family.
Ask your relatives, look in the family Bible. Or you could go to the village
priest and have him let you look at the church registers of births, marriages
and deaths. Ask someone who knows, or look it up in a book.
As more people became interested in genealogy, they formed societies
("support groups" in a90s newspeak), shared information, and offered to help
each other with their research. When societies got bigger, they started their
own libraries with published books, and transcriptions of records they
thought would help other genealogists.
According to Everton's Genealogical Helper, there are now thousands of local,
state and national genealogical societies in virtually every country. Almost
every one of these societies publishes a magazine or newsletter. Almost all
of them have some kind of a library. And every month hundreds of books on
genealogy are published in the United States alone.
Obviously, there is no lack of people to ask, or books to look in. So why
bother with computers and modems?
Because you can ask more people, and do it faster. And you can look in more
"books," and do it faster.
Virtually every community has local bulletin boards, almost all of which
carry a variety of discussion conferences, networked to other bulletin
boards. Named "genealogy," "ancestry," "roots," etc., discussion groups on
family history can be found on at least a half dozen echo conferences, as
well as on the Internet and the major national services (Genie, Compuserve,
Prodigy, etc.). These forums are used to trade family data, ask for
information on specific surnames, provide information on local libraries and
archives, or give background detail on a variety of subjects.
In the week before writing this article I saw information ranging from the
political and religious history of Finland to weather reports from eighteenth
century Virginia to occupations in nineteenth century America. If you need
it, just ask.
Of course, you still have to wade through the daily traffic to get to your
response. Some national genealogy conferences run over 100K of traffic daily.
In the effort to make it easier, some discussion groups have split into
separate groups for surnames and software. Genie has taken it even further,
with almost a thousand different areas in its genealogy bulletin board for
specific surnames, surname groups, research in specific states and countries,
software support, calendars of genealogical events, religious groups,
technological advances, and specific record types.
And then there are the local bulletin boards devoted to genealogy and family
history. Like the population of bulletin boards in general, the number of
these boards varies from one day to the next, but several of them have become
nationally known as resources for those seeking their roots. Typically these
boards offer network conference areas, local conferences, and file areas
featuring genealogical software. Some even offer searchable databases.
Ah, databases. The holy grail of the researcher. The impossible dream. Tap on
a few keys and presto! Instant ancestry.
Get real.
Current estimates put the earth's population at about 5.5 billion. Assuming
that to be about half of the total historical population of the world, there
have been 10 to 12 billion people on this globe. Just finding out their names
would be a project bigger than building the pyramids or fighting World War
II. And then the relationships would have to be worked out and linked up in a
database. A lot of people have been working on it, but it ain't happened yet.
OK, so maybe you've heard of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
True, they have a collection of almost 2 million rolls of microfilm, and
about 500,000 bound volumes. And they have computer databases with almost 200
million names in them. But these are NOT available via modem. You can use the
computer databases (on CD) or view the microfilm at over 1,500 branches of
this library (called Family History Centers), but you can NOT reach out and
touch it with your 2400 baud bit vacuum.
Even so, there are surname databases that you can access. Everton Publishers
maintains several databases on their On-line Search bulletin board, with over
two million names as of the time this article was written. The
soc.roots/ROOTS-L people maintain several databases that can be searched on
the internet via listserver at vm1.nodak.edu. And databases of census
schedules to parish registers are available from as far away as Britain and
Norway.
Even information that is not computerized can be discovered by modem.
Locally, many library systems are operating dial-in catalogs that can be
searched by subject, author, or title, and which will give you the current
status of any copy. On a larger scale, Melvyl (in California) and CARL (in
Colorado) provide internet users with access to a large number of university
and college library catalogs. Access to the catalog of recent acquisitions by
the Library of Congress can also be gained via internet, either through
connection to dra.com, or to the more complete search facilities offered by
LOCIS. Melvyl, CARL, dra.com, and LOCIS are all availabe via gopher.
Once you find a book in one of these catalogs, you can take the information
to your local public library, where they can usually help you arrange an
interlibrary loan of the book you want.
All this, and we haven't even mentioned e-mail yet. From before Ben Franklin,
if you wanted to find something out about your family, you could send a
letter to a relative or an antiquarian to ask for advice. Literally millions
of people, and a growing number of genealogical companies, are hooked up
electronically via a bewildering array of e-mail outfits. Among these are the
major services (Compuserve, Genie, Prodigy), long distance telcos (MCI Mail,
AT&T Mail, Sprintmail), and government or non-profit networks (NASAmail,
PeaceNet). Even local BBSs can get into the e-mail act through services such
as Fidonet. Most of these interact with the internet, allowing people on one
network (say, an e-mail box with MCI) to connect with someone on an entirely
different net (such as the Colorado Supernet).
With the growing number of people using bulleting boards and other services,
and the growing number of connections between networks, it is becoming
easier, cheaper, and faster to send an electronic message to almost anyplace
you can send regular (snail) mail.
Like everything else concerning genealogy and computers, modems, networks,
and databases are revolutionaizing the way people climb their family trees.
Jay Hall
ac331@freenet.hsc.colorado.edu
jayhall@attmail.com
Resources:
(1) Accessing Library Catalogs via Telnet (This is not a complete list!)
CARL (Colorado)
Telnet pac.car.org (192.54.81.128) or direct dial (303)758-1551
LC Marvel (Library of Congress)
Telnet marvel.loc.gov port 70 (140.147.2.15)
LOCIS (Library of Congress)
Telnet locis.loc.gov (140.147.254.3)
Melvyl (California)
Telnet melvyl.ucop.edu (192.35.222.222)
ERIC (New York)
Telnet acsnet.syr.edu (128.130.1.21)
Note: These and many other catalogs are also available through many campus
gopher systems. If you are using a campus gopher, choose "Other Gophers",
then follow the locality listings (e.g., "Colorado"), then choose the
library catalog you want to search (e.g., "CARL").
(2) Internetwork Mail Guide
The Internetwork Mail Guide tells how an e-mail message can be sent from one
network (such as the Internet) to another (such as CompuServe. To get the
latest release, send a message to LISTSERV@UNMVM.BITNET, no subject line,
and the words GET NETWORK GUIDE in the body of the text.
The Guide is also posted periodically to these Usenet newsgroups:
comp.mail.misc, alt.bbs.lists, and alt.internet.services.
(3) Some Selected Genealogical Bulletin Boards (This is not a complete
list!)
National Genealogical Society
(703)528-2612
EvertonAs On-line Search
(801)752-6095
Family Search Support
(801)240-3909
S U Genealogists
(504)277-0882
Pioneers
(206)755-7983
The Skeleton Closet
(804)671-8547
(4) Some Networks with Genealogical Conferences (This is not a complete
list!)
Fidonet (genealogy)
UtahNET (ancestry)
PC-Relay (genealogy, roots)
Intelec (genealogy)
UANINet (genealogy)
Usenet (soc.roots)
(5) Family History Library/Family History Centers
Family History Library
35 North West Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84150
Write for a list of Family History Centers in your area.
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 47
Type P to Pause, S to Stop listing
BOARDWATCH 100 READERS' CHOICE BBS CONTEST RESULTS
--------------------------------------------------
The Boardwatch 100 Readers' Choice BBS Contest closed at the stroke of
midnight terminating the last day of June, 1993 after a six month run. A
total of 20,200 BBS callers submitted ballots for some 1775 bulletin boards
in this simple popularity contest. A number of BBS operators ran a variety
of creative promotions to induce their callers to submit ballots on their
behalf. This served as a point of endless irritation to those operators less
inclined to do so and we received numerous complaints that some systems were
trying to "buy" the contest. We found this more than a little charming as
one of the purposes of holding such a contest is to "promote" bulletin boards
and induce BBS operators to do so as well. We're quite pleased they did.
One question that comes up quite often regards the gender mix of the online
community. There seems to be a lot of sentiment that somehow it should
"represent" the society at large. It doesn't we have to guess. Of the
20,200 ballots received, 17,943 claimed to be male, and 2257 female
indicating an 88.26% male majority and some 11.74% femmes. This is actually
MORE one sided than last year's contest where some 14% of the ballots
received were from the gentler gender.
The other question that comes up quite a bit regards age. This was a bit
interesting for me personally. Two years ago, in an editorial, I noted
somewhat tongue in cheek that I thought ALL BBS operators were just exactly
36 years old. For months we received letters and e-mail from those who were
indeed 36. I have aged two years since then of course and turned 38 last
week. But interestingly, the online community hasn't. The average age of
our 20,200 voters was exactly 36.01 years. A bit more widespread examination
shows the following distribution.
Notably, nearly 900 votes were from those over 60 and over 200 votes were
cast by callers OVER the age of 70. The largest age group of course was the
30-39 group at 29.27% and 74.59% of the population was age 20-49.
Callers averaged 62 calls to bulletin boards per month which we found
surprisingly active. This is indeed an addictive sport. They also claimed
an average 55.68 months online which we also found extraordinary. In fact,
even the 10 years and under age group claimed an average of 33 months online,
so for some, BBS activity appears to begin shortly after their exit from the
womb.
We asked our voters to indicate whether or not they had installed a second
telephone line for data use. Some 6634 or 32.84% had done so, while the
majority, 13325 or 65.96% still used their voice line. A surprising total of
241 or 1.19% did not know what a telephone was.
We also took a look at long distance usage. Actually this was not a question
asked. We simply examined the area codes callers gave for their voice
numbers and the area code of their favorite BBS. Again, a very surprising
7092 or 35.11% voted for their FAVORITE BBS in a different area code -
certain to be a long distance call. We had no way of detecting long distance
dialing within the same area code, but clearly way over a third of BBSing is
NOT a local sport.
As the contest began, we were also curious how well Windows was catching on
in the online community. And the votes did demonstrate this with some
precision. Some 11,629 of our voters professed they do use Microsoft Windows
- constituting 57.57% of the population - slightly over half. Some of the
nays did however include some pretty colorful comments regarding Windows,
it's heritage, Bill Gates, his ancestry, and generally what we could do with
Windows.
Another thing we've followed over the last year or so more or less
successfully is the type of terminal software people use. Unfortunately,
these statistics were rendered a bit askew by one of the most interesting
ploys of the contest. In our early returns on the contest which we published
month by month, it was quite difficult to tell Telix and Qmodem apart - they
were pretty much a dead heat for second place behind Procomm Plus with Telix
edging ahead at times and Qmodem at others - statistically a dead heat. Jeff
Woods, the head of deltaComm development and the new owner of the Telix
program, mounted a serious campaign of getting out the vote for his product
support BBS in the Boardwatch 100 Readers' Choice contest. By offering a
number of incentives and mailing out thousands of ballot forms, he was
successful enough to rank 3rd in the contest - even though a large number of
voters voted for some OTHER BBS on the ballot form deltaComm provided. This
is very unusual for a product support BBS, and we were intrigued as to why a
purely product support BBS would even WANT to win a BBS popularity contest -
much less go to this expense. The reason was pretty clear. They didn't care
whether you voted for their BBS or not, they wanted Telix users to vote, and
thereby appear statistically to be the clear choice over Qmodem. While this
invalidates the veracity of our statistical analysis of terminal software, at
least with regard to the second/third position, we continue to be utterly in
awe of the ingenuity of the American entrepreneur and the power of the free
enterprise system. Is this cunning or what? America - WHAT A COUNTRY!
A total of 149 communication programs were represented. Last year 296
different terminal programs were listed indicating at least some
consolidation in the terminal software program market.
We think the modem usage statistics are a bit more accurate. The modem
manufacturers listed below comprise all those with greater than a 1% share of
the total. Some 206 distinct brands of modems were represented in the
contest. Again the market seems to be consolidating down from 379 brands
available in last years contest. While we tend to follow a few brands in
Boardwatch, it is always surprising to contemplate just how many players
there are in this market. And we still had 3393 ballots from callers who just
didn't know what brand of modem they were using.
At the top of the heap, Hayes and U.S. Robotics were almost too close to
call with Hayes leading at 2194 callers and U.S. Robotics at 2075 - each
representing a little over 10% of the BBS population. Zoom Telephonics
trailed slightly at 1697 or 8.40% of the total. Another battle for fourth
place between Practical Peripherals at 1087 and Supra at 1082 is again
statistically nearly insignificant in difference at just over 5% of the
total. These rankings and percentages are virtually identical to last years
contest. The big winners this year seem to be Boca - not even listed as
statistically significant last year and capturing over 3% of the market this
year, Intel, moving from 1.42% last year to 2.44% this year, and ZyXEL,
moving from .38% last year to 1.32% this year.
Modem speeds used is another interesting area. The 14,400 bps units have
clearly taken over 9600 as the high speed of choice. Some 47% of the caller
base have moved to 9600 bps speeds or above while almost exactly half of the
caller base remain at 2400 bps. Callers dialing at 1200 and 300 bps have
essentially disappeared. The comparison to last year's speeds is perhaps
obvious. Callers last year dialing at 9600 bps or above totalled 18.42%
while this year they make up some 47% - nearly a 30% advance. Last year, 59%
of callers were at 2400 as opposed to 50% this year. And while last year
some 6.31% operated at 1200 bps or lower, this year that cut has dropped to
2.59%.
In this issue, we do present the final list of 100 BBSs garnering the most
votes. This year, to avoid the inevitable ties, we date stamped all received
ballots and numerically scaled vote values by date with votes entered on the
first day of the contest receiving a score of 180 and the point value of a
ballot decreasing by one point for each day into the contest. This numerical
weighting is only used to break ties between systems have an identical number
of votes, under the arbitrary and somewhat dubious theory that earlier votes
are somehow better.
The BBS software used by a BBS does influence the final form and presentation
of the BBS to the caller and so is a factor. But we had participation from a
widely differing sets of TYPES of BBS, with general bulletin boards, chat
bulletin boards, product support bulletin boards, etc. representing many
different "ponds" of online activity. This makes an analysis of what BBS
software is used, interesting, but not very indicative of anything.
Nonetheless, PCBoard, TBBS, Wildcat!, and MajorBBS were quite predictably the
four top favorites.
As to the winners, the top 100 probably represents a much better cross
section of the BBS world than did last year's. The top system received 1330
votes, but only 32 votes were required to make the list. Of the top 100
bulletin boards, the average line count was 25.41, skewed strongly by
Exec-PC's 280 lines and Canada Remote Systems'200 lines. But while the
serious bulletin boards are clearly going to ever higher line counts, you
don't have to have hundreds of lines to make a showing among callers. A
single line system, Eagle's Nest right here in Denver showed strongly at
number 20, and a four line system, Totem Pole, scored to number 13.
Actually, there were TWO single line systems in the top 100.
Adult and chat systems again dominated the list as a whole. Our theory is
that the elements of community that make promotion in a contest of this sort
are much more easily found on these social interaction boards than on file
systems. But in the top 10, file systems actually seemed to be the winners,
so the advantage is certainly not insurmountable. In fact the diversity is
pretty encouraging. But the top four systems were all file systems and two
of the top 10 were totally free of charge and devoted to technical topics,
shareware, and files. Three of the top 10 were clearly adult in nature.
