Cream of the Crop 12

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Cream of the Crop 12 / Cream of the Crop 12 (Part II) / Cream of the Crop 12 (Part II).iso / BBS / FNEWSD16.ZIP / FIDO1316.NWS

Wrap

Text File | 1996-04-15 | 19.5 KB | 405 lines

F I D O N E W S -- Vol.13 No.16 (15-Apr-1996) +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | A newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: | | FidoNet BBS community | "FidoNews" BBS | | _ | +1-519-570-4176 | | / \ | | | /|oo \ | | | (_| /_) | | | _`@/_ \ _ | | | | | \ \\ | Editors: | | | (*) | \ )) | Donald Tees 1:221/192 | | |__U__| / \// | | | _//|| _\ / | | | (_/(_|(____/ | | | (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. | | | -- JOSEPH PULITZER | +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | Submission address: editors 1:1/23 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | MORE addresses: | | | | submissions=> editor@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca | | Don -- don@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | For information, copyrights, article submissions, | | obtaining copies of fidonews or the internet gateway faq | | please refer to the end of this file. | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ ======================================================================== Table of Contents ======================================================================== 1. Articles...................................................... 2 THE INTERNET IS SEXY By Pete Snidal,........................ 2 The Game Development Echo (GAMEDEV) is now backboned!....... 4 New Cellular Phone Echo..................................... 5 The Shareware Ethic......................................... 5 2. Fidonews Information.......................................... 7 ======================================================================== FidoNews 13-16 Page: 2 15 Apr 1996 ======================================================================== Articles ======================================================================== THE INTERNET IS SEXY By Pete Snidal, 1:353/405 - Grand Forks, BC I am much dismayed to be reading all the dire predictions in FNEWS lately, about the demise of Fidonet, the ascendence of the Internet, and like that. I run a point system of my bbs at the local public library - sort of a small town freenet (I must confess that's where I got the idea), and it would seem that some of the locals are now whining to the librarian about how they would rather see the library get them access to (fanfare) the Internet. We were discussing theis the other day, and I observed that it would seem that this is the case even though almost nobody reads the news currently available on the point as Fidoechoes, even though most of it comes from the internet, the biggies on this point (and my bbs) being ANEWS and P_NEWS. She replied, in a mock whisper, "Yeh, but the internet is SEXY." And I guess that's the point. It's being sold all over the continent like soap, cosmetics, or feminine hygiene products. And the consumers, are responding in the same ways. Although they in most cases don't have the slightest idea what the much-vaunted *Internet* can do for them, they do know that they _need_ it. They gotta have it. And they're apparently signing up with ISP's in droves. Or so we're told. This is okay for the telecom illiterate. Somehow, it seems all right that people who never took the time or felt the need to find out what was possible for them in terms of news access, discussion forums, or netmail with Fidonet, which had been right under their noses for many years, can suddenly feel this burning desire to get connected, to get surfin' that web, sendin' that e-mail, and just generally gettin' with the programme. After all, as we should all know, it took big bucks in the right places to get the I-word mentioned on just about every TV programme we see, as well as in the papers every day, and the people who spent the big bucks are no slouches; they've done this before, and they expect to get their money back a few times over, somehow, as the resultant wave of consumers hits The Net. They probably will. I can expect this from the Other People. The Sheep. The Consumers. But it saddens me to see the hype resulting in people who should know better abandoning poor little Fido for it's Sexy Sister. Some of us are developing into a subgroup which I am coming to call Internet Snobs, denigrating Fidonet for various shaky reasons, mistakenly citing its lack of sophistication, slowness in mail delivery, etc. ad naus. People who should know FidoNews 13-16 Page: 3 15 Apr 1996 better. Our librarian intends to offer internet access somehow. But she realizes that Fidonet also has a place in the scheme of telecom, and has no intention whatever of tossing out poor little Fido. Because she recognizes that there are things that Fidonet still does better. Let's have a look at the advantages of Fidonet to the average user: News Reading: Fidoechoes such as ANEWS, P_NEWS, and others offer the average user a good selection of alternate (that is not corporate-controlled media) news, as does the internet with Usenet Newsgroups. But Fido echoes are generally free to access, and usable with off-line readers which will run just fine on basic dosboxes. They are not as confusing to sort your way through, don't contain a jillion empty areas, and are often configured to cover areas of local interest much better. When a user tags BC_ENVIRON, for instance, s/he knows not to expect discussion on destruction of the Brazilian rainforests. I think they're better for most people, although I use both. Furthermore, it's much simpler to set up your system for offline reading with Fido. Discussion Groups: For those who chose to participate, there are Usenet Newsgroups and Mailing Lists on the Internet. Fidoechoes are much easier to use, and just folksier, if y'axe me. And the fact that comments take an extra day or two to get around means little; we're mostly just taking turns preaching to the converted anyway. The Web: Okay, so we can't cruise the virtual mall on Fidonet. If we gotta shop by computer, then it's gonna take an ISP. Pay the 10 or 20 bucks a month, and have fun, shoppers. As for the "Wealth of Information" I'm getting so tired of hearing about, how many people actually tap into it? And what about the similar wealth available in the File areas of so many Fido bbs's? e-mail: Well, it's nice to know that you can send reliable and basically instant e-mail anywhere in the world. It can be of a commercial nature, and you can be sure it got there if it doesn't bounce. Netmail, if routed, is admittedly a little less reliable, and the further you go the worse it gets. But then, 10 or 15 bucks a month will crash a lot of mail. And overnight service is usually sufficient, particularly considering how seldom many users of either system check for incoming. Furthermore, Fidonet can be accessed with low-end computers. And although the advertisers would like us to think otherwise, there are a lot of low-end computers out there. Computers which change hands for considerably less than the price of the RAM FidoNews 13-16 Page: 4 15 Apr 1996 needed to run Windoze or OS/2 satisfactorily. And you don't get much access to the internet through an ISP without one or the other of these. I've been looking for a DOS-based e-mail reader since NUPOP turned out to be a dog. (Oh dear; I'm mixing my metaphors.) The Fidonet user has a Real Wealth of software available for offline reading, editing, and all that which can be done with Fidonet and a low-end computer. But the development of the Internet has always been a balls-to-the-wall price-is-no-object proposition, both that of the network itself, and also that of connections for the user. Pretty rich for my taste, and for that of many other people as well. The Power User can point and use such badass software as Binkley, Squish, and Timed, and do things with an XT that are just plain unduplicable in Internet terms. And there are a lot of low-end users out here. Democratization of a network - giving access to the Little People - may not mean much to the Internet Snobs, but I hope it means a lot to many of us. I know it does to me. In conclusion, let me say this: don't let's be selling Fido short. It's a marvelous system, all the more so because it was developed by people with a passion for connectivity among el gente - the people of the planet, and not by a megacorporation by contract with a mess of bunker-dwellers with a heavy agenda. Fido has good kharma, and I'm sticking with it until I'm the only node left. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Game Development Echo (GAMEDEV) is now backboned! by Sunir Shah, moderator of GAMEDEV (1:241/11) The Game Development Echo (GAMEDEV) is now backboned! The Game Development Echo (echotag GAMEDEV) -- an echo all about producing games, has just been BACKBONED! Topics are varied. From programming, to art, to music, to artificial intelligence, to marketing, it's all here! If you're into making games or want to learn, check this echo out! Sunir Shah (1:241/11), Moderator of GAMEDEV FidoNews 13-16 Page: 5 15 Apr 1996 New Cellular Phone Echo There is a new echo on the backbone which deals with Cellular phones, called CELLULAR_II. In the original Cellular phone echo, the moderator is taking the position that some information is illegal (it isn't) and off topic (up to him). CELLULAR_II was created to promote the free passage of information, and is based out of Canada, where listening to the 800 MHz cellular band is completely legal, provided one does not profit from what one hears. Come on over an check CELLULAR_II out, you won't be disappointed. CELLULAR_II Cellular Telephones & Related Issues An echo for discussion and information about Cellular phones and related topics. This echo originates in Canada and uses Canadian laws to determine what is "illegal" in regards to discussion topics. As such, restoration of cell frequencies in scanners, listening to cellular with old tv, ect. are permitted topics. Distribution: Z1-backbone Flags: <Real Names> Moderators: Chris Farrar, 1:246/20 Last changed: 08 Apr 96 by Chris Farrar, 1:246/20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Shareware Ethic The Shareware Ethic and ASP or what's the point of registration and, even more, what's the point of ASP. Back in January (Fidonews, Vol.13, no.1) Timothy Trace (1:100/440.0) summarised the shareware ethic as being: timely, inexpensive registration; quick technical support and direct contact with the author; and frequent version updates. He went on to make a strong complaint about the way a certain shareware author was abusing this ethic by failing to respond to any and all attempts at communication. He said he was making a Policy Complaint and two of the (three) grounds were lack of common courtesy (holding credit card registrations in limbo for months) and prejudicing the financial security of Fidonet by the way the author was treating credit card transactions. This, in my opinion, is not an isolated instance. The behaviour of which he complains is, unfortunately, not at all uncommon. In two cases, I have been totally ignored by shareware authors (and, in one case, by his registration site). In addition, the same discourteous treatment has been extended to me by the ASP Ombudsman. My complaint is based on the following facts. This message will be spell checked by JSpell Version 2.0. On 15th June 1995 I