informis
/
textfiles
1
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull Requests Packages Projects Releases Wiki Activity
textfiles/computers/pcgnet

406 lines
20 KiB
Plaintext
Raw Permalink Blame History

This file contains invisible Unicode characters

This file contains invisible Unicode characters that are indistinguishable to humans but may be processed differently by a computer. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.

ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»
º º
º THE I/O PORT º Communications with the Boards
º º
ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ
Communications from:
* POLARIS BBS Home of the Telecommunications Conference *
Date: 08-21-86 (10:59) Number: 169
To: ROBERT FLORES Refer#: None
From: ERIC RYAN Recv'd: Yes
Subj: PC GAZZETTE... WHATELSE? Sec'ty: Sender Password
All I can say about the August issue is that I'm VERY dissapointed...
<sob!>. The First issue was great, Robert! Then you started adding all
those stupid pic's and stuff... they make it look nice, but the greatly
increase the size of the gazzette and make it impractical for modem
transfer. And then with this last READER with all its bugs... it looks
downright horrible... and the fact that you have to run the stupid batch
file first to get it to work... dischipccable! I think you're going to
HAVE to get some competition to get you back in fighting shape!! Let's
have a nice, clean, fast issue like the 2nd or 3rd (The first one was a
little slow...). The scroll thing on the new one is OK, but I prefer the
old method of reading... With the old issues, I'd call a new board
anywhere in the country, and they would be there. These days, I haven't
even seen PCGAZ106.ARC in many of the local boards! It's a real
disgrace, Robert... let's get rid of the cutsie pics and such, and make
it fast, nice, and small. I hope this does you some good, Robert, and
doesn't just get you embarassed or pissed at me. I'm REALLY
dissapointed...
hope the ol' Gaz shapes up...!
Eric Lambart -- Sysop, L.A.P.D. 213-456-1121 12/2400 baud
Date: 08-21-86 (21:37) Number: 171
To: ERIC RYAN Refer#: 169
From: CHRIS EPLER Recv'd: No
Subj: PC GAZZETTE... WHATELSE? Sec'ty: Receiver Only
Bob,
I must agree on some of those points...
P.S., is this going to Bob or Eric...hmmm, ooops..
oh well
CaE
Communications from:
* VIP DATA EXCHANGE ... PC GAZETTE CONFERENCE *
Date: 08-23-86 (13:04) Number: 98
To: ROBERT FLORES Refer#: None
From: TED YOUNG Recv'd: Yes
Subj: Q ABOUT READER.COM Sec'ty: Public Message
Robert,
Hi! I just got the August issue of PC-Gazzette out here in NY, and
it's great! I am putting together a Disk Magazine aimed at people
involved in the stock market -- a tock market newsletter on disk, and I
want to know if there is any documentation, etc. for the READER program
so I could make my own newsletter? Also, does READER automatically
change the screens from color (if thats the way the screen was
originally made) to black & white?
Well, that's it, and keep up the great work!
Ted Young
SYSOP WSMI BBS (212) 543-9033
A Stock Market Oriented BBS
Date: 08-27-86 (07:02) Number: 99
To: TED YOUNG Refer#: 98
From: ROBERT FLORES Recv'd: No
Subj: Q ABOUT READER.COM Sec'ty: Public Message
Thanks for the nice comments. I am getting together some notes on the
READER program for those who would like them. More on that later. The
only trouble is, it is in a constant state of update. The last (3.0) was
full of bugs and disappointed a number of people.
As for the conversion from color to b&w, yes the program strips out the
color from the screens. They were made originally made in color.
Robert
Date: 08-29-86 (17:16) Number: 100
To: ROBERT FLORES Refer#: None
From: HALSEY TAYLOR Recv'd: Yes
Subj: READER 3.0 Sec'ty: Public Message
FIRST OF ALL, I THINK PC-GAZZETTE IS GREAT!
THE METHOD OF DISPLAY AND ISSUE CONTENTS HAVE BEEN
FANTASTIC.
...BUT,
WHEN I READ THE AUGUST ISSUE USING READER 3.0
I WAS DISSAPOINTED.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF SCROLLING FOR THE REST OF A
STORY, BUT READER 3.0 ADDED A CONFUSING SET OF
KEYBOARD COMMANDS TO THE PREVIOUSLY STRAIGHT-
FORWARD SET OF COMMANDS.
AT FIRST, I COULDNT GET SCROLLING AT ALL, THEN
I WOULD SCROLL FOR AWHILE, AND ACCIDENTLY USE
PAGE DOWN THINKING IT WOULD SCROLL DOWN FASTER.
OF COURSE, PAGE DOWN WENT TO THE NEXT STORY.
IN GENERAL, READER 3.0 IS FAR TOO CONFUSING
TO USE. TOO MANY KEYBOARD COMMANDS.