We did find it odd that four of the top 10 systems used totally custom
developed software for their services, and an additional system used a
product titled SHS that we had never before encountered.
FIRST PLACE - SOFTWARE CREATIONS - (508)368-7139
The top BBS in the Boardwatch 100 Readers' Choice Contest was Dan Linton's
Software Creations BBS in Clinton Massachusetts. This system received 1330
votes. The system started in December 1989 with one telephone line on a DTK
XT, a 2400 bps modem, and a 20 MB hard drive. By the following October, the
system was up to 4 lines, using U.S. Robotics HST Dual Standard modems, a 386
MB hard drive, and a LANtastic network to tie the computers together under
PCBoard BBS software. With Linton's background in hardware design, the system
largely served as a technical information center for other local BBS
operators.
In March, 1991, Linton released his first shareware program, titled Picture
Puzzle. The popularity of the system increased as it became known as the
home system of Picture Puzzle. Linton entered into a relationship with
Apogee Software to serve as their support BBS and point of release for their
popular series of shareware game programs, including Commander Keene,
Wolfenstein, and others. These programs have changed the perception of
shareware game software by providing graphics, sound, and strategy on par or
superior to commercial game software. Other BBS operators and callers from
around the country to get the latest versions of this popular series for
their systems and Software Creations blossomed.
Today, Software Creations runs PCBOARD Version 15.0, Novell 3.11 local area
network, and services 83 incoming lines on 66 80386 40 MHz nodes, two 80486
33 MHz file servers, and a maintenance machine. They currently claim some
2000 callers per day to access the 8 gigabytes of files.
The mission of the Software Creations BBS remains as a file board dedicated
to the development and distribution of shareware software. They've become
the support/distribution system for other shareware software companies
including Id Software, Gamer's Edge, Epic MegaGames, Boxer Software,
ImagiSOFT, HomeBrew Software, and many others. They've also developed a bit
of a following among those developing graphics screens, sound files, and
other expressive elements in the programming world. Dan Linton, Software
Creations, 26 Harris Street, Clinton, MA 01510; (508)368-8654 voice;
(508)368-7139 BBS.
SECOND PLACE - EXEC-PC (414)789-4210
EXEC-PC, one of the nation's largest and oldest bulletin boards, placed
second in the Boardwatch 100 Readers' Choice BBS Contest with 1288 votes.
Exec-PC was established in 1983 as the first large BBS. As such, it is one
of the longest running systems in the industry, and has recently grown to 280
telephone lines.
Guided by 10 years of interaction with the users, the custom software
designed by sysop Bob Mahoney is feature rich, and the operators are able to
quickly implement both serious, and even sometimes whimsical user
suggestions. They currently claim to receive a staggering one million calls
every seven months and have become known for their "millionth" caller
milestone contest giveaways that were at one point almost annual but seem to
happen with increasing frequency.
Exec-PC is a primary distribution point for much of the shareware available
today, and many bulletin boards get much of their new files from Exec-PC.
Exec-PC actively welcomes sysops from all over the world and takes pride in
the fact that many stock their collections from Exec-PC's supply. This
creates a distribution system whereby a shareware author can upload a new
file and have it distributed virtually worldwide within hours. The system
receives over 5000 calls daily with some 200 new files uploaded by callers
each day. Additionally, the system sports some 30 CD-ROM drives for a total
of over 650,000 files available online with a file search program unique in
the industry for its speed, interface, and the ability to search through more
than 15 gigabytes of files with a single command.
Although Exec-PC was rather militantly a "files board" for a number of years,
they have more recently added a pretty serious series of message areas
currently sporting over a half-million messages and it does accommodate .QWK
offline mail readers. Additionally, they have added publication features
such as PC-Catalog, an online catalog listing personal computer equipment,
Espan Job Search, and we were most pleased to note, Boardwatch Online
Edition. They also have a game titled Global War that has become quite
popular and currently have 50 of these interactive games in operation.
Exec-PC claims to be one of the "most generous bulletin boards in the world."
Subscriptions to the service are $75 per year or $25 per quarter and they
allow ten hours of access and 7 megabytes of downloads per week for this
subscription fee. This is quite flexible for the caller as they can use the
entire allocation in a single day, or as they wish during the week. The
system also sports X.25 connections via the CompuServe network and the Global
Access X.25 network. The system is run by Bob and Tracey Mahoney. They've
recently added staff to help run the system including Greg Ryan, author of
RyBBS. Exec-PC, PO Box 57, Elm Grove, WI 53122; (414)789-4200 voice;
(414)789-4210 BBS.
THIRD PLACE - DELTACOMM BBS - (919)481-9399
deltaComm Development, Inc., is headed by Jeff Woods and currently markets
the communications program Telix. They operate a 10-line BBS in Cary, North
Carolina using PCBoard version 15.0 and are our third place system with 973
ballots. The system does provide online product support for Telix users, but
according to Jeff Woods, they also want to expand the BBS into a full-fledged
online service. "We feel this system is unique in the mid-south," says
Woods, "offering high quality, high volume services at little or no cost.
We're very excited about its future." He went on to state that the two
businesses, communications software, and the services that software is used
to contact, go hand in hand. We couldn't agree more.
The system offers 4 gigabytes of online files and carries all conferences on
the RIME network and 99% of the FidoNet backbone (1:151/107). They plan to
add Internet mail this month. The system runs on an unusual Cubix Corp box
containing ten 486 PC slave cards under Novell 3.11. As a result, it does
have 10 PCs built into a single case to serve 10 lines. Staffer Zack Jones
actually sysops the system. Jeffrey L. Woods, President, deltaComm
Development, Inc., PO Box 1185, Cary, NC 27512; (919)460-4556 voice;
(919)460-4531 fax; (919)481-9399 BBS.
FOURTH PLACE - PC-OHIO - (216)381-3320
Scoring in the fourth position in the Boardwatch 100 Readers' Choice BBS
Contest is Norm Henke's PC-OHIO BBS with 664 votes. Norm started PC-OHIO on
9/1/85 with one telephone line on a used TAVA XT clone in his bedroom. He
began with RBBS but switched to PCBoard within a few months. In 1986 he
expanded to three nodes and then to five nodes. It has grow to 40 486
computers in the basement all linked together thru an Ethernet network.
In 1991 Norm decided that since the BBS had grown so large he needed to work
full-time at home on the BBS. He is now a "professional" Sysop spending as
much as 12 hours a day working on the system. The work load has grown large
enough that now his wife, Joyce, has quit her job as a Registered Nurse and
is helping Norm full-time as an employee of PC-OHIO. PC-OHIO also recently
incorporating as PC-OHIO, Inc.
Norm bought a larger house this summer in neighboring Lyndhurst which has a
large carriage house on the property. They will be moving in the fall into
these larger facilities and expand PC-Ohio to 50 nodes. They will also be
adding a T1 connection to the Internet to provide high-speed full Internet
access.
He has been the Fidonet Region Echomail Coordinator (REC) for Region 11 (the
Midwest) and Net Echomail Coordinator (NEC) for Net 157 (Cleveland).
A resident of South Euclid, Ohio, Norm is 39 years old and has been married
to his wife Joyce for 17 years. They have a four year old son, Colin, and a
one and a half year old son named Ian. Norm's major non-computing interest is
science fiction. He has a collection of 3,000 paperback books. He is a big
fan of Doctor Who and Star Trek.
A founding member of the Greater Cleveland PC Users Group and a former
president, he is currently an advisor to the club board of directors.
PC-OHIO is connected to 22
email networks including the Internet as
pcohio.com. PC-OHIO has over 100,000 ZIP files. It contains over 15 gigabytes
of actual files. They use US Robotics HST Dual Standard 16800 bps modems on
all phone lines.
PC-OHIO has over 5,000 subscribers plus 300 visiting Sysops and about 1000
visitors who have limited privileges. It has contracts with two local user
groups to provide BBS services to their members. Norm Henke, PC-OHIO, 23749
Cedar Road, Cleveland, OH 44122; (216)291-3307 voice; (216)381-3320 BBS.
FIFTH PLACE - GLIB - (703)578-4542.
Scoring fifth in the Boardwatch 100 Readers' Choice contest with 411 ballots
is GLIB run by Jon Larimore out of Arlington, Virginia using TBBS software.
GLIB, The Gay and Lesbian Information Bureau, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
information and communications resource primarily (but not exclusively)
serving the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual community, as well as other non-profit
organizations within it. GLIB is located in the Washington DC area.
GLIB offers free memberships to any adult 18 years of age or older who can
show financial support of or membership in any non-profit community
organization, or who alternately wishes to make a contribution to CESF
(Community Educational Services Foundation), the "parent corporation" which
sponsors GLIB. Everyone associated with GLIB is a volunteer. CESF/GLIB has
no paid staff.
GLIB is a sophisticated system with more than 1000 active members. While
most of its members are Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual, many are not. GLIB has a
significant number of straight members, and warmly welcomes folks of all
sexual orientations.
A large percentage of GLIB members live in the Washington DC area, but the
GLIB membership roster also includes many from as distant as Florida, Texas,
California, Connecticut, Canada, Puerto Rico, and France.
For both visitors and members, the direct-dial modem number for GLIB is:
703-578-GLIB (578-4542).
GLIB offers totally free Internet e-mail service to all its members, and each
can be individually reached via this growing international network.
Free public and private "store and forward" communications via GayCom, the
international cooperative network of some 30 Gay BBS services in major US
cities, Canada, and Europe is available to all GLIB members as well.
GLIB also offers thousands of information files in Special Interest Groups
(SIGS) about health, social services, personal enrichment, humor, cuisine,
computers, entertainment, the arts, travel, politics, local and national
news, weather, religion, and other special sections.
GLIB features a resident on-line physician - "Ask The Doc" - who answers
personal questions and offers general medical advice, as well as a
professional psychological counsellor -"Dear GLIBBY". We also feature
extensive Macintosh and IBM computer SIGS, offering thousands of "try before
you buy" Shareware programs.
GLIB/CESF is a supporting member of ASP - The Association of Shareware
Professionals, as well as a corporate sponsor of the Electronic Frontier
Foundation and an active supporter of Brother Help Thyself. CESF also
sponsors an ancillary community support service called the Upper Westsider
Memorial, which provides grants of computers to other community support
organizations.
GLIB also offers a separate section for women - Lesbians On Line - complete
with community resource files and information sections of particular interest
to women.
Other GLIB SIGS include those as diverse as "Quiet Pride" for deaf GLIB
members, "Leathermen" for men of the leather/Levi community, "?dis?ABLEd",
serving GLIB members living with physical challenges, and "Gowns an Crowns"
providing support and information for trans-sexuals, female illusionists, and
transvestites.
Current publications on GLIB include USA Today, US Weather Service reports,
Boardwatch Magazine, Hi-Tech Home Weekly, Thinking Magazine, Business Sense,
EFFector Online, and several health/AIDS newsletters.
GLIB is a Washington-area Information Provider for CAIN - The Computerized
AIDS Information Network.
Real-time live computer-based "chat" conferences are popular on GLIB, often
with 15 to 20 callers in one conference. Private one-to-one live conferences
are also popular, as are our "Hello All" and "MugShotz" sections for personal
profiles and digitized GIF photographs of our members.
In the GLIB "Leisure Lounge", you'll find sophisticated on-line competitive
games including Blackjack, StarQuest, BandWarz, Legends, Hangman, Roulette,
BBS King, Lexi, Yahtzee, and many more, in which GLIB members compete for
monthly scoreboard ratings.
GLIB is totally menu-based and carefully designed for ease of use. But an
interactive hypertext-based on-line tutorial, as well as a keyword-searchable
"Where Is It?" utility and complete Operations Manual are available on GLIB
for new users (and old-timers too) for help with using our many unique
features.
Should you wish to remain anonymous on GLIB, you may choose a "handle"
(pseudonym) by which other GLIB members will know you. All GLIB membership
records are absolutely confidential, and are never divulged to anyone for any
reason.
To join GLIB, just sign on using any name or handle you care to (providing
it's not already in use by another GLIB member). In the GLIB Visitors
Reception Room, you'll find complete information about GLIB, as well as a
membership application form you can download and print out for yourself.
That application form is absolutely required for membership. GLIB does not
accept voice validation.
GLIB can also immediately fax GLIB membership information to you, as well as
accept it by return fax for fast validation. To receive membership
information via the GLIB "Fax On Demand" service, calling the CESF voice mail
system at: 703-379-4568. There, you'll be offered an opportunity to request
immediate automatic transmission of GLIB membership information direct to
your fax number.
GLIB can be economically reached at a local phone number from thousands of
cities and towns in the US via PC Pursuit, the commercial discount
long-distance personal data network operated by US Sprint. For more
information about PC Pursuit, use your modem to call their information BBS
at: 1-800-877-2006. Their national voice number is: 1-800-736-1130. (GLIB
is not associated with US Sprint nor with PC Pursuit, but is one of many BBS
services available via their outdial modem network). GLIB, PO Box 636,
Arlington, VA 22216; (703)379-4568 voice; (703)578-4542 BBS.
SIXTH PLACE - WESTSIDE - (213)933-4050
Scoring sixth in the contest with 407 votes is WESTSIDE, a popular west coast
social chat system. Dave Harrison started Westside in Los Angeles in April,
1987 as a 2-line DLX board. Westside quickly grew and within the year moved
to 16 lines in an office on Wilshire Boulevard, serving as a popular social
chat service.
In August, 1991, the system changed to a proprietary software platform titled
Metropolis - the Online City, written in C by Walt Howard and running on the
QNX operating system. The software was expandable to 250 lines allowing
Westside to grow to their current size of 132 lines serving some 7200 users.
The system sports a Sprintnet X.25 connection giving local access in over 800
cities at $9.95 for the first five hours and $2.10 per hour for additional
hours of access between 6 PM and 7 AM. The plan expansion to some 200 lines
by the end of the year.
In addition to the expected chat function, the system also sports a file area
with some 25,000 .GIF images, 20,000 IBM and Windows shareware files, and
other files totaling 10 GB - none of it CD ROM. They also carry publications
such as Boardwatch, EEEEK BITS, Hi Tech Home Weekly, The Underground
Informer, Carl Paul Daily Horoscopes, Frugal Gourmet, and many more. They
are in the process of adding a service titled Sportscreen providing national
sports scores updated every 15 minutes.
Online games are also provided with such titles as Outburst, Trivia, and a
highly addictive stock portfolio trading game titled Portfolio. The system
also claims that some 40 couples have met and wed on the service, and they've
received some 3.3 million calls since opening in 1987. Westside, PO Box
36846, Los Angeles, CA 90036; (213)857-5800 voice; (213)931-3681 fax;
(213)933-4050 data.
