--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 102 CONSUMER REPORTS Ref: F5G00015Date: 04/22/98 From: BILL REYNA Time: 09:04pm \/To: GREG BARKER (Read 2 times) Subj: Free Email > came with your provider. I was getting tired of all > the spam that would show [----------^^^^ you said the above ^^^^-----------] Yeah, I know the feeling, but upon requesting the shutoff feature or unsubscribe part, things settled down for me. I can live witrh a little spam, but not a dump of it. So far, so good. -_-_-Bill --- * Origin: Bordertown - Last stop for Ford Tri-Motor Airways (1:234/43) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 102 CONSUMER REPORTS Ref: F5G00016Date: 04/22/98 From: WALTER LUFFMAN Time: 11:48am \/To: DONNA RANSDELL (Read 2 times) Subj: mail program? -=> Quoting Donna Ransdell to Walter Luffman <=- > current software or try anything new. Even the most > devoted shareware authors are slowing DOS development...which DR> I've noticed. I'm not happy about it...but it's inevitable that DOS software will go the way of CP/M. ISA-slot computer architecture is also on its way out, and I'm even less happy about that because it'll mean making my present hardware harder to maintain or upgrade. > When your present computer's power supply eventually > gives out, DR> Hopefully not any time soon....it's only about 9 months old now. I hope it's a hefty one that can handle the startup-current demands of all the devices inside the case with lots of power to spare. My three-year-old 486 has a 235-watt power supply, and powers a five-disc CD-ROM changer, floppy drive, two hard drives and a tape backup drive in addition to the CPU, motherboard and typical ISa/PCI cards; it's probably just as well that I'm out of drive bays in this unit, because startup uses a big portion of the rated maximum power. (Remember, power supplies generate heat; and heat degrades electronic components, including those inside the power supply itself.) > or the hard drives crashes, or almost anything else > goes bad> with it, these low-priced new wonder-machines (with > Win9x> already installed) will look mighty attractive, Donna. DR> Probably. From a bang-for-the-buck standpoint, they're big bargains. > I'd recommend making copies of everything now, rather > than waiting -- and make sure they're on 3.5" floppies, > since good> used 5.25" floppy drives are already scarce. DR> Already have most good stuff on floppies. And I have about 3 or 4 DR> 5.25" floppy drives around here, I think...and at least 2 controller DR> boards....but we probably will upgrade *eventually*...just not in the DR> plannable future!!! When you do upgrade, your dollar ought to go a long way...unless prices take an upward turn around the year 2000 as some pundits have predicted. Right now, I'm getting ready to put a brand-new Pentium MMX or Pentium II machine in next to this 486; the old machine will then run the BBS I've been wanting for some time. Prices of _good_ PC bundles (including 15" or even 17" monitor) are now so low, I can't beat the price by building my own even if I substitute a keyboard/video/mouse switch for the monitor! And I'll _have_ to use a KVM switch, since there's no room for a second monitor, etc. on my computer desk. Guess I'll advertise my current 15" monitor in the for-sale echoes, and put the proceeds toward the KVM switch; I'd keep the monitor if I could, but I already have a 14" VGA-monochrome monitor sitting on the shelf, and no room for another. Walter, wluffman@usit.net CompuServe: 74721,3464 ... My other computer is still in the store -- but not for long! ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- Platinum Xpress/Win/Wildcat5! v2.0 * Origin: Mr Zip "Home of Aunt Gabby Echo" (1:123/17) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 102 CONSUMER REPORTS Ref: F5G00017Date: 04/23/98 From: ALAN RACKMILL Time: 07:16am \/To: GREG BARKER (Read 2 times) Subj: OS/2 4.0 Greg Barker wrote in a message to Walter Luffman: WL> I'd rather be using OS/2 Warp, but I WL> have to be honest: Win95 is easier to work with than Warp 3 -- WL> I haven't tried Warp 4 yet GB> I saw OS/2 4.0 at CompUSA for $200! They've got to be GB> kidding. That must be the fullblown version. The upgrde is selling for approx $129.00 US. Alan Team OS/2, Fidonet 1:107/101, ibmNET 40:4371/101, OS2NET 80:135/15 internet: alanrackmill@mindspring.com --- timEd/2 1.01 * Origin: The Maven's Roost * MAX/2 * WARP * v.34 1-908-821-4533 1:107/101) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 102 CONSUMER REPORTS Ref: F5G00018Date: 04/23/98 From: ALAN RACKMILL Time: 07:17am \/To: GREG BARKER (Read 2 times) Subj: Ready or Win95...Or Not Greg Barker wrote in a message to Bud Jamison: BJ> Starting with Win95 now so you'll be ready for Win98 is a very good BJ> idea, many of the problems with memory leaks and lack of drivers, and BJ> faulty PnP will be solved, and it will FINALLY be what it was supposed BJ> to be long ag. GB> Don't be too sure. I heard that Win98 crashed during a demo GB> Mr. Bill gave in front of about 700 people. Not a great way GB> of gathering support for your product. Yep. It crashed when he tried to demonstrate how easy it was to simply plug in a new peripheral. It received much coverage on TV. Alan Team OS/2, Fidonet 1:107/101, ibmNET 40:4371/101, OS2NET 80:135/15 internet: alanrackmill@mindspring.com --- timEd/2 1.01 * Origin: The Maven's Roost * MAX/2 * WARP * v.34 1-908-821-4533 1:107/101) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 102 CONSUMER REPORTS Ref: F5G00019Date: 04/23/98 From: JASON SEIPLE Time: 10:16am \/To: GREG BARKER (Read 2 times) Subj: Re: BBS USAGE IN GENERAL GB> we, somehow, have to get the word out to the general public. And I have GB> plan. GB> GB> Let's make the Net work for us. If you have access to the Web, create a We GB> page touting the benefits of BBS's in your area: Why should they call, GB> what's required, etc. Most ISP's now provide at least one meg of space per Now THAT is a GREAT IDEA! --- Join League 94 * Origin: Rangers of Midnight BBS 770-944-8870 Mableton, Ga. (1:133/8870) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 102 CONSUMER REPORTS Ref: F5G00020Date: 04/23/98 From: CHRIS GUNN Time: 05:28pm \/To: GREG BARKER (Read 2 times) Subj: Re: BBS USAGE IN GENERAL GB> Let's make the Net work for us. If you have access to the Web, create GB> a Web page touting the benefits of BBS's in your area: Why should GB> they call, what's required, etc. Most ISP's now provide at least one GB> meg of space per customer. And if your's doesn't, then there are many GB> places that'll provide space for free. Geocities is one example. Howdy Greg, Now you are talking. I'd also like to see some newsgroup advertising on biz.marketplace.services.computers and some of the other biz groups. It's kinda lonesome being the only BBS advertised there {grin}. Thanks, Chris BIZynet Coordinator Co-Moderator of biz.general, biz.marketplace.discussion, biz.stolen, biz.marketplace.international, alt.business.import-export.only & others --- FMail 0.96 * Origin: BIZynet - Worldwide Business via the E-Ways (1:15/55.1) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 102 CONSUMER REPORTS Ref: F5G00021Date: 04/24/98 From: JESSE SPURWAY Time: 05:22am \/To: GREG BARKER (Read 2 times) Subj: Re: BBS USAGE IN GENERAL GB> I would partially disagree with this view. Sure your gonna lose some GB> current users to the Net, that's to be expected. I think the biggest GB> damage comes from those who, after buying a modem, head straight for GB> the Internet or one of the online services. Remember, it was GB> AOHell...er, "L" that first started pushing Net access to the public in GB> mass quantities. Because of such vast media and marketing coverage GB> (you know, I haven't had to buy a blank disk in years thanks to AOL) GB> these folks have probably never even heard of BBS's. And what they GB> /have/ heard probably didn't sound too interesting. to them. * BBs aren't GUI enough for alot...alot of people. Jesse --- Blue Wave/DOS v2.20 [NR] * Origin: * MacSavvy OS/2 BBS * Dallas, Texas * 972-250-4479 * (1:124/1208) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 102 CONSUMER REPORTS Ref: F5G00022Date: 04/23/98 From: JON VANDENBERG Time: 11:50pm \/To: DAVE GARLAND (Read 2 times) Subj: Internet . . . -=| On 21 Apr 98 15:13, Dave Garland said: |=- DG> Ask what their modem to user ratio is, as that is the biggest factor DG> in whether you get busies. 1:10 is good, and you'll see an occasional DG> busy (or no-answer, if they just leave the last line on the rollover DG> empty), you probably won't find anyone better than 1:9. Some of the DG> big outfits are 1:15, 1:20, or worse. Most around here don't use ratios anymore. They montitor, and start adding lines when usage approaches 70% during peak hours. --- Shucks! * Origin: WareHouse BBS - Wyoming MI - (616)249-8617 (1:228/45) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 102 CONSUMER REPORTS Ref: F5G00023Date: 04/24/98 From: DAVE GARLAND Time: 09:11pm \/To: JON VANDENBERG (Read 2 times) Subj: Internet . . . JV> Most around here don't use ratios anymore. They JV> montitor, and start adding JV> lines when usage approaches 70% during peak hours. Wonder if that just means, they won't tell you what the ratio is. They certainly own the modems, and have the line capacity, for whatever their peak capacity is, or they couldn't provide the service then. Can't imagine where they'd save money taking stuff offline off-peak. -Dave JV> --- Shucks! JV> * Origin: WareHouse BBS - Wyoming MI - (616)249-8617 (1:228/45) JV> SEEN-BY: 12/12 24/888 105/72 106/2000 112/101 114/262 441 116/158 7/100 --- Maximus 3.01 * Origin: Best Buy! WizInfo CBCS Minneapolis 612.721.8859 (1:282/2022) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 102 CONSUMER REPORTS Ref: F5G00024Date: 04/24/98 From: WALTER LUFFMAN Time: 08:34pm \/To: ALAN RACKMILL (Read 2 times) Subj: OS/2 4.0 -=> Quoting Alan Rackmill to Greg Barker <=- GB> I saw OS/2 4.0 at CompUSA for $200! They've got to be GB> kidding. AR> That must be the fullblown version. AR> The upgrde is selling for approx $129.00 US. You mean there _is_ an upgrade? I had heard that Warp 4 came out only in an original-installation "fullpack" version and a similar-but-superior Warp Server version. OTOH, my copy of Warp 3 is on floppy diskette; I would consider it worth the extra cost to buy an original-installation version on CD-ROM and avoid a few hours' worth of the "floppy shuffle". Walter, wluffman@usit.net CompuServe: 74721,3464 ... I have a virtual grip on reality. ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- Platinum Xpress/Win/Wildcat5! v2.0 * Origin: The NeverEnding BBS/Deltona,FL/407-860-7720/bbs.never (1:3618/555)