MOST ARE NOT EASY TO REMEMBER, OR INTUITIVE.
AGAIN, I LIKE SCROLLING STORIES, BUT CANT YOU
MAKE THE KEYSTROKES SIMPLER?
I DON'T LIKE TO COMPLAIN, ESPECIALLY SINCE I
THINK PC-GAZETTE IS GREAT. I JUST HATE TO SEE
THE READER PROGRAM BECOME SO COMPLEX AND HARD
TO USE.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, PEOPLE ARE READING
YOUR ISSUES.
Date: 08-29-86 (23:59) Number: 101
To: MR. GAZETTE Refer#: None
From: CHARLES EICHER Recv'd: No
Subj: GAZETTE, ETC. Sec'ty: Public Message
ok, I finally downloaded a copy of the gazette, since I finally found a
local (to me) bbs that has it available. But I have a few questions:
What is Gallery? was this some utility available in a back issue? if so,
you better provide it in a separate ARC file so new issues that have
gallery pictures can read them.
I also agree that we need the docs for TA. it is completely useless
without documentation.
also, I must remark that I didn't find a single item of interest in the
june (or was it july) issue. Shouldn't you consider the content of the
magazine a little more closely? If you get lost in the format of the
magazine, the content suffers. For example, a half page of graphics to
announce that a Syntax's column will not appear this month??
As a professional in publication and typesetting, I have to tell you one
basic fact: Format must be subservient to content. Jazzy graphics cant
help a bit if you don't have anything to say of interest. If you just
want to produce neat graphics programs, go for it! But don't advertise
it as a magazine. With this, I go to download the current issue. Hope
there's more content in this one....
Date: 08-30-86 (00:44) Number: 102
To: MR. FLORES Refer#: None
From: CHARLES EICHER Recv'd: No
Subj: GAZETTE? Sec'ty: Public Message
I just spent 15 minutes downloading the new gazette so I could learn
such interesting things as: The correct spelling of platypus (by the
way, plural is platypi not platypuses), and that the compaq 286 is
faster than the ibm? Come on! This stuff isnt worth downloading, let
alone the trouble it takes to set it into the reader format.
To paraphrase Winston Churchill, "Never has so much been done by so few
for so little a result"...
Get it together, guys! If you don't have anything interesting to say,
you can always find something more interesting (like a page from the
phone book)...
Sorry if this is harsh, but I invite your rebuttal. Maybe you ought to
take a closer look at this job. For example look at the Databoard:
ATDT766-6442
(sorry that was from my dialer) its in the 818 area code; they do an
excellent job preparing interesting and useful data.
I wish you luck with your gazette, but you better get it together fast.
Nothing is more fickle than an audience. You will have to work hard to
keep yours.
Date: 08-30-86 (06:46) Number: 103
To: ROBERT FLORES Refer#: None
From: JAY GRAHAM Recv'd: Yes
Subj: FORM VS CONTENT Sec'ty: Public Message
Wow! Those guys hit real hard. I think they are being sincere, though.
They want you to be successful and offer their comments to try and
assist you with an objective view of what you are doing. I hope that
you don't get discouraged by them though. Maybe you need to collaborate
with others to get material of greater interest. There is material you
might want to check out at a MICROLINK user group meeting. We have some
information from IBM, members with expertize in writing composition,
various program demonstrations that might look good reported in print
and other topics that might interest the computing public at large.
If we at MICROLINK can be of any assistance to you in keeping this
unique and superior product continuing, then don't hesitate to call on
us. This is one of the reason's we formed the user group. There are a
lot of other benefits, too, but support of the computer user is still
the main priority.
Keep up the great work and don't be put off by what is offered as
constructive criticism. This is a learning process for all of us.
Sincerely your;
Jay Graham, President MICROLINK User's Group
Date: 08-30-86 (17:31) Number: 104
To: MR. FLORES Refer#: None
From: CHARLES EICHER Recv'd: No
Subj: SINCERITY Sec'ty: Public Message
Yes, I was sincere, and I do hope you succeed. Nothing would please me
more than a readable, interesting magazine in this format.
Date: 08-31-86 (06:47) Number: 105
To: CHARLES EICHER Refer#: 102
From: ROBERT FLORES Recv'd: No
Subj: GAZETTE? Sec'ty: Public Message
First off, recheck your dictionary for the correct plural of platypus.
My dictionary uses both spellings and it's a normal type dictionary.
Even if it wasn't proper, the writer used it in a area that didn't
require such accuracy. It was in an article on nonsense, remember?
The articles are submitted by various persons and if during a month none
of those contributed seem interesting, we are sorry. Maybe our type of
media is not your cup of tea. But, hopefully, you will find something in
the upcoming issues. The August issue was large and complex and
confusing and full of bugs. No excuses. The September issue will go back
to some of the things that made the eariler issues nice. I will still
have scrolling but with simpler commands.