SEVENTH PLACE - ALBUQUERQUE ROS - (505)299-5974
Scoring seventh in the Readers' Choice Contest with 378 ballots, the
Albuquerque ROS is a unique bulletin board system in many respects. The
Sysop, Steve Fox, is also the author of the BBS software, ROS, which gives
FOX the flexibility and responsiveness that have made The Albuquerque ROS one
of the top boards in the country - without offering ANY "adult" material.
One local newspaper columnist says the Albuquerque ROS has a "grown up"
approach to doing things. Fox simply says his orientation is technical and
that the user base has shown time and again that "adult" materials (pictures,
messages, chat, etc.) are not necessary. Users like the fact that their
children are welcome to call and not be barraged by referrences to sexually
explicit material.
Running on a a 486DX33 Novell 3.11 file server, Fox uses Cubix multi-CPU
cards to provide a 14 line system with minimum interaction between nodes.
WIth 60,000 files on-line, the Albuquerque ROS is generally considered a
files board. But with 4000 users, there is a very active social life with
multiuser games and message areas. A recent addition to these forums is the
HOT area for "Hot topics and a little hot air." User opinions on a wide
variety of topics have proven that while computer people may share a common
interest, they are also widely divergent in their thinking. Topics discussed
have ranged from AIDS to Rush Limbaugh and from personal freedom to the
environment. While the give and take sometimes gets heated, intelligent
argument always wins over name calling and finger pointing.
The Albuquerque ROS is New Mexico's longest continually operating BBS, online
since the state got electricity in 1984. While subscriptions ($30 per year)
are encouraged to increas users daily time allowances and access to services,
the Albuquerque ROS has always been a free system. The system provides 14
lines using Supra V.32bis 14,400 bps FAXmodems. Steven Fox, Albuquerque ROS,
2112 White Cloud NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112; (505)299-5973 voice;
(505)299-5974 BBS.
EIGHTH PLACE - ODYSSEY - (818)358-6968
In eighth place with 369 ballots is Odyssey Online. Called "the largest
adult-based entertainment service in North America, and quite possibly the
world" but the ever-modest and self effacing General Manager Michael Allen,
Odyssey Online line is touted as the high-energy online spot "where adults
come to play." Allen heads a team of five full-time employees and numerous
contractors that run what PC Computing Magazine terms a "Super BBS" grossing
over $1,500,000 annually. Odyssey has been seen on NBC's "A Closer Look",
"Donohue", Time Magazine, and a number of computer-related publications.
The service started in 1988 on a single line, and went through several name
changes and line configurations before becoming Odyssey and reaching it's
current 118 line capacity. The company has plans to expand to some 300 lines
in the future. Odyssey is available via local numbers covering over 850
cities in the U.S., Canada, and throughout the world.
Odyssey's theme is "adult entertainment," a term that carries a stigma of
hardcore porn that some publications and online services have refused Odyssey
advertising that contains the word "adult" or "mature." What "adult" mainly
means to Odyssey subscribers, however is "no kids", a simple concept to most
adults.
"Odyssey's real success is an alternative to the neighborhood bar or club",
states Allen, "where people relax and unwind after a hard day. We're selling
people mixing with people," Allen continues, "all we're doing is giving them
a place - the Odyssey Platform - to do it." Odyssey's typical user is a 32
year-old male or female professional with upper-middle income.
According to Allen, "Our market is adults with adults. It's that simple. If
you're looking for the latest esoteric software patch, you're probably not
going to find it with us. But if you're looking for a place to express your
ideas in public or private, gaming with the best players in the country,
chatting through the night with new friends, or downloading the hottest image
files in the U.S., then the one place you should be is on Odyssey."
The adult image libraries claim to be one of the hottest file collections in
the country, and there are shareware libraries with over 70,000 titles for
IBM, MAC, Amiga, and Commodore users. Odyssey uses custom developed software
originally derived from Galacticomm's The Major BBS. Odyssey Online, Computer
Productions, 1307 South Shamrock, Monrovia, CA 91016; (818)358-0936 voice;
(818)358-6968 BBS.
NINTH PLACE - WIZARD'S GATE BBS - (614)224-1635
Scoring ninth in the contest with 339 votes, Joseph Balshone's Wizard's Gate
BBS operates in Columbus Ohio. This is one of the most unique bulletin
boards you will encounter, run by a gentleman of apparently endless good
humor quite willing to experiment, and his callers have responded on his
behalf. He's aided in operating the system by his "loyal sidekick", Loretta
Curry.
First, the BBS is free - quite in the spirit of the early days of BBSing.
You can't give them money. There is no verification. No validation. And
you get 90 minutes on your first call, and you can call up to nine times per
day. In theory, you can spend 13.5 hours per day on this BBS without paying
a dime. Given the not inconsiderable expense of operating a 10 line BBS with
12 gigabytes of file storage, we're not sure how, or perhaps why he does it,
but the system is quite free of charge and those wishing to "donate" are
politely encouraged to send it to any other local BBS that probably needs it.
Secondly, it doesn't run ordinary BBS software. The system is the flagship
beta tester for a software system titled SH Systems BBS Software, written by
Steve Harke of Battle Creek Michigan. We're still a little unclear as to
whether this software is actually released yet, but Balshone has been working
with Harke and the software for nearly four years now, and professes a great
love for this masterpiece in process.
Most uniquely, the software offers a COMMAND DOT PROCESSOR. We're not sure
what that is, but what it does is allow you to insert commands within e-mail
messages themselves to perform such operations as CC, include files, change
sections, change topics, and so forth. This seems like a terribly cunning
idea.
Wiz Gate was started in November, 1989. Joseph Balshone, Wizard's Gate BBS,
463 E Town Street, Columbus, OH 43215; (614)224-2404; (614)224-1635 BBS
TENTH PLACE - PLEASURE DOME BBS - (804)490-5878
Tom McElvy's Pleasure Dome BBS takes tenth place honors in the contest with
334 votes. Running Wildcat! software, Pleasure Dome is located in Virginia
Beach, Virginia and is unabashedly adult in nature. While the system does
eschew child pornography, bestiality, scanned magazine images, and other
"illegal" images, it is entirely devoted to sexual fantasies, desires, and
erotica. The system provides chat service, an impressive collection of
erotic .GIF images, and carries message traffic from conferences such as
ThrobNet, Perverts Anonymous, Friends & Lovers, NixPix, RIME, KinkNet,
StudNet, FemNet, HotNet, SwingNet, GonzoNet, 18plus, LightNet, LampNet,
Global Village Net, PlayNet, WildNet, Voyager, and Late Night. They total
over 400 different adult conferences from these various networks. As they say
in their promotional literature, Pleasure Dome is a VERY friendly place.
One of the keys to the success of Pleasure Dome is that they have beaten the
male/female ratio extant online. By providing free lines specifically to the
ladies, they have attracted a relatively large number of callers from the
female persuasion, and probably more than a few claiming to be. In any
event, McElvey avows that approximately 33% of their callers are in fact
female, and the average user is 33 years old. They offer Matchmaker and
Swingers classified ads online that are quite popular.
The system also offers HIV/AIDS information obtained directly from the
Department of Health updated on a daily basis.
The system was started in 1985 on a Commodore 64 with three 160 KB disk
drives and a single 300 baud modem. Today, they sport 10 lines at 14,400
bps. Pleasure Dome, PO Box 12126, Norfolk, VA 23502; (804)473-1-SEX voice;
(804)490-LUST BBS.
As to the voters, they won't be forgotten either. Representatives from ZyXEL
USA, Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc., and U.S. Robotics will each draw two
names from the 20,200 ballots cast to award their top of the line modem
products. The drawing will be held on Thursday, August 26th, 1993 at 1:00 PM
in Colorado Hall in the Broadmoor Hotel, during the ONE BBSCON. We calculate
the odds of winning at one in 3367 - not bad for a free contest and a
high-speed modem from the blue. Voters need not be present to win.
The top 10 BBSs in the contest will each be awarded a genuine lucite pyramid
with cheap simulated walnut base and tin inscription plate trophy, a copy of
the Boardwatch 100 Readers' Choice BBS List, an advertisement in Boardwatch,
and our thanks for participating - at the same awards ceremony. BBS operators
DO need to be present to get any of that. Like we said, this contest is for
callers.
Terminal Software
=================
Software Total Percent
--------------------------
Procomm 6392 31.64%
Telix 4645 22.99%
Qmodem 2786 13.79%
Telemate 878 4.34%
Crosstalk 519 2.57%
Quick Link 408 2.02%
Z-Term 315 1.56%
First Class 266 1.32%
MTEZ 258 1.28%
BitCom 213 1.05%
Breakdown of Voters by Age Group and Sex
========================================
Age group Total Percent Male Female
-----------------------------------------------------
Under 10 32 0.16% 24 8
10 to 19 1976 9.78% 1781 195
20 to 29 4334 21.45% 3802 532
30 to 39 5913 29.27% 5216 697
40 to 49 4823 23.87% 4326 497
50 to 59 1770 8.76% 1614 156
60 to 69 678 3.36% 613 65
70 and over 218 1.08% 187 31
Modem Market Share
==================
Manufacture Total Percent
------------------------------------
Hayes 2194 10.86%
U.S. Robotics 2075 10.27%
Zoom 1697 8.40%
Practical Peripherals 1087 5.38%
Supra 1082 5.36%
Boca 638 3.16%
Cardinal 527 2.61%
Computer Peripherals 502 2.48%
Intel 494 2.44%
Best Data 461 2.28%
Packard Bell 424 2.10%
Gateway 380 1.88%
ZyXEL 267 1.32%
Infotel 257 1.27%
Twincomm 244 1.21%
GVC 219 1.08%
Everex 214 1.06%
Modem Speed Breakdown
=====================
Speed Total Percent
-----------------------
19200 596 2.95%
14400 6400 31.68%
9600 2504 12.39%
2400 10177 50.38%
1200 511 2.53%
300 12 0.06%
BBS Software
============
Software Total
------------------
PCBoard 26
TBBS 22
Wildcat! 14
MajorBBS 12
Remote Access 5
DLX 3
First Class 2
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 48
Type P to Pause, S to Stop listing
=============================================================================
Place: 1 Title: Software Creations Phone: 508-368-7139
Sysop: Dan Linton Lines: 83 Software: PCBoard
Location: Clinton, MA
Desc: Home BBS for Apogee, and many other shareware producers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 2 Title: EXEC-PC Phone: 414-789-4210
Sysop: Bob Mahoney Lines: 280 Software: Custom
Location: Elm Grove, WI
Desc: World's largest BBS, 35Gig, most anything you need.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 3 Title: deltaComm BBS Phone: 919-481-9399
Sysop: Zack Jones Lines: 10 Software: PCBoard
Location: Cary, NC
Desc: Support board for Telix Communications software.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 4 Title: PC-OHIO Phone: 216-381-3320
Sysop: Norm Henke Lines: 35 Software: PCBoard
Location: Cleveland, OH
Desc: Internet, 3000 message areas, 400 file areas, 250 doors.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 5 Title: GLIB Phone: 703-578-4542
Sysop: Jon Larimore Lines: 22 Software: TBBS
Location: Arlington, VA
Desc: Information serving the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 6 Title: Westside Phone: 213-933-4050
Sysop: Dave Harrison Lines: 132 Software: Custom
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Desc: SprintNet access, very large file base, many great features.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 7 Title: Albuquerque ROS Phone: 505-299-5974
Sysop: Steven Fox Lines: 14 Software: ROS
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Desc: Home of ROS BBS, 60000+ files, active social issues.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 8 Title: Odyssey Phone: 818-358-6968
Sysop: Michael Allen Lines: 118 Software: Custom
Location: Monrovia, CA
Desc: Where adults come to play and meet, active chats.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 9 Title: Wizard's Gate BBS Phone: 614-224-1635
Sysop: Joseph Balshone Lines: 10 Software: SHS BBS
Location: Columbus, OH
Desc: FREE, no fee, ASP BBS, full access on first call 12Gig.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 10 Title: Pleasure Dome Phone: 804-490-5878
Sysop: Tom McElvy Lines: 10 Software: Wildcat
Location: Norfolk, VA
Desc: Sexually explicit, adults only, ladies free.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 11 Title: Blue Ridge Express Phone: 804-790-1675
Sysop: Webb Blackman Lines: 36 Software: RBBS
Location: Richmond, VA
Desc: Message areas, 84+ files areas, 21000+ files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 12 Title: Deep Cove BBS Phone: 604-536-5885
Sysop: Wayne Duval Lines: 20 Software: TBBS
Location: White Rock, BC CANADA
Desc: Internet, 7Gig file area, CD-ROMs, ZyXEL modem sales.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 13 Title: Totem Pole BBS Phone: 313-238-1178
Sysop: Alan Myers Lines: 4 Software: Wildcat
Location: Flint, MI
Desc: 4Gig, 97 file areas, 419 message areas, 24 doors.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 14 Title: Planet BMUG Phone: 510-849-2684
Sysop: Dong-Gyom Kim Lines: 17 Software: FirstClass
Location: Berkeley, CA