mailed to the registration site of JSpell at FidoNews 13-16 Page: 6 15 Apr 1996 Public Software Library PO Box 35705 Houston, TX, a covering letter and an application form which contained credit card details. On 18th August 1995, having heard nothing from the registration site, I wrote to the author, Joohee Jeeong, at Nemosoft Technologies, PO Box 1619, El Cerrito, CA sending a copy of my 15th June letter and application form and requesting his help. Again having heard nothing, this time from the author, on 21st September I Emailed the ASP Ombudsman at 70007.3536@compuserve.com explaining the above facts and asking for his assistance. Since I received no reply, on 30th October 1995, I faxed the ASP Ombudsman at 1-616-788-2765 with a copy of the Email and a further request for assistance. Again receiving no reply, I discussed this with my Sysop. He told me that he has written about it in the ASP echo; that he has sent a direct Email about it, and wrote about it snail mail when sending in his current year subscription. He tells me that he has had no response. I might add that the program appears to have some kind of problem. I suffer from random truncation of text. I don't know whether this is a bug or a shareware author's way of nagging me into registration. In either case it will never be cleared up because all efforts at communication are ignored. The other case which I mentioned is that of LIST Plus Version 9. I registered this program in January 1995 and was sent a disk with the registered version of the program. On this disk is a program SHOW2.EXE. When this program is run it indicates that it is possible to manipulate a file or groups of files by tagging them with the space bar or the T key. On the program I got, I was unable to do this. So on 24th November last year I wrote to Vernon Buerg explaining this and asking if SHOW2.EXE was in error or if there was something wrong with the disk? Not having received a reply, I wrote again on 20th February, this time by recorded delivery, so I know that the letter was received but, up to the time of writing, I have not heard a word. What am I to think? Am I just unlucky, or am I being ripped off? And how can I possibly find out when the author obstinately refuses to communicate? I shall be taking this up with the ASP Ombudsman but I expect no greater success with this complaint than I had with the other. To get back to the point of Timothy Trace (and mine), what is the point of shareware registration if the shareware authors FidoNews 13-16 Page: 7 15 Apr 1996 do not comply with their side of the bargain, whatever that may be. And how can the registering public find out what are the duties of a shareware author and the rights they have acquired under the registration contract if the ASP Ombudsman just as obdurately ignores any attempts at communication. What's the point of registration and, even more, what is the point of the Association of Shareware Profesionals? Regards: Terry G Wright t.wright@obsdata.es Spain (2:345/210.25) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ======================================================================== Fidonews Information ======================================================================== ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ---------------- Editor: Donald Tees Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar Tom Jennings, Sylvia Maxwell "FidoNews" BBS FidoNet 1:1/23 BBS +1-519-570-4176, 300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(DS) more addresses: Don -- 1:221/192, don@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca (Postal Service mailing address) FidoNews 154 Victoria St. S. Kitchener, Ontario Canada N2H 2b5 voice: (519) 570-4899 Fidonews is published weekly by and for the members of the FIDONET INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR ELECTRONIC MAIL system. It is a compilation of individual articles contributed by their authors or their authorized agents. The contribution of articles to this compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors. Opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of FidoNews. Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is Copyright 1996 Donald Tees. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or the eds. FidoNews 13-16 Page: 8 15 Apr 1996 OBTAINING COPIES: The most recent issue of FidoNews in electronic form may be obtained from the FidoNews BBS via manual download or Wazoo FileRequest, or from various sites in the FidoNet and Internet. PRINTED COPIES may be obtained by sending SASE to the above paper-mail address. INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via FTP from ftp.fidonet.org, in directory ~ftp/pub/fidonet/fidonews. Anyone interested in getting a copy of the INTERNET GATEWAY FAQ may freq GISFAQ.ZIP from 1:133/411.0, or send an internet message to fidofaq@gisatl.fidonet.org. No message or text or subject is necessary. The address is a keyword that will trigger the automated response. People wishing to send inquiries directly to David Deitch should now mail to fidonet@gisatl.fidonet.org rather than the previously listed address. SUBMISSIONS: You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission requirements are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from the FidoNews BBS, or Wazoo filerequestable from 1:1/23 as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". Please read it. "Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered trademarks of Tom Jennings, and are used with permission. ' ' disgreement is actually necessary, or we'd all have to get in fights or semethin to amuse ourselves,, and create the requisite chaos." -Tom Jennings -- END -------------------------------------------------------------------