89 lines
3.5 KiB
Plaintext
89 lines
3.5 KiB
Plaintext
Choosing a Monster BBS
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Copyright (c) 1994, Gage Steele
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All rights reserved
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What exactly IS a "Monster BBS" anyway? The definition is unclear, but
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when you find one it's obvious: a large number of nodes, disk storage
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measured in Gigabytes rather than megabytes, and several CD ROMs.
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A Monster BBS should also be well-rounded; a variety of interests
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should be represented. Numerous (registered) doors, a comprehensive
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online chat system, many different networks, shareware distribution
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sites and technical support are all key examples of the well-rounded
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system.
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Each month we'll take a look at a different Monster BBS to help you
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choose the best overall system for you.
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Monster BBS: FUN University Net
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Software: Major BBS
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Main Number: (415)327-4591
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Location: Menlo Park, CA
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SysOp(s): Wendie
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Established: ?
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Aprox. Size: 8 phone lines
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1 Gigabyte
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Access Fee: 30 day free trial/$120 per year
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Rating: 91/100
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Online Experience
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_________________
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What this system lacks in files, she makes up for in style. No, there
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isn't a ton of leech-o-rama to be found on FUN University. So, if your
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download finger is itching, this ain't the one for you. However - and this
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is a big "however" - Prodigy (until that ZIFFNET deal) hadn't files online,
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either.
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Ahh, Prodigy. Funny I bring that up. If you aren't familiar with the
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kindergarten of online services, get yourself a free startup kit, and
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have a look...
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Then, call FUN University. I guarantee you'll enjoy yourself more, and
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spend less money doing it.
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No, seriously! The people at FUN have truly pushed RIP Graphics to the
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limit. We're talking full-mouse, clickie-pointie, VGA in your face, honey.
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The pictures are so great (little campus-type buildings, theatre kiosks,
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funky little people pointing at menu selections), I almost forgot that I was
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on a BBS, and not some commercial enterprise (psst, Prodigy, that means you).
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No more struggling to learn UNIX barebones commands just to read a few
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letters. FUN University has Usenet (Internet) feeds galore. The system
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is set up so well, that even in ANSI emulation, a compleat beginner should
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have no trouble navigating the message subs.
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If real-time interaction is your thing, check out FUN's simulations. These
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aren't your average RPG Door Games. The SysOps have fashioned their sims
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after controversial and timely issues (gun control, abortion), taking "Role
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Playing" to a much higher level. Don't worry, though. None of it is
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presented in tiresome means. Someone over there knows how to play with
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metaphors. Note that FUN's simulations are billed separately.
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Other key points: Online chat across 8 nodes, DOS and MAC file areas,
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puzzler games (The Stumper of the Month, Mystery of Q), and voice support.
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FUN is fun. FUN makes you think. So, it's a little pricey, competing with
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the big boys in cost. They're competing with the big boys in service, too -
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sometimes surpassing them. Hey, who needs those other guys, anyway?
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Pros
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____
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Credit Cards accepted.
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Interactive Simulations.
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Internet/Usenet.
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NON-IBM files available.
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RIP graphics.
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Auto RIP detection.
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Auto RIP download.
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Submenus.
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UPI News Wire.
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Voice Support.
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Cons
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____
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Poor CPS rate in binary transfer.
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Slightly expensive.
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Wobbly 14.4k connection.
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Finally, a system that proves BBSs deserve as much respect as any other
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online service (I will not say that "P" word again, folks).
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