Desc: 100 forums, gateways to OneNet & BMUG Boston.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 15 Title: Prostar BBS Phone: 206-941-0317
Sysop: Robert Michnick Lines: 91 Software: MajorBBS
Location: Auburn, WA
Desc: Home of MajorNet, 200000+ files, Interlink chats, 100+ games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 16 Title: Chrysalis Phone: 214-690-9295
Sysop: Garry Grosse Lines: 32 Software: TBBS
Location: Plano, TX
Desc: Internet, Connex, 30Gig, chat, encyclopedia.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 17 Title: OS/2 Shareware Phone: 703-385-4325
Sysop: Pete Norloff Lines: 8 Software: Maximus/2
Location: Fairfax, VA
Desc: 5000+ OS/2 files, 25 areas, 50 message area.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 18 Title: Microfone Infoservice Phone: 908-494-8666
Sysop: John Kelly Lines: 9 Software: TBBS
Location: Metuchen, NJ
Desc: Fidonet, 14 CD-ROMs, online games, since 1982
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 19 Title: Nashville Exchange Phone: 615-383-0727
Sysop: Ben Cunningham Lines: 24 Software: TBBS
Location: Nashville, TN
Desc: Internet, Usenet, Fidonet, 10Gig files, online games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 20 Title: Eagle's Nest BBs Phone: 303-933 0701
Sysop: Ron Olsen Lines: 1 Software: QuickBBS
Location: Littleton, CO
Desc: FREE access to all, 1.3Gig, very nice single line system.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 21 Title: Plains Bulletin service Phone: 701-281-3390
Sysop: Rob Kirkey Lines: 4 Software: PCBoard
Location: Fargo, ND
Desc: Great Plains Software support for GPS Partners.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 22 Title: City Lights Phone: 612-633 1366
Sysop: Brian Elfert Lines: 6 Software: Wildcat
Location: Arden Hills, MN
Desc: Adult files & echoes, 600 message areas, 5.7Gig, 35000+ files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 23 Title: Lifestyle Phone: 516-689-5390
Sysop: Marc Kraft Lines: 32 Software: Oracomm
Location: Lake Grove, NY
Desc: Adult lifestyles, personal ads, e-mail, personal contacts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 24 Title: Monterey Gaming System Phone: 408-655-5555
Sysop: David Janakes Lines: 24 Software: Custom
Location: Monterey, CA
Desc: Chat, messages, e-mail, online games, fun entertainment.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 25 Title: Windy City Freedom Fort Phone: 708-564-1069
Sysop: Robert Copella Lines: 38 Software: Wildcat
Location: Northbrook, IL
Desc: Adults only, over 4000 orignial scaned graphics.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 26 Title: Micro Message Service Phone: 919-779-6674
Sysop: Mike Stroud Lines: 12 Software: TBBS
Location: Raleigh, NC
Desc: Internet, excellent Ham Radio area, 7Gig, family BBS.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 27 Title: Liberty BBS Phone: 714-996-7777
Sysop: Stephen Grande Lines: 57 Software: MajorBBS
Location: Anaheim Hills, CA
Desc: Nationwide chat, e-mail, news, games, internet.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 28 Title: File Bank Phone: 303-534-4646
Sysop: Brian Bartee Lines: 16 Software: TBBS
Location: Denver, CO
Desc: Astronomy, Ham radio, programming, adult files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 29 Title: Cracker Barrel Phone: 703-899-0020
Sysop: Kevin Graham Lines: 4 Software: Remote Access
Location: Falmouth, VA
Desc: Medical/Diabetes info, real-time games, 88 message areas.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 30 Title: Source BBS Phone: 310-371-3737
Sysop: Chip North Lines: 6 Software: Wildcat
Location: Torrance, CA
Desc: General interest, Fidonet e-mail, new files daily.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 31 Title: America's Suggestion Box Phone: 516-471-8625
Sysop: Joe Jerszynski Lines: 16 Software: TBBS
Location: Ronkonkoma, NY
Desc: Focused on collecting & distributing consumer feedback.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 32 Title: Garbage Dump BBS Phone: 505-294-5675
Sysop: Dean Kerl Lines: 69 Software: MajorBBS
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Desc: Adult chat, dating registry, games, national access.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 33 Title: Windows On Line Phone: 510-736-8343
Sysop: Frank Mahaney Lines: 18 Software: PCBoard
Location: Danville, CA
Desc: Premier Windows file service, 10000+ 3.x files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 34 Title: Springfield Public Acces Phone: 413-536-4365
Sysop: Matthew De Jongh Lines: 16 Software: TBBS
Location: Springfield, MA
Desc: Internet e-mail, focus on Genealogy, Ham Radio, Windows.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 35 Title: O.U. BBS Phone: 405-325-6128
Sysop: Ronnie Parker Lines: 8 Software: TBBS
Location: Norman, OK
Desc: Internet, telenet, 3Gig files, online games, PIMP, chat.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 36 Title: AlphaOne Phone: 708-827-3619
Sysop: Toby Schneiter Lines: 22 Software: TBBS
Location: Park Ridge, IL
Desc: Online shopping, 30+ games, 200+ echoes, 30000+ files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 37 Title: Advanced System BBS Phone: 702-334-3308
Sysop: Alan McNamee Lines: 48 Software: TBBS
Location: Reno, NV
Desc: Internet, Fidonet, 16Gig, TBBS enhancements.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 38 Title: Godfather Phone: 813-289-3314
Sysop: Jim Sharrer Lines: 6 Software: PCBoard
Location: Tampa, FL
Desc: Fidonet, Usenet, adult areas, graphics, GIFs, new files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 39 Title: Fantasy Party Line Phone: 713-596-7101
Sysop: Charles Henderson Lines: 32 Software: DLX
Location: Houston, TX
Desc: Social gatherings, live chats, great users.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 40 Title: Hello Central Phone: 206-641-7218
Sysop: Stan Shelhamer Lines: 20 Software: MajorBBS
Location: Bellevue, WA
Desc: Adult recreational computing, fun without the kids.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 41 Title: Datamax/Satelite Phone: 215-443-9434
Sysop: Ron Brandt Lines: 21 Software: PCBoard
Location: Ivyland, PA
Desc: Live ftp & telenet, 10Gigs, large adult area.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 42 Title: Tampa Connection Phone: 813-961-8665
Sysop: Bobby Dominquez Lines: 16 Software: Custom
Location: Tampa, FL
Desc: Matchmaker Pen-Pal Network, 11000+ user database.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 43 Title: H H Infonet Phone: 203-738-0342
Sysop: Lee Winsor Lines: 18 Software: PCBoard
Location: New Hartford, CT
Desc: Professional, technical, & business oriented, Windows files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 44 Title: Radio Wave BBS Phone: 609-764-0812
Sysop: Tyler Myers Lines: 2 Software: PCBoard
Location: Delran, NJ
Desc: ASP BBS, RIME, 4Gig files, 4000+ newsgroups.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 45 Title: Executive Network Phone: 914-667-4567
Sysop: Andy Keeves Lines: 20 Software: PCBoard
Location: Mt Vernon, NY
Desc: 10Meg new files daily, 4000 message areas, Internet.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 46 Title: Invention Factory Phone: 212-274-8110
Sysop: Kathy Sussell Lines: 46 Software: PCBoard
Location: New York City, NY
Desc: 250000+ files, newsgroups, large adult section, USR V.32bis modems.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 47 Title: Father and Son BBS Phone: 215-439-1509
Sysop: Dale Lloyd Lines: 10 Software: Wildcat
Location: Whitehall, PA
Desc: Fidonet echoes, 10Gig, large adult area, chat, OS/2 files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 48 Title: Legend of Roseville BBS Phone: 313-776-1975
Sysop: Richard Leneway Lines: 7 Software: PCBoard
Location: Roseville, MI
Desc: 4.5Gig, message areas, files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 49 Title: Radio Daze BBS Phone: 219-256-2255
Sysop: Michael Shannon Lines: 9 Software: Wildcat
Location: Mishawake, IN
Desc: Worldwide echoes, 6.3 Gig, 65000+ files, USR HS modems.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 50 Title: CoSNUG BBS Phone: 719-578-6088
Sysop: Joe Adams Lines: 2 Software: TBBS
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Desc: Mainly for Seniors, open to the public
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 51 Title: Rusty and Edies BBS Phone: 216-726-2620
Sysop: Rusty Hardenburgh Lines: 72 Software: PCBoard
Location: Youngstown, OH
Desc: All shareware, 9Gig, hugh adult section, USR 16.8 modems.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 52 Title: Space BBS Phone: 415-323-4193
Sysop: Owen Hawkins Lines: 10 Software: PCBoard
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Desc: Internet e-mail, 3000 newsgroups, Rime, Ilink, a most active BBS.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 53 Title: Techtalk Phone: 407-635-8833
Sysop: Jerry Russell Lines: 8 Software: TBBS
Location: Cocoa, FL
Desc: Six CD-ROMs, USR 16.8 modems, PIMP, internet, techtalk.com.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 54 Title: Hotlanta BBS Phone: 404-992-5345
Sysop: Mike Deen Lines: 32 Software: DLX
Location: Roswell, GA
Desc: Social chat system for open minded & adventures adults.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 55 Title: 24th Street Exchange Phone: 916-448-2483
Sysop: Don Kuhworth Lines: 24 Software: TBBS
Location: Sacramento, CA
Desc: General IBM MS-DOS files and support, ASP BBS, Fidonet, chat.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 56 Title: Mog-UR's EMS Phone: 818-366-1238
Sysop: Tom Tcimpidis Lines: 5 Software: Wildcat
Location: Granada Hills, CA
Desc: Internet, 2.8Gig, 6 CD-ROMs, 15 nets, 300 file areas.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 57 Title: After Hours Phone: 512-320-1650
Sysop: Conrad Ruchelman Lines: 32 Software: MajorBBS
Location: Austin, TX
Desc: Best little BBS in Texas
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 58 Title: Starship II BBS Phone: 201-935-1485
Sysop: Phil Buonomo Lines: 32 Software: TBBS
Location: Lyndhurst, NY
Desc: General interest, 10Gig, Chat, 100+ message areas.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 59 Title: Prime Time BBS Phone: 818-982-7271
Sysop: Bill Martian Lines: 16 Software: MajorBBS
Location: Burbank, CA
Desc: Live multi-user games, chat, Interlink, files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 60 Title: 3rd Eye BBS Phone: 615-227-6155
Sysop: Michael Vetter Lines: 8 Software: TBBS
Location: Nashville, TN
Desc: Adult system serving the responsible swinging lifestyle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 61 Title: Arizona Online Phone: 602-294-9447
Sysop: Shawn Striplin Lines: 3 Software: SuperBBS
Location: Tuscon, AZ
Desc: Massive adult area, 20000+ files, 3Gig online.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 62 Title: Digicom BBS Phone: 812-479-1310
Sysop: Gary Barr Lines: 8 Software: Remote Access
Location: Evansville, IN
Desc: Product Support BBS list, adult area with games, 2.7Gig.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 63 Title: Cajun Clickers BBS Phone: 504-756-9658
Sysop: Michael Vierra Lines: 4 Software: PCBoard
Location: Banton Rouge, LA
Desc: Online games, 4.4Gig, no fees, 11000+ files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 64 Title: Channel 1 Phone: 617-354-8873
Sysop: Brian Miller Lines: 85 Software: PCBoard
Location: Cambridge, MA
Desc: 3500 message ares, 120 online games, internet, 30Gig.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 65 Title: KBBS Los Angeles Phone: 818-886-0872
Sysop: Dale Porter Lines: 50 Software: MajorBBS
Location: Canoga Park, CA
Desc: 4.4Gig of shareware, online games, chats, chatlink.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 66 Title: Eagles Nest Communicatio Phone: 401-732-5290
Sysop: Mike Labbe Lines: 10 Software: PCBoard
Location: Providence, RI
Desc: Internet, Usenet, RIME, Ilink, Paranet, 50000+ files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 67 Title: Argus Phone: 617-674-2345
Sysop: Pam Morrison Lines: 65 Software: MajorBBS
Location: Lexington, MA
Desc: Active chat, 40000+ files, internet, newsgroups, games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 68 Title: TCSNet Phone: 206-692-2388
Sysop: Al Charpentier Lines: 22 Software: PCBoard
Location: Silverdale, WA
Desc: Newsgroups, Rime, MetroLink, online services.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 69 Title: S-Tek Phone: 514-597-2409
Sysop: Eric Blair Lines: 10 Software: TBBS
Location: Montreal, QC
Desc: Montreals premiere Gay & Lesbian BBS, G&L BBS List.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 70 Title: Infoquest Phone: 618-453-8511
Sysop: Charles Strusz Lines: 4 Software: PCBoard
Location: Carbondale, IL
Desc: RIP, Fidonet, Internet, VNet, 100000 files, many online games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 71 Title: One Stop PCBoard BBS Phone: 509-943-0211
Sysop: Gary Hedberg Lines: 6 Software: PCBoard
Location: Richland, WA
Desc: USR 16.8 modems, 8Gig, 70 doors, 900 messages areas.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 72 Title: Kandy Shack Phone: 714-636-2667
Sysop: Mike Bernstein Lines: 9 Software: PCBoard
Location: Garden Grove, CA
Desc: Ilink, U'NI-net, ASP member, 2.4Gig online, USR 16.8 modems.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 73 Title: Texas Talk Phone: 214-497-9100
Sysop: Sunnie Blair Lines: 32 Software: TBBS
Location: Richardson, TX
Desc: Adult chat, matchmaking, games, parties, CD-ROMs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 74 Title: BCS BBS Phone: 213-962-2902
Sysop: Bill Weinman Lines: 5 Software: Wildcat
Location: Hollywood, CA
Desc: Home of Cal-Link, Ilink, e-mail, general interest.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 75 Title: Higher Powered BBS Phone: 408-737-7040
Sysop: Bob Jacobson Lines: 3 Software: PCBoard
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Desc: Ilink, SmartNet, SciFact, FredNet, 1Gig files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 76 Title: Zoo BBS Phone: 312-907-1831
Sysop: Chuck Goes Lines: 16 Software: DLX
Location: Chicago, IL
Desc: Adult social network, chats, gay, bi, straights welcome.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 77 Title: Toolkit Phone: 219-696-3415
Sysop: Ken Prevo Lines: 1 Software: ProDoor
Location: Lowell, IN
Desc: Resource for programmers and power users.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 78 Title: Electronic Tribune Phone: 505-823-7700
Sysop: David Carlson Lines: 20 Software: MajorBBS
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Desc: Operated by the Albuquerque Tribune, news and information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 79 Title: YA WEBECAD Phone: 812-428-3870
Sysop: Dan Habegger Lines: 4 Software: Wildcat
Location: Evansville, IN
Desc: PSL library, ASP BBS, 72000+ files, 11.8Gig, adult file area.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 80 Title: Wayne's World Phone: 918-665-0061
Sysop: Wayne Greer Lines: 3 Software: FeatherNet
Location: Tulsa, OK
Desc: Large filebase, online games, latest new files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 81 Title: TGC Services Phone: 812-284-1321
Sysop: David Heath Lines: 3 Software: Wildcat
Location: Clarksville, IN
Desc: Adult BBS for all users over 18, 2.6Gig, GIFs & animations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 82 Title: Computers & Dreams Phone: 212-888-6565
Sysop: William P. Stewart Lines: 10 Software: PCBoard
Location: New York City, NY
Desc: Internet, Usenet, Rime, 40 doors, 10000+ new files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 83 Title: WinPlus Phone: 206-630-8203
Sysop: Bill Ryalls Lines: 26 Software: MajorBBS
Location: Kent, WA
Desc: Christian values, family fun, everyone welcome.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 84 Title: U.S.A. BBS Phone: 501-753-8575
Sysop: Jeff Johnson Lines: 16 Software: TBBS
Location: N. Little Rock, AR
Desc: Internet, all major filebone areas, online games, 10Gig.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 85 Title: Capital City Online Phone: 206-956-1206
Sysop: Joe Goeller Lines: 6 Software: Wildcat
Location: Lacey, WA
Desc: Internet, Usenet, 1.2Gig 100+ online games, chat.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 86 Title: Nightbreed Phone: 512-345-5099
Sysop: Randy Faulk Lines: 8 Software: MajorBBS
Location: Austin, TX
Desc: Games, messages, files, users.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 87 Title: Cloud 9 Phone: 619-737-3097
Sysop: Devin Singleton Lines: 13 Software: TBBS
Location: Escondido, CA
Desc: Chat, Internet e-mail, trivia, 50000+ files, online CPA.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 88 Title: Mercury Opus Phone: 813-321-0734
Sysop: Emery Mandel Lines: 6 Software: PCBoard
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Desc: Internet, 80000+ files, MS-DOS, Windows, OS/2.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 89 Title: Wolverine Phone: 517-695-9952
Sysop: Rick Rosinski Lines: 5 Software: Searchlight
Location: Midland, MI
Desc: Official SkyGlobe support, Searchlight sales & support.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 90 Title: Heat In The Night Phone: 515-386-6227
Sysop: Rob Murdock Lines: 32 Software: MajorBBS
Location: Kent, WA
Desc: Free Adult BBS, chats, dates, and fun.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 91 Title: BMUG Boston Phone: 617-721-5840
Sysop: Roz Ault Lines: 6 Software: FirstClass
Location: Boston, MA
Desc: East coast BMUG, gateways to OneNet & Planet BMUG.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 92 Title: Seaside Phone: 805-964-4766
Sysop: Les Jones Lines: 4 Software: GAP
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Desc: ASP BBS, 100+ online games, 450 message areas.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 93 Title: Psycho Ward BBS Phone: 203-371-8769
Sysop: Dennis Ryan Lines: 5 Software: CNet
Location: Bridgeport, CT
Desc: Free system, 1.3Gig, IBM, Amiga, MAC.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 94 Title: File Shop BBS Phone: 816-587-3311
Sysop: Walt Lane Lines: 12 Software: Remote Access
Location: Kansas City, MO
Desc: RIP, 2200 file areas, 28Gig, 310000+ files, 85 online games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 95 Title: Aces Place Phone: 209-357-8424
Sysop: Bill Paez Lines: 2 Software: Wildcat
Location: Atwater, CA
Desc: Message areas, new files, helpful staff.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 96 Title: Frog Pond Phone: 716-461-1924
Sysop: Nick Francesco Lines: 2 Software: Remote Access
Location: Rochester, NY
Desc: Supporting MS-DOS & cp/M with great files and zany users.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 97 Title: CRS Phone: 416-213-6002
Sysop: Neil Fleming Lines: 200 Software: PCBoard
Location: Mississauga, ON CANADA
Desc: Canada's largest online system, very large file area.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 98 Title: Studs Phone: 415-495-2929
Sysop: Hans Braun Lines: 19 Software: Wildcat
Location: San Francisco, CA
Desc: Adult conversation, AIDS/HIV news and information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 99 Title: Collector's Edition Phone: 214-351-9859
Sysop: Leonard Hult Lines: 3 Software: PCBoard
Location: Dallas, TX
Desc: ASP BBS, CD-ROMs, 28 file areas, online games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Place: 100 Title: Batboard Phone: 314-446-0475
Sysop: Mark Chambers Lines: 3 Software: TBBS
Location: Columbia, MO
Desc: For BATMAN fans, RIP, NAPLPS, custom GIF & FLI files.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 49
Type P to Pause, S to Stop listing
BBS MODEM DISCOUNT PROGRAMS
===========================
VENDOR MODEL LIST SYSOP BBS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
AT&T Paradyne Dataport 14.4FAX $555 $222 813-532-5254
AT&T Paradyne Dataport 14.4 $515 $206 813-532-5254
ATI Technologies 9600 ETC-E $499 $275 416-756-4591
Cardinal Technologies 9600V42 V.32 $349 $219 717-293-3074
Cardinal Technologies 14400V42 V.32bis $449 $249 717-293-3074
Computer Peripherals Viva 9624e V.32 $349 $249 805-499-9646
Digicom Systems ScoutPlus V.32bis $289 $158 408-262-1412
Digicom Systems Scout V.32 $259 $155 408-262-1412
Digicom Systems Connection 96+ V.32bis $199 $139 408-262-1412
Galaxy Networks UFO V.32bis $999 $299 No BBS
GVC Technologies FM-9696/144V V.32bis $689 $413 201-579-2380
GVC Technologies SM-96V V.32 $599 $329 201-579-2380
Hayes Microcomputer Ultra 144 V.32bis $999 $249 404-446-6336
Hayes Microcomputer Optima 144+Fax $519 $179 404-446-6336
Hayes Microcomputer ISDN System Adapter $1199 $450 404-446-6336
Image Communications Twincomm 9600 V.32 $299 $279 No BBS
Intel Corporation 14.4EX V.32bis $549 $269 503-645-6275
Intel Corporation 9600EX V.32 $599 $299 503-645-6275
Multi-Tech Systems MT932BA V.32 $869 $435 612-785-9875
Multi-Tech Systems MT1432BA V.32bis $899 $450 612-785-9875
Practical Peripherals PM14400FXSA V.32bis $549 $250 805-496-4445
Practical Peripherals PM14400FXMT V.32bis $399 $200 805-496-4445
Quadralink Technologies 1496V+ $360 $320 416-538-9999
QuickComm Sprit II V.32bis $249 $220 408-956-1358
Supra Corporation SupraFAX V.32bis $399 $149 503-967-2444
Telebit Corporation T3000 V.32bis $949 $399 408-745-3861
Telebit Corporation WorldBlazer $1049 $429 408-745-3861
Telebit Corporation QBlazer V.32bis $549 $299 408-745-3861
U.S. Robotics Courier DS V.32bis/Fax $1295 $449 708-982-5092
U.S. Robotics Courier V.32bis/Fax $695 $299 708-982-5092
U.S. Robotics Courier HST V.32bis/Fax $995 $349 708-982-5092
Ven-Tel EC96 V.32 $699 $439 408-922-0988
ZyXEL U-1496 +V.32bis $989 $549 714-693-0762
ZyXEL U-1496E+V.32bis $649 $399 714-693-0762
ZyXEL U-1496E V.32bis $469 $299 714-693-0762
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 50
Type P to Pause, S to Stop listing
BOARDWATCH MAGAZINE LIST OF LIST KEEPERS
========================================
Topic BBS Modem Phone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Republic of South Africa Catalyst BBS (041)34-1122
BBS With Handicapped Focus Handicap News BBS (203)337-1607
Connecticut AC 203 Creative Edge BBS (203)743-4044
Seattle AC 206/West Washington Eskimo North (206)367-3837
Tacoma Washington AC 206 AmoCat BBS (206)566-1155
Autocad Related BBS SAUG BBS (206)644-7115
Kitsap County Washington Quicksilver BBS (206)780-2011
Astronomy/Space BBS Starbase III BBS (209)432-2487
Central California AC 209 Zen Den Systems (209)675-8436
Graphical User Interface BBS The Gooey (GUI) BBS (212)876-5885
Southern California SOCAL Corner (213)422-7942
96 List - 9600+bps BBS Downtown BBS (213)484-0260
Open Access UNIX Site List LGNP1 (login:BBS) (215)348-9727
Pennsylvania AC 215/609/302 DSC/VOICENET (215)443-9434
Cleveland Area 216 Wine Cellar (216)382-2558
Conservation/Nature BBS List Coin of the Realm (301)585-6697
Ham/Amateur Radio BBS 3WINKs BBS (301)590-9629
Handicapped Issues BBS HEX BBS (301)593-7357
Desktop Publishing BBS Infinite Perspective (301)924-0398
Medical Issues BBS Black Bag (302)731-1998
South Florida Area 305/407 Silicon Beach BBS (305)474-6512
California AC 310 Illusions BBS (310)804-3324
Detroit Area 313 Tony's Corner (313)754-1131
St. Louis AC 314 Fire Escape's Dir (314)741-9505
ASP BBS Member List PBS-BBS (317)856-2087
Engineering Related BBS Computer Plumber (319)337-6723
Rhode Island Area 401 Eagle's Nest (401)732-5292
Atlanta Area 404 OASIS (404)627-2662
Atlanta Area 404 INDEX System (404)924-8472
Orlando Florida AC 407 London BBS (407)895-1335
Baltimore Area 410 Network BBS (410)247-3797
Pittsburgh AC 412 Quad-Tech Systems (412)262-4794
National BBS List Ameriboard (412)349-6862
Milwaukee Area 414 Priplanus (414)442-0170
Arkansas Area 501 The Gaslight BBS (501)444-8420
Louisville KY AC 502 Old Soldier's Home (502)942-2848
Kentucky AC (502) National Data Exchg (502)942-2848
Portland Oregon BBS DawGone Disgusted (503)297-9145
New Orleans BBS List Southern Star BBS (504)885-5928
Worcester MA AC (508) Miwok Village BBS (508)754-6512
San Francisco Area 408/415/510 Bay List BBS (510)339-1045
Austin Area BBS List AC 512 -=ACE*BBS=- (512)258-9553
Selected BBS J&J's BBS (513)236-1229
List of Gay/Lesbian BBS S-TEK BBS (514)597-2409
AC 516 Free Shareware BBS Long Island Exchange (516)385-7882
Area Code 517 - Mid-Michigan Wolverine BBS (517)695-9952
Business/Professional BBS Delight The Customer (517)797-3740
Phoenix AC (602) Majestic Royalty BBS (602)278-1651
Phoenix AC (602) Cheese Whiz BBS (602)279-0793
Wisconsin 608 JW-PC Dataflex.HST (608)837-1923
New Jersey AC 609 The Casino PCBoard (609)561-3377
New Jersey Area 201/609/908 Praedo BBS (609)953-0769
Minnesota Twin Cities AC 612 Abiogenetic BBS (612)489-7983
San Diego, CA AC 619 ComputorEdge (619)573-1675
San Diego AC 619 General Alarm (619)669-0385
Apple II BBS with Internet con pro-sol (619)670-5379
Virginia AC 703/804 TOSOR BBS (703)366-4620
OS/2 BBS Systems OS2/Shareware BBS (703)385-4325
Washington DC BBS List Interconnect (703)425-2505
Geneology Related BBS NGS-CIG (703)528-2612
Ontario Area 705 Cottage Country BBS (705)835-6192
Black Run/Oriented BBS BDPA BAC BBS (707)552-3314
Chicago The Hideaway BBS (708)748-1911
Airline Pilot/JUMPSEAT BBSs ChicAAgo Hangar (708)980-1613
Houston Area 713 Atomic Cafe BBS (713)530-8875
Rochester NY AC 716 Logan's Run (716)256-2659
National 800 Number BBS List Hayes Online (800)874-2937
CompuCom Modem BBS List Referral Market BBS (803)297-4395
Macintosh BBS Fort Mill Tabby (803)548-0900
Ecology/Conservation BBS EarthArt BBS (803)552-4389
Wildcat! BBS Wildcat! HQ (805)395-0650
Central California Area 805 His Board (805)652-1478
Technical Support BBS List Digicom BBS (812)479-1310
Pinellas/Tampa Florida AC 813 Mercury Opus (813)321-0734
Kansas City Area 816/913 Sound Advice (816)436-4516
Dallas/Ft Worth Area 214/817 Second Sanctum (817)784-1178
Occult BBS Mysteria (818)353-8891
Commodore 64/128/Amiga BBS Night Gallery (818)448-8529
National Adult BBS List Titan BBS 1:3612/140 (904)476-1270
Alaska AC 907 Alaska Pirate Soc. (907)562-1854
Darwin National USBBS List Bob's BBS (916)929-7511
OS/2 Related BBS LiveNet 1:170/110 (918)481-5715
Tulsa Oklahoman Area BBS List Access America (918)747-2542
Raleigh NC Area Code 919 Micro Message Svc. (919)779-6674
U.S.S.R. BBS List Court Crimson King 7-3832-356722
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 52
Data File Not Found
Type Selection or L for list, <CR> to exit: 51
Type P to Pause, S to Stop listing
Copyright 1990 Jack Rickard. All rights reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
| O |================================================================| O |
| |*-*-*-*-* B O A R D W A T C H M A G A Z I N E *-*-*-*-*-*-*| |
| O |================================================================| O |
| | National Listing of Selected Electronic Bulletin Boards | |
| O | and Online Information Services | O |
| | September 1993 | |
| O |================================================================| O |
| | | |
| O | ADA 9X Project Bulletin Board, (800)232-9925 | O |
| | ADA Programming Language Revisions and News | |
| O | Chris Anderson/Susan Carlson, Eglin AFB, FL | O |
| | | |
| O | ADA Information Clearinghouse, (703)614-0215 | O |
| | Information on ADA Programming Language/Military Specs | |
| O | Department of Defense, Washington, D.C. | O |
| | | |
| O | Advanced Data Services Inc., (301)695-9116 | O |
| | 22 line PCBoard with 5.5 GB of Files | |
| O | Blaine Brodka, Frederick, MD
| O |
| | | |
| O | Albuquerque ROS, (505)299-5974 | O |
| | 36000 files/USA Today/Tradewars/Online Games | |
| O | Steven Fox, Albuquerque, NM | O |
| | | |
| O | America's Suggestion Box, (516)471-8625 | O |
| | BBS Devoted to Collecting and Distributing Consumer Feedba | |
| O | Joseph G. Jerszynski, Ronkonkoma, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | American Cybernetics BBS, (602)968-1082 | O |
| | Multi-Edit Product Support BBS | |
| O | American Cybernetics, Tempe, AZ | O |
| | | |
| O | ANARC BBS, (913)345-1978 | O |
| | World Radio/TV Handbook - Short Wave Freq Lists/Scheds. | |
| O | Assoc. of North American Radio Clubs, , KS | O |
| | | |
| O | APCUG - GlobalNet, (408)439-9367 | O |
| | Association of PC User Groups - Over 2000 UG officers | |
| O | Paul Curtis/APCUG, Scotts Valley, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Applied Modeling Research RBBS, (919)541-1325 | O |
| | Environmental Protection Agency Atmospheric Models | |
| O | William Peterson/EPA, Hurdle Mills, NC | O |
| | | |
| O | Aquila BBS, (708)820-8344 | O |
| | 6 GB 25 Nodes Fidonet/Interlink/Metronet MCe IL/CHI Graphi | |
| O | Kevin Behrens/Steve Williams/Doug Bell, Aurora, IL | O |
| | | |
| O | Argus Computerized Exchange, (617)674-2345 | O |
| | Multiline Community Chat Service - Restuarant Review dbase | |
| O | Pam Morrison, Lexington, MA | O |
| | | |
| O | AST Technical Services BBS, (714)727-4723 | O |
| | Superb support system for AST Computer Products | |
| O | AST Research Inc., Irvine, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | AT&T Support BBS, (908)769-6397 | O |
| | Support for PC 6300 and Other AT&T PC Models | |
| O | American Telephone/Telegraph PC Division, Plainfield, NJ | O |
| | | |
| O | ATI Support BBS, (416)756-4591 | O |
| | Support for ATI Modems and Video Cards | |
| O | ATI Technologies, Scarborough, Ontario | O |
| | | |
| O | Atomic Cafe BBS, (713)530-8875 | O |
| | Houston Area BBS list and Connect! Magazine | |
| O | David Wachenschwanz, Houston, TX | O |
| | | |
| O | Attention to Details, (714)681-6221 | O |
| | Utilities/ASP/Patriquin Utils/Protocols | |
| O | Clint Bradford, Mira Loma, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Audiophile Network, (818)988-0452 | O |
| | High-end Audio Components, Music, Video Reviews | |
| O | Guy Hickey/Quatre Speakers, Van Nuys, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Automobile Consumer Services, (513)624-0552 | O |
| | New Car Pricing Reports - Used Car Value Reports | |
| O | Automobile Consumer Services Inc., Cincinnati, OH | O |
| | | |
| O | AviTechnic 1:261/662, (301)252-0717 | O |
| | Software Distribution System - BBS Utilities | |
| O | Tom Hendricks, Lutherville, MD | O |
| | | |
| O | BBS America, (214)680-3406 | O |
| | Home of DFW Online Electronic Newsletter | |
| O | Jay Gaines, Richardson, TX | O |
| | | |
| O | BCS BBS, (213)962-2902 | O |
| | Los Angeles' First Super BBS Under Development | |
| O | Jim Lee, Los Angeles, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | BCS IBM BBS, (617)964-2540 | O |
| | IBM PC Topics - TBBS Software (Internet) | |
| O | Boston Computer Society/Martin Hannigan, Boston, MA | O |
| | | |
| O | BCS Info Center BBS, (617)621-0882 | O |
| | General Topics - TBBS - Internet Mail | |
| O | Boston Computer Society/Martin Hannigan, Boston, MA | O |
| | | |
| O | BCS Mac BBS, (617)864-0712 | O |
| | Macintosh Topics - Firstclass BBS Software | |
| O | Boston Computer Society/Martin Hannigan, Boston, MA | O |
| | | |
| O | Beyond Eternity, (310)371-3734 | O |
| | Home of EEEK! Bits - Weekly Electronic Trivia Magazine | |
| O | J. Black/K. Taghadossi, Torrance, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | BMUG BBS, (510)849-2684 | O |
| | Support for Macintosh owners - files - conferences. | |
| O | Berkeley Macintosh Users Group, Berkeley, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Boardwatch Magazine Online Info, (303)973-4222 | O |
| | Distribution Service for USA Today/Boardwatch/Newsbytes | |
| O | Boardwatch Magazine, Littleton, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | Book BBS, (215)657-6130 | O |
| | Information on 2000 Computer Books - 800 order number | |
| O | Business & Computer Book Store, Willow Grove, PA | O |
| | | |
| O | Book Stacks Unlimited, (216)694-5732 | O |
| | 200,000 Book Titles Database - Online Ordering | |
| O | Charles Stack, Cleveland, OH | O |
| | | |
| O | Borland Download BBS, (408)439-9096 | O |
| | Utilities, Macros, Programming Examples for Borland Produc | |
| O | Borland International/Mike Fitz-Enz, Scotts Valley, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Botnay Bay EIS, (603)431-7229 | O |
| | 20 GB of Files - Adult areas - BBS Lists | |
| O | Myles Bratter, Portsmouth, NH | O |
| | | |
| O | Boundary Waters BBS, (218)365-6907 | O |
| | Canoe Trips/Resorts/Fishing/Wilderness in Minnesota | |
| O | Gary Knopp/InfoNorth, Ely, MN | O |
| | | |
| O | Bruce's Bar & Grill, (203)236-3761 | O |
| | 24-line Social System - Chat - Games - Downloads | |
| O | Bruce Lomasky, West Hartford, CT | O |
| | | |
| O | C.A.R.L Library Service, (303)758-1551 | O |
| | Citations to 4 Million Texts in Colorado Library System FR | |
| O | Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries, Denver, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | CAD/Engineering Service, (615)822-2539 | O |
| | Computer Aided Design File Distribution Network 1:116/32 | |
| O | Stan Bimson, Hendersonville, TN | O |
| | | |
| O | Canada Remote Systems, (416)213-6003 | O |
| | 23GB/400000+ files, 3500 Conf's,USENET, IBM/Amiga/Mac | |
| O | Neil Fleming/Jud Newell, Mississauga, Ontario | O |
| | | |
| O | Capital PC User's Group BBS, (301)738-9060 | O |
| | One of the oldest PC User's Groups - 5500 members | |
| O | Capital PC Users Group/Roger Fajman, Rockville, MD | O |
| | | |
| O | Castle Tabby 107/412, (908)988-0706 | O |
| | Home of TABBY Fidonet Interface Program for Apple Macintos | |
| O | Michael E. Connick, Bradley Beach, NJ | O |
| | | |
| O | CBBS/Chicago, (312)545-8086 | O |
| | First Electronic Bulletin Board - Since 2/16/78 | |
| O | Ward Christensen/Randy Suess, Chicago, IL | O |
| | | |
| O | Celebration Station, (207)374-5161 | O |
| | Adventure Games, Chat, and Sigs - Children | |
| O | Noel Stookey (Paul of Peter,Paul & Mary), Blue Hill Falls, | O |
| | | |
| O | Central Point Software, (503)690-6650 | O |
| | PC Tools - Central Point Anti-virus support board | |
| O | Central Point Software Inc., Beaverton, OR | O |
| | | |
| O | Channel 1, (617)354-8873 | O |
| | 70-line PCBoard - 8 GB Files - Internet - 1000's msg. conf | |
| O | Brian Miller/Tess Heder, Cambridge, MA | O |
| | | |
| O | Chicago SysLink, (708)795-4442 | O |
| | Special Interest Areas for Ferret/Pet Owners.TRS80/Aviatio | |
| O | George Matyaszek, Berwyn, IL | O |
| | | |
| O | chinet, (312)283-0559 | O |
| | UNIX System offering Internet Mail | |
| O | Randy Suess, Chicago, IL | O |
| | | |
| O | City Lites PCBoard, (701)772-5399 | O |
| | 9 GB files, Rimenet, Internet, FidoNet, ASP, Online Orders | |
| O | John Lundell, Grand Forks, ND | O |
| | | |
| O | Classi Computer Fieds, (317)359-5199 | O |
| | Online System for Classified Advertisements | |
| O | Steve Edsall/Trader Newspaper, Indiannapolis, IN | O |
| | | |
| O | Classified Connection BBS, (619)566-7347 | O |
| | Giffy Girls - Nude GIF Images of the Girl Next Door | |
| O | Bill Kennon, San Diego, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Cleveland Freenet, (216)368-3888 | O |
| | Cleveland City Info/Public Library - Free Internet Mail Bo | |
| O | Case Western University/AT&T/Ohio Bell, Cleveland, OH | O |
| | | |
| O | Colorado Connection, (303)423-9775 | O |
| | Breeding, Raising, Taming, Exotic Birds | |
| O | Terry Rune/Dave McClauggage, Arvada, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | Community News Service (CNS), (719)520-5000 | O |
| | News and Entertainment - 17 Lines Community Focus | |
| O | Klaus Dimmler, Colorado Springs, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | Compact Audio Disk Exchange, (415)824-7603 | O |
| | Buy/Sell/Trade Compact Audio Disks Online | |
| O | Wayne Gregori, San Francisco, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Computer Business Services, (714)396-0014 | O |
| | Book/Publishing Consultant Nick Anis' BBS | |
| O | Nick Anis Jr., Diamond Bar, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Computer Garden, (301)546-1508 | O |
| | Treasure Hunting - Metal Detectors - Online Catalog | |
| O | Milford P. Webster, Salisbury, MD | O |
| | | |
| O | Computing Canada Online, (416)497-5263 | O |
| | Adjunct to Excellent Canadian PC Newspaper | |
| O | Computing Canada Newspaper, Willowdale, Ontario | O |
| | | |
| O | Crosstalk Communications BBS, (404)740-8428 | O |
| | Product Support for Crosstalk for Windows/MK4/XVI | |
| O | Digital Communications Associates, Roswell, GA | O |
| | | |
| O | Cul-de-Sac Bar & Grill, (508)429-1784 | O |
| | Multiline Service - Ham Radio - Humor - TDBS Applications | |
| O | Pete White, Holliston, MA | O |
| | | |
| O | CyberStore - a COCONET BBS, (604)526-3676 | O |
| | All lines to v.32bis/v.42/v.42bis. CyberTools for BBS'es | |
| O | CyberStore Online Info. Systems Inc., New Westminster, BC | O |
| | | |
| O | DAK Online Resource Center, (818)715-7153 | O |
| | DAK Mail Order Catalog - Breakmakers - CD ROMS - Computers | |
| O | DAK Industries/Tom Krogh, Canoga Park, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Dark Side of the Moon, (408)245-7726 | O |
| | Home of WAFFLE, Unix UUCP BBS Software for DOS and UNIX | |
| O | Thomes E. Dell/Darkside International, Mountain View, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Data Core BBS, (310)842-6880 | O |
| | 25 line Major BBS | |
| O | Matthew Schoen/Delta Enterprises, Los Angeles, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | DataLink RBBS System, (214)394-7438 | O |
| | Weather Satellite Imaging, NOAA Satellite Tracking-AMSAT-N | |
| O | Dallas Remote Imaging Group/Jeff Wallach, Carrollton, TX | O |
| | | |
| O | Dawg Byte, (615)385-4268 | O |
| | ANSI Art Club 1:116/29 | |
| O | Kevin Snively, Nashville, TN | O |
| | | |
| O | Deep Cove BBS, (604)536-5885 | O |
| | 16 line TBBS, 3500 MBytes files for IBM, MAC, Amiga | |
| O | Wayne Duval, White Rock, BC | O |
| | | |
| O | Denver Exchange, The 104/909, (303)623-4965 | O |
| | Denver's Most Diverse Gay/Lesbian Info Service | |
| O | James Craig, Denver, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | Denver Free-Net, (303)270-4865 | O |
| | Free Community Online Service - Health Info | |
| O | University of Colorado Health Science, Denver, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | EarthArt BBS, (803)552-4389 | O |
| | Wildlife/Conservation Art Gallery GIF Images | |
| O | Ambassador Wildlife Gallery/Bob Chapman, North Charleston, | O |
| | | |
| O | Ed-Net, (604)732-8877 | O |
| | Vancouver School Board Multi-Line Educational Network | |
| O | Barry Macdonald/Vancouver Board of Ed, Vancouver, BC | O |
| | | |
| O | Electric Ideas Clearinghouse, (206)586-6854 | O |
| | Energy Efficiency Efforts In Pacific Northwest-HydroElec | |
| O | Bonneville Power Administration WSE, Olympia, WA | O |
| | | |
| O | Electronic Publishers BBS, (503)624-4966 | O |
| | News-Finance-Sports-Games-2GB File Library | |
| O | Brian Cash, Portland, OR | O |
| | | |
| O | Electronic Zone, The, (412)349-3504 | O |
| | Specializing in Hypertext | |
| O | William R. Forbes, Indiana, PA | O |
| | | |
| O | Energy Info Admin E-Publications, (202)586-8658 | O |
| | Variety of Petroleum/Coal/Electricity Energy Statistics | |
| O | US Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. | O |
| | | |
| O | eSoft Product Support BBS, (303)699-8222 | O |
| | Home of The Bread Board System (TBBS) BBS Software | |
| O | Phil Becker/eSoft Inc., Aurora, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | Event Horizons, (503)697-5100 | O |
| | 64 Line Digitized Graphics Image Library - Adult .GIF file | |
| O | Jim Maxey, Lake Oswego, OR | O |
| | | |
| O | EXEC-PC, (414)789-4210 | O |
| | Largest BBS in US - 280 Lines -650,000 files - 35 Gigabyte | |
| O | Bob and Tracey Mahoney, Elm Grove, WI | O |
| | | |
| O | Executive Network, (914)667-4567 | O |
| | Interlink Netmail National Host - Multiline PCBoard System | |
| O | Andy Keeves, Mt. Vernon, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | Eye Contact BBS, (415)255-5972 | O |
| | 22 line Oracomm - Gay Issues - Popular Chat System | |
| O | Bill Montgomery, Mill Valley, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Falken Support BBS, (703)803-8000 | O |
| | Support for FALKEN software - 16 lines - doors - chat | |
| O | Herb Rose, Woodbridge, VA | O |
| | | |
| O | Farwest BBS, (604)381-3934 | O |
| | Large Western Canada Galacticomm Info System | |
| O | Ren L'Ecuyer, Victoria, BC | O |
| | | |
| O | FAX/Satellite Services BBS, (619)224-3853 | O |
| | NOAA Weather Satellite Images - Russian/Japanese Sat Pics | |
| O | Scotty Olson, San Diego, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | FCC Public Access Link, (301)725-1072 | O |
| | Equipment Authorization Status Advisory Service | |
| O | Federal Communications Commission, Columbia, MD | O |
| | | |
| O | FEDLINK ALIX II, (202)707-4888 | O |
| | Info on Federal Libraries -Excerpts Library of Congress Ne | |
| O | Federal Library Information Network, Washington, D.C. | O |
| | | |
| O | Fido Tech Stand, 31-30-735900 | O |
| | Fidonet Technical Information for Holland | |
| O | J.J. van der Maas, Utrecht, Holland | O |
| | | |
| O | FOG City BBS 125/10, (415)863-9697 | O |
| | Gay Community BBS - AIDS Info - Desktop Publishing - MACs | |
| O | Bill Essex, San Francisco, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Fred the Computer, (508)872-8461 | O |
| | Newspaper BBS. Wierdnet Newswire. List of MA Libraries | |
| O | Middlesex News-Adam Gaffin, Framingham, MA | O |
| | | |
| O | FreeBoard BBS, The, (804)744-0797 | O |
| | Desktop Publishing File Distribution Network 1:264/212 | |
| O | Bill Hunter, Midlothian, VA | O |
| | | |
| O | Fun Connection, (503)753-8431 | O |
| | Multiline Entertainment - 8 Lines Games/Chat/News | |
| O | Vincent Reece, Corvallis, OR | O |
| | | |
| O | Galacticomm Demo System, (305)583-7808 | O |
| | Customer support for Major BBS | |
| O | Galacticomm,, | O |
| | | |
| O | Garbage Dump, The, (505)294-5675 | O |
| | Online Chat Service - Adventure Games - National Chatlink | |
| O | Dean Kerl/Datasafe, Albuquerque, NM | O |
| | | |
| O | Gateway Communications BBS, (714)863-7097 | O |
| | Novell Netware/TCP-IP Shareware Utilities | |
| O | Carol De Jesus, Irvine, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Gateway On-Line, (313)291-5571 | O |
| | Interactive Chat,MulitiplayerGames,Usenet/Internet,E-mail | |
| O | Jeff Breitner/Bill Mullen, Rockwood, MI | O |
| | | |
| O | GDP Technologies, (303)673-9470 | O |
| | Outstanding IBM Shareware on a small system | |
| O | Tom Getty's, Lafayette, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | General, The, (619)281-8616 | O |
| | Popular File Library - GIF Images | |
| O | Marc Teitler, San Diego, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | GISnet BBS, (303)447-0927 | O |
| | Graphics Information Systems/Mapping topics | |
| O | Bill Thoen, Boulder, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | GLIB, (703)578-4542 | O |
| | Gay and Lesbian Information Bureau - 11 Lines - 9600 bps | |
| O | Community Educational Svcs. Foundation, Arlington, VA | O |
| | | |
| O | GPO WINDO Online Service, (202)512-1387 | O |
| | Fed Information from EPA, DOE, State Department - others. | |
| O | US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC | O |
| | | |
| O | Greenpeace Environet, (415)512-9108 | O |
| | Ecological and Peace Issues - Disarmament/Toxics/Wildlife | |
| O | Dick Dillman/Greenpeace,, | O |
| | | |
| O | Hayes Advanced Systems Support, (800)874-2937 | O |
| | Customer Support Line for Hayes Customers. V-series/Ultra | |
| O | Hayes Microcomputer Products, Norcross, GA | O |
| | | |
| O | Heartland Free-net, (309)674-1100 | O |
| | Community Online Service - Free Internet E-Mail Boxes | |
| O | Peoria County Board/Bradley University, Peoria, IL | O |
| | | |
| O | Herpnet/Satronics TBBS, (215)698-1905 | O |
| | Reptile and Amphibian Studies - Poison Snakes/Toads/Fish | |
| O | Mark Miller, Philadelphia, PA | O |
| | | |
| O | HH Info-Net BBS, (203)246-3747 | O |
| | MS Windows and OS/2 Files our specialty | |
| O | Lee Winsor, New Hartford, CT | O |
| | | |
| O | HoloNet, (510)704-1058 | O |
| | National Access,INTERNET,USENET,CHAT,GIFS,FILES | |
| O | Information Access Technologies, Inc., Berkeley, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Home Power Renewable Energy BBS, (707)822-8640 | O |
| | Photovoltaics/Micro-hydro/Generators - Home Power Magazine | |
| O | Don Kulha/Redwood Alliance, Arcata, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | HouseNet BBS, (410)745-2037 | O |
| | Home Fixup/Repair/Renovation Tips, Advice, and Articles | |
| O | Gene and Katie Hamilton, St. Michaels, MD | O |
| | | |
| O | Howard's Notebook 1:280/25, (816)331-5868 | O |
| | Environmental, Peace, Justice since 1982 - 4 nodes | |
| O | Jim Howard, Kansas City, MO | O |
| | | |
| O | Hysterics, (613)231-7144 | O |
| | Amiga File Distribution Network 1:163/109 | |
| O | Russell McOrmond, Ottawa, Ontario, | O |
| | | |
| O | IBM National Support Center BBS, (404)835-5300 | O |
| | IBM PC User Groups Database - Newsletter Exchange | |
| O | IBM National Support Center, Atlanta, GA | O |
| | | |
| O | Inbound/Outbound/Teleconnect, (212)989-4675 | O |
| | Telephone Sales Trade Magazine Online Service | |
| O | Harry Newton Publications, New York, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | Index Systems, (404)924-8414 | O |
| | Excellent list of Atlanta BBS systems online | |
| O | Rodney Aloia, Marietta, GA | O |
| | | |
| O | InfoHost Demo BBS, (201)335-2253 | O |
| | Demo BBS for InfoHost BBS Software - Multiline - Database | |
| O | A-Comm Electronics Inc., Hasbrouch Heights, NJ | O |
| | | |
| O | Inns of Court, The, (214)458-2620 | O |
| | LAN Related Files and Utilities 1:124/6101 | |
| O | Arthur Geffen, Dallas, TX | O |
| | | |
| O | Intel PCEO Support BBS, (503)645-6275 | O |
| | Support for Intel PC Products - Inboard 386/AboveBoard 286 | |
| O | Intel Corporation PCEO Division, Hillsborough, OR | O |
| | | |
| O | Invention Factory, (212)274-8110 | O |
| | 46 Lines - 100 Directories - Full Usenet Feed - 8.2 GB | |
| O | Mike Sussell, New York, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | Investor's Online Data, (206)285-5359 | O |
| | Online Investment/Stock Market Information/Tech Analysis | |
| O | Don Shepherdson, Bellevue, WA | O |
| | | |
| O | JDR Microdevices BBS, (408)559-0253 | O |
| | Online Hardware Order - Catalog - 1.1 GB Files - Quizzes | |
| O | JDR Microdevices, San Jose, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | JOBBS, (404)992-8937 | O |
| | Online Job Listings - 2186 Technical Pos. - 10,000 Corps. | |
| O | Alpha Systems Inc./Bill Griffin, Roswell, GA | O |
| | | |
| O | Keith Graham Shareware Support, (914)623-0039 | O |
| | OPTIK, TEXT2COM, CBOOT, very good shareware utilities | |
| O | Keith P. Graham, Nyack, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | KIMBERELY BBS, (612)340-2489 | O |
| | Prime Rate-Fed Funds-T-Bill-Discount Rate-Economic Data | |
| O | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN | O |
| | | |
| O | King's Market BBS 104/115, (303)665-6091 | O |
| | 400 MB Books, Writers Area - TRS 80 Support | |
| O | Jim and Karen Burt, Boulder, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | LANtastic BBS, (602)293-8065 | O |
| | Support for LANtastic local area network | |
| O | Artisoft Inc., Tucson, AZ | O |
| | | |
| O | Late Night Software 125/555, (415)695-0759 | O |
| | Home of UFGATE - Software to connect PCs to UUCP/Usenet | |
| O | Tim Pozar, San Francisco, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | LegalEase, (509)326-3238 | O |
| | Legal issues/Forms - Law BBS List | |
| O | Bill Sorcinelli, Spokane, WA | O |
| | | |
| O | MAC-LINK, (514)486-8959 | O |
| | Macintosh Oriented Support BBS - 6 Lines - Infomat/BIX | |
| O | Mark Smith, Montreal, Quebec | O |
| | | |
| O | Macalot Bulletin Board, (412)846-5312 | O |
| | Support for Second Sight BBS Software for Macintosh | |
| O | Jeff Dripps/FreeSoft Company, Beaver Falls, PA | O |
| | | |
| O | MacCircles, (303)526-2219 | O |
| | Mac System Software distributor, mail, sigs, files | |
| O | Patricia O'Connor, Golden, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | MacInternational, (803)798-3755 | O |
| | Largest MAC BBS on East Coast | |
| O | Ralph Yount, Columbia, SC | O |
| | | |
| O | Magpie BBS, (212)420-0527 | O |
| | Support/Demo System for Magpie BBS/Conferencing Software | |
| O | Steve Manes, New York, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | MaxiHost Support BBS, (209)836-2402 | O |
| | MaxiHost BBS - small, very easy to run BBS | |
| O | Don Mankin, San Ramon, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Mayan Antiquities, (214)691-1316 | O |
| | Mayan Culture and Antiquities | |
| O | Ron Whipple, Dallas, TX | O |
| | | |
| O | McAfee Associates BBS, (408)988-4004 | O |
| | Computer Virus Information - VIRUSCAN and CLEANUP | |
| O | John McAfee/CVIA, Santa Clara, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Meeting Works, The, (212)737-6932 | O |
| | Meeting/seminar/convention planning information. | |
| O | John Mackenzie, New York, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | METRO Online Entertainment, (212)831-9280 | O |
| | 32 line DLX with City Guide/Ski Database - Matchmaker - Ch | |
| O | Bruce Kamm/Metro Online Services, New York City, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | Micro Foundry, The, (415)598-0398 | O |
| | 2.2 GB Downloads - Your Online Software Source - Boardwatc | |
| O | Thomas Nelson/Clockwork Software, San Jose, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Micro Message Service, (919)779-6674 | O |
| | USA Today/Boxoffice Magazine - Large Download Area | |
| O | Mike Stroud, Raleigh, NC | O |
| | | |
| O | Microrim Technical Support BBS, (206)649-9836 | O |
| | Support for Popular R:Base Relational Data Base System | |
| O | Microrim Corporation, Redmond, WA | O |
| | | |
| O | Microsoft Download BBS, (206)936-6735 | O |
| | Windows Technical Notes and Support Information | |
| O | Microsoft Corp/Scott J. Honaker, Bellevue, WA | O |
| | | |
| O | Microsystems Software Inc., (508)875-8009 | O |
| | HandiWare Software for Handicapped - CodeRunner C Utilitie | |
| O | MSI - Reed Lewis, Framingham, MA | O |
| | | |
| O | MindVox, (212)989-4141 | O |
| | Internet Access, E-Mail, Newsgroups, ftp/telnet | |
| O | Phantom Access Technologies, New York, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | Minnesota Spacenet, (612)920-5566 | O |
| | Minnesota Space Frontier Society - NASA News | |
| O | Ben Husset, Minneapolis, MN | O |
| | | |
| O | MOG-UR'S EMS, The, (818)366-1238 | O |
| | 5 Lines - 8 Networks CD-ROMS - 2.8 GB Hub Services HST/V.3 | |
| O | Tom Tcimpidis, Granada Hills, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Mountain Air BBS, (703)427-0226 | O |
| | Adult Based BBS | |
| O | Edward Lee Wood, Jr., Roanoke, VA | O |
| | | |
| O | Movie BBS, (718)939-5462 | O |
| | Movie Reviews and Information - Television | |
| O | Clarke Ulmer, New York, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | N.A.C.D. BBS, (912)246-3280 | O |
| | Cave Scuba Diving - Superb Special Topic System | |
| O | National Assoc. of Cave Divers, Gainsville, FL | O |
| | | |
| O | N8EMR Ham BBS, (614)895-2553 | O |
| | login:hbbs HAM Radio/AMSAT Unix System - Satellite/Packet | |
| O | Gary Sanders, Westerville, OH | O |
| | | |
| O | NAPLPS Graphics BBS, (613)727-5272 | O |
| | NAPLPS Graphics Terminal and Editor Software | |
| O | MicroStar Corp., Nepean, Ontario | O |
| | | |
| O | NASA Spacelink, (205)895-0028 | O |
| | NASA Educational Affairs Div. - Flight Data/Space History | |
| O | Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL | O |
| | | |
| O | Nashville Exchange, (615)383-0727 | O |
| | 12 line TBBS - Games/TDBS Software Development 1.8 GB | |
| O | Ben Cunningham, Nashville, TN | O |
| | | |
| O | National Genealogical BBS, (703)528-2612 | O |
| | Family History - Genealogical Research - Gravestone Haunti | |
| O | National Genealogical Society, Arlington, VA | O |
| | | |
| O | Netcom Internet Guest System, (408)241-9760 | O |
| | Internet Access System - type "guest" at login for info. | |
| O | Netcom Online Communications Services, San Jose, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Network World Bulletin Board, (508)620-1178 | O |
| | LAN and WAN Issues and Technology | |
| O | Network World Magazine/CW Communications, Framingham, MA | O |
| | | |
| O | Night Shift, The, (818)955-5155 | O |
| | 16 lines/chat/Usenet Newsgroups/Internet Mail/USATODAY | |
| O | Charles Hilt, Burbank, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | NIST ACTS, (303)494-4775 | O |
| | Automated Computer Telephone Service - Sync PC to NBS Time | |
| O | Nat. Institute for Standards/Technology, Boulder, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | Nixpix, (303)920-1263 | O |
| | Large Library of Adult GIF Graphics Images | |
| O | Nick De Wolf, Aspen, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | NOAA Space Environment Lab, (303)497-5042 | O |
| | Solar Flare/Geomagnetic Data Online | |
| O | National Oceanographic/Atmospheric Admin, Boulder, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | NoGate Consulting, (616)530-3392 | O |
| | Home of PAK archive utility | |
| O | Mike Neuhaus Gus Smedstad, Grand Rapids, MI | O |
| | | |
| O | Numisnet, (301)498-8205 | O |
| | Collecting of Coins, Medals, and Exonumia | |
| O | The Mitchell Group, Laurel, MD | O |
| | | |
| O | OAQPSTTN, (919)541-5742 | O |
| | Air Quality Planning and Standards Technology Transfer Net | |
| O | Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, N | O |
| | | |
| O | OASIS BBS, (404)627-2662 | O |
| | Home of Atlanta Bulletin Board List - ABBL | |
| O | Robert Orr/Online Atlanta Society, Decatur, GA | O |
| | | |
| O | Occupational Health/Safety BBS, (212)385-2034 | O |
| | Job Safety Issues for Artists, Musicians, Entertainers | |
| O | Mike McCann/Center for Safety in Arts, New York, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | Odyssey, (818)358-6968 | O |
| | Adult Multiline Chat System - Games - Magazines - Download | |
| O | Michael Allen, Monrovia, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | OERI BBS, (800)222-4922 | O |
| | Educational Statistics and Data - Performance Stats - | |
| O | US Department of Education, Washington, D.C. | O |
| | | |
| O | Old Colorado City Communications, (719)632-4111 | O |
| | Political Discussions - Unix UUCP Public Access - Multilin | |
| O | Dave Hughes, Colorado Springs, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | Online Now, (807)345-5522 | O |
| | Canada's shareware house is online now | |
| O | Gary Walsh/Tom Haavisto, Thunder Bay, Ontario | O |
| | | |
| O | Online With Hayes, (404)446-6336 | O |
| | Hayes Public Bulletin Board - Conferences/SIGS/Support | |
| O | Hayes Microcomputer Products, Norcross, GA | O |
| | | |
| O | Oracle PC, 6108 260-6222 | O |
| | South Australian TBBS Multiline System | |
| O | Don Crago, Pooraka South Australia, | O |
| | | |
| O | Oracomm Support BBS, (612)894-5879 | O |
| | Sales and Support for Oracomm Multiline BBS Software | |
| O | Surf Computer Services, Minneapolis, MN | O |
| | | |
| O | Osprey's Nest, (301)989-9036 | O |
| | Birdwatching, Bird feeding, Naturalist/Ecology Issues | |
| O | Fran and Norm Saunders, Colesville, MD | O |
| | | |
| O | Ozone Hole, The, (504)891-3142 | O |
| | Boardwatch-USA Today-Internet-Usenet-RIME | |
| O | Mike Mathews, New Orleans, LA | O |
| | | |
| O | P.D.S.L.O. BBS, (516)938-6722 | O |
| | Home of THE LIST National BBS List | |
| O | James Toro, Hicksville, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | PacComm BBS, (813)874-3078 | O |
| | Packet Radio Equipment Supplier - TNC/PSK Modems | |
| O | Gwyn Reedy/PacCom Inc., Tampa, FL | O |
| | | |
| O | PC Ohio, (216)381-3320 | O |
| | Shareware library with 100% USR HST access - 24 lines | |
| O | Norm Henke, Cleveland, OH | O |
| | | |
| O | Pennywise, (800)752-3012 | O |
| | Online Office Supply Sales Service | |
| O | Pennywise, Edmonston, MD | O |
| | | |
| O | PHYSICS Forum BBS, (413)545-1959 | O |
| | Physics and Astronomical Sciences | |
| O | Univ.of Mass. Dept. of Physics/Astronomy, Amherst, MA | O |
| | | |
| O | Pinecliffe BBS 104/28, (303)642-7463 | O |
| | Large Shareware Library/Echomail Conferences since 1985 | |
| O | Craig Baker, Pinecliffe, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | Pinnacle Software BBS, (514)345-8654 | O |
| | Support for Sapphire BBS Software | |
| O | Timothy Campbell/Pinnacle Software, Montreal, Quebec | O |
| | | |
| O | Pipeline, The, (209)592-9861 | O |
| | Construction topics for contractors, suppliers, public wor | |
| O | Michael W. Adams, Fresno, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | PKWare BBS, (414)354-8670 | O |
| | Home of PKZIP 1.10 Compression Utility | |
| O | Phil Katz/PKWare Incorporated, Glendale, WI | O |
| | | |
| O | Pleasure Dome, (804)490-5878 | O |
| | Sexually Explicit Fantasy Chat System - Adults only | |
| O | Tom Terrific, Tidewater, VA | O |
| | | |
| O | Practical Peripherals BBS, (805)496-4445 | O |
| | Support BBS for Practical Peripherals Modems | |
| O | Practical Peripherals, West Lake Village, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | ProComm Support BBS, (314)875-0503 | O |
| | Home of ProComm 2.4.3 and ProComm Plus Comm Prgrms | |
| O | Thomas Smith/DataStorm Technologies Inc., Columbia, MO | O |
| | | |
| O | Promised Land, The, (715)387-1339 | O |
| | 16-Line/2.5GB/11,000+ Files/ WINDOWS, Chat & More | |
| O | Tim Brown/Computer Solutions, Marshfield, WI | O |
| | | |
| O | Public Brand Software BBS, (317)856-2087 | O |
| | Commercial Shareware Vendor | |
| O | Public Brand Software, Indianapolis, IN | O |
| | | |
| O | QMail Deluxe Support BBS, (615)230-8822 | O |
| | Support for QMail Deluxe and 1stReader offline mail utils | |
| O | Mark (Sparky) Herring, Germantown, TN | O |
| | | |
| O | Qualitas, Inc. BBS, (301)907-8030 | O |
| | 386MAX and BlueMAX Memory Management Software Support | |
| O | Qualitas Inc., Bethesda, MD | O |
| | | |
| O | Quarterdeck BBS, (310)314-3227 | O |
| | Technical Support for QEMM, DESQview, all Quarterdeck Prod | |
| O | Quarterdeck Office Systems, Santa Monica, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | QuickBBS Support BBS 363/34, (407)896-0494 | O |
| | Product Support for QuickBBS Software | |
| O | Richard Creighton/Steve Gabrilowitz, Orlando, FL | O |
| | | |
| O | Random Access Information Svc., (503)695-3250 | O |
| | 11,000 GIF Images - 20,000 DOS/Windows Shareware Files | |
| O | Janice Stevens, Corbett, OR | O |
| | | |
| O | Ronin BBS, (214)938-2840 | O |
| | Traditional File and Message BBS | |
| O | Chuck Mattern, Red Oak, TX | O |
| | | |
| O | Rose Media, (416)733-2780 | O |
| | 19 GB - Home of Rosemail - Publications/Conferences | |
| O | Vic Kass, Willowdale, Ontario | O |
| | | |
| O | Rusty & Edies, (216)726-0737 | O |
| | Large ML PCBoard run by Husband and Wife - NFL/Tradewars | |
| O | Rusty and Edwina Hardenburgh, Boardman, OH | O |
| | | |
| O | Sahara Club BBS, (818)893-1899 | O |
| | Land-Use issues, Off-Road, Timber, Conservation | |
| O | Patrick Martin/Sahara Club, North Hills, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Sailing IC BBS, (301)643-1466 | O |
| | National sailing system, yacht racing and clubs, tall ship | |
| O | Darren Albert,, MD- | O |
| | | |
| O | Salt Air BBS, (801)261-8976 | O |
| | Home of PCBoard BBS Software - National List of PCB Sys | |
| O | Clark Development Company/David Terry, Murray, UT | O |
| | | |
| O | San Diego NeXT User's Group BBS, (619)456-2522 | O |
| | Support for NeXT Computers | |
| O | Brian Dear/San Diego NeXT User's Group, San Diego, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | SBA Online, (800)697-4636 | O |
| | Advice for Small Business Owners on Financing/Management | |
| O | Small Business Administration, Washington, DC | O |
| | | |
| O | Science Resource Studies BBS, (202)634-1764 | O |
| | Federal R&D Budget - Technical Labor Market Statistics | |
| O | National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. | O |
| | | |
| O | SDN Project, The 1:141/840, (203)634-0370 | O |
| | The Original Software Distribution Network | |
| O | Ray Kaliss, Meriden, CT | O |
| | | |
| O | SEAboard!, (804)442-6047 | O |
| | Support system for ARC, SEADOG, and AXE software. | |
| O | System Enhancement Associates, Nassawadox, VA | O |
| | | |
| O | Seagate Technical Support BBS, (408)438-8771 | O |
| | Installation and Specifications for Hard Drive Models | |
| O | Seagate/Bill Rudok, Scotts Valley, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Searchlight BBS, (516)689-2566 | O |
| | Support system for Searchlight BBS Software | |
| O | Searchlight Software, StonyBrook, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | SemWare Support BBS, (404)641-8968 | O |
| | Home of QEdit - A Superb Shareware Text Editor | |
| O | Sammy Mitchell/SemWare Software Products, Marietta, GA | O |
| | | |
| O | SENDIT, (701)237-3283 | O |
| | North Dakota K-12 Educational Net-telnet sendit.nodak.edu | |
| O | Gleason Sackman/NDU, Fargo, ND | O |
| | | |
| O | SIGCAT BBS, (703)648-4168 | O |
| | CD-ROM /Optical Publishing Info - Lists of Gov. CD Data | |
| O | SIG on CD-ROM Applications and Technol., Gathersburg, MD | O |
| | | |
| O | Sistema Profesional Informacion, 525 590-5988 | O |
| | Largest BBS in Mexico - Spanish Language TBBS | |
| O | Tecnologia Uno Cero S.A. de C.V., Mexico City, | O |
| | | |
| O | Skeleton Closet, The, (804)671-8547 | O |
| | Geneology Programs File Distribution Net 1:271/23 | |
| O | Debbi McKay, Virginia Beach, VA | O |
| | | |
| O | Society for Technical Comm. BBS, (703)522-3299 | O |
| | STC Job Service, Freelance Registry - Technical Writers | |
| O | Society for Technical Communication, Washington, D.C. | O |
| | | |
| O | Software Creations BBS, (508)368-4137 | O |
| | Home of Apogee Software/Commander Keen Series | |
| O | Dan Linton, Clinton, MA | O |
| | | |
| O | Sound Advice BBS, (816)436-4516 | O |
| | Twenty Line PCBoard with 2 Gigabytes Storage - HST Modems | |
| O | Roy Timberman, Gladstone, MO | O |
| | | |
| O | Source for Source, The, (516)968-7824 | O |
| | Clipper/XBase/General Programming File Distribution 107/23 | |
| O | Erik VanRiper, Bay Shore, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | Star-Link Network BBS, (718)972-6099 | O |
| | 9-nodes, 2.1GB, Ilink, 75,000 programs | |
| O | Michael Keylin, Brooklyn, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | Starlink BBS, (915)235-4818 | O |
| | Technical Support for Predictive Maint Customers | |
| O | John Land, Sweetwater, TX | O |
| | | |
| O | State and Local Emergency Mgmt., (202)646-2887 | O |
| | Hazardous Materials/National Dam Watch/Emergency Info | |
| O | Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, D.C. | O |
| |
| |
| O | Superdemocracy Foundation BBS, (305)370-9376 | O |
| | Online Democracy/Political Culture for the Future | |
| O | Tim Stryker, Davie, FL | O |
| | | |
| O | TAXACOM, (716)896-7581 | O |
| | Botany, Herbaria, FLORA ONLINE Newsletter, Latin Translati | |
| O | Clinton Herbarium, Buffalo Museum, Buffalo, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | TEAMate Unix Bulletin Board, (310)318-5302 | O |
| | Demo/Support for TEAMate BBS Software for Unix | |
| O | Bob Baskerville/MMB Development Corp., Manhattan Beach, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Telebit Support BBS, (408)745-3229 | O |
| | Support for Telebit Modems | |
| O | Telebit Corp., Sunnyvale, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Telegodzilla, (503)621-3746 | O |
| | Home of ZModem File Transfer Protocol/YModem/YAM | |
| O | Chuck Forsberg/Omen Technology Incorp., Portland, OR | O |
| | | |
| O | Telepath, (415)358-8641 | O |
| | DBMS/Dr. Dobbs Journal Magazine Online Service | |
| O | M&T Publishing, Redwood City, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Telix Support BBS, (919)481-9399 | O |
| | Support Service for Telix Communications Software | |
| O | Jeff Woods/deltaComm Development, Cary, NC | O |
| | | |
| O | The Back Room, (718)849-1614 | O |
| | America's Largest Exclusively Gay DB - Home of Gaycomm | |
| O | Fred Kohn, Richmond Hill, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | The Business BBS, (310)477-0408 | O |
| | Utilities/Support for Microsoft Windows | |
| O | Jim Appleby, Los Angeles, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | The File Bank, (303)534-4646 | O |
| | 16 Line File Library - Radio Comm/Astronomy - USA Today | |
| O | Girard Westerberg/Brian Bartee, Littleton, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | The Ledge PCBoard, (818)896-4015 | O |
| | Home of Textview Door for PCBoard Systems | |
| O | Joseph Sheppard, Tujunga, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | The Opowd Crowd, (708)885-8865 | O |
| | Specializing in outdoor activities and sports | |
| O | , Hoffman Estates, IL | O |
| | | |
| O | The Other BBS 1:1/0, (717)657-2223 | O |
| | Fidonet Zone Coordinator for North America 1:1/0 | |
| O | George Peace, Harrisburg, PA | O |
| | | |
| O | The Well, (415)332-7190 | O |
| | Unix Conferencing System - $10 monthly plus $2.50 Hourly | |
| O | Whole Earth Lectronic Link, Sausalito, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Titan BBS, (904)476-1270 | O |
| | Adult BBS - Online Games - GIF Images | |
| O | Clayton Manson, Pensacola, FL | O |
| | | |
| O | Tool Shop BBS, (818)891-6780 | O |
| | Home of HS-Link and other tools for PCBoard Systems | |
| O | Sam Smith,, | O |
| | | |
| O | Town Hall, (800)648-6964 | O |
| | Conservative Political Conference and Debate | |
| O | National Review Magazine, New York, NY | O |
| | | |
| O | Trinity 1 BBS, 44 392 410210 | O |
| | United Kingdom Distributor of Boardwatch Magazine | |
| O | John Burden, Exeter Devon, U.K. | O |
| | | |
| O | TurBoard, (404)395-6327 | O |
| | NAPLPS Graphics BBS System | |
| O | Software@work, Chattanooga, TN | O |
| | | |
| O | U.S. Robotics - Sit UBU Sit, (708)982-5092 | O |
| | Support for US Robotics HST 9600 bps Modems | |
| O | U.S. Robotics Corporation, Skokie, IL | O |
| | | |
| O | US Naval Observatory BBS, (202)653-1079 | O |
| | Time - Date - Sunrise - Sunset - Enter @TCO for Commands | |
| O | US Department of Commerce US Naval Obser, Washington, D.C. | O |
| | | |
| O | USDOE BBS, (202)260-9950 | O |
| | Currently available grants and contracts for Education | |
| O | U.S. Dept. of Education/George Wagner, Washington D.C., | O |
| | | |
| O | USGS Quick Epicenter Determin., (303)273-8672 | O |
| | Earthquake Epicenter Data - Geomagnetism7E2 800-358-2663 | |
| O | US Geological Survey Earthquake Info Cnt, Denver, CO | O |
| | | |
| O | USNO Time of Day for Clocks, (202)653-0351 | O |
| | Xmits ASCII Time String - Sync Your PC to USNO Atomic Cloc | |
| O | US Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C. | O |
| | | |
| O | UT Library Online Catalog, (512)471-9420 | O |
| | Online Library Card Catalog Listing 3.5 million entries | |
| O | University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX | O |
| | | |
| O | WeatherBank, (800)827-2727 | O |
| | Online Weather Forecasts for Any City - Download Radar Dat | |
| O | Steve Root/WeatherBrief Data Services, Salt Lake City, UT | O |
| | | |
| O | Western Digital Tech Support, (714)753-1068 | O |
| | Hard Drive/Controller Installation and Config Data | |
| O | Western Digital Corporation,, | O |
| | | |
| O | Westside, The, (213)933-4050 | O |
| | Area's Largest/Most Active Adult System-Chat,E-mail,Games, | |
| O | Dave Harrison, Los Angeles, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Wildcat HQ BBS 210/12, (805)395-0650 | O |
| | Multiline Support System for Wildcat BBS Software | |
| O | MSI - Mustang Software, Inc., Bakersfield, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | Windsor Manor, (203)688-4973 | O |
| | Over 27 Online Adventure Games | |
| O | Jim Taylor, Windsor, CT | O |
| | | |
| O | Wizard's Gate,The, (614)224-1635 | O |
| | Multi-Line Totally Free BBS-Multi Player Games,Files,Messa | |
| O | Joseph G. Balshone, Columbus, OH | O |
| | | |
| O | Word Perfect Customer Support, (801)225-4444 | O |
| | Word Perfect 4.2/5.0/5.1 Support/Printer Drivers | |
| O | Word Perfect Corporation, Orem, UT | O |
| | | |
| O | Worldview BBS, (510)676-2919 | O |
| | Reformed Protestant Topics; Telefinder Host | |
| O | Bill Gram-Reefer, Concord, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | WWIV Support BBS, (310)208-6689 | O |
| | Support for WWIV BBS Software | |
| O | Wayne Bell, Rolling Hills Estates, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | XTree BBS, (805)546-9150 | O |
| | Support for XTree Pro Gold DOS Shell Program | |
| O | XTree Company, San Luis Obispo, CA | O |
| | | |
| O | XyQuest Support BBS, (508)667-5669 | O |
| | Support for XyWrite Word Processor - Custom Keyboard Files | |
| O | XyQuest Inc. - Christine Madsen, Bellerica, MA | O |
| | | |
| O | Yellow Dream Machine BBS, (512)451-3222 | O |
| | Disability Rights Issues - Variety of Disability Newslette | |
| O | Bill Scarborough/Cyanosis Rex, Austin, TX | O |
| | | |
| O | | O |
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