I think you might be able to help us get the Gazette "together". If you
can formulate your dissatifactions so eloquently and certainly get your
point across, we would sure like to read an article written by you. How
about it? Could you help us? Most of us claim no great journalistic
skills (I'm a layout person myself and it's enough to just come up with
the Ramblings). Please don't get me wrong. This is not a challenge. Just
a request. If a person sees a better way and can do something about it,
then maybe he should. Soapbox handed over for further discussion...
Thanks for comments. They were enlightening.....Robert
Date: 08-31-86 (07:02) Number: 106
To: JAY GRAHAM Refer#: 103
From: ROBERT FLORES Recv'd: No
Subj: FORM VS CONTENT Sec'ty: Public Message
Thanks for the support. I would love to come to your meetings.
Unfortunely, they are on at a time I devote to my family. Priorities and
such, I normally won't be able to make it. One of these days I will try
and come.
I am not put off by the comments. But hopefully these guys will accept
any positive changes or even help out by contributing to the content of
the Gazette. One thing many people don't realize is that everything in
the Gazette is contributed and done without any reimbursement. Hey the
Gazette is free, remember. It also requires time on all the authors'
parts as well as my own. Some issue will have a lot of great articles
and some may not (a lot, that is.). But over all, I think that the
Gazette has been received as a good thing. We listen to the criticism
and will try to improve the quality of the mag. If there are better
writers, then let them write. Let's make the Gazette better. The opening
words on it are "A User-supported Newsletter". I hope to keep it that
way: by listening to suggestions and by publishing the best CONTRIBUTED
articles each month.
Don't judge August's issue as the wave of the future. The September
issue will get back to basics. It will be tighter and smaller. It won't
take up your precious download time like the last couple.
Hope you like the changes. We DO listen....Robert
Date: 08-31-86 (07:06) Number: 107
To: CHARLES EICHER Refer#: 104
From: ROBERT FLORES Recv'd: No
Subj: SINCERITY Sec'ty: Public Message
Yes I know you are sincere. My request is only if you feel can
contribute then please do. Everything about the Gazette is voluntary.
It's for the Public Domain and will continue to be that way. Thanks
again for the comments. I accept them in the spirit they were given and
hope that you will find the future issues improved because of them.
Robert
Date: 09-02-86 (00:38) Number: 108
To: ROBERT FLORES Refer#: 105
From: CHARLES EICHER Recv'd: Yes
Subj: GAZETTE? Sec'ty: Public Message
No, I wouldn't make remarks like that if I wasn't prepared to back em
up. I would be glad to write a short article for the gazette, but time
will be a little tight (isn't it always?) for the near future, due to me
just quitting my job at Computerland. I'm sure I have a lot to say,
especially since I've been in microcomputers since before the Apple I.
The question is, what is the audience, and what do they want to read?
If this is a magazine for all the BBS hacker kiddies, I don't know what
they're into (maybe a review of my new skateboard). I don't think there
is much of an audience for C programming either, anyone into C already
has their own sources of info, I'm sure. Somewhere inbetween is a happy
medium. I think its about time for an audience survey of some kind..
This would be kind of hard, since PCgaz will drift around the country
like all DNloads do.
Let me know if you have any suggestions for articles or topics of
interest to the readers.
p.s. I thought the new reader is really hard to use. It would be more
logical to use Ctrl-Pgdn for changing chapters and pgdn for flipping
pages instead of your vice versa arrangement. Most programs use PgDn in
this fashion, using Ctrl-PgDn for an "Amplified" pgdn of some sort.
P.P.S. you havent got the new gazette listed in the dnload files section
yet...
Date: 09-02-86 (07:32) Number: 109
To: CHARLES EICHER Refer#: 108
From: ROBERT FLORES Recv'd: Yes
Subj: GAZETTE? Sec'ty: Public Message
Glad to hear you would help out. I will probably open the future
directions to the readers in a survey with the Sept issue. The Sept
issue is not out if that's the one you refer to.
Yes version 3.0 is(was) a mess!!! I rewrote the scrolling routine and it
uses the natural keys of up,down,pgdn,pgup,home, end. Also it will be
back to double columns on most pages. So the scroll will be for full
page and individual columns. The thought of Ctrl-PgDn for changing
sections is one I hadn't thought of. Maybe.... I glad to hear from you
and welcome any improvements to the mag. It gets hard to be objective
when it's your baby. That's what this conference is for: Keeping us on
our toes....Be talking to you...Robert
Date: 09-02-86 (13:03) Number: 110
To: ROBERT FLORES Refer#: 106
From: JAY GRAHAM Recv'd: Yes
Subj: FORM VS CONTENT Sec'ty: Public Message
Your doing a great job, Robert. Keep up the good work and I think your
requests for article submission is a terrific idea. It's amazing how we
take a free product and pick it apart, demanding more from the
originator than we should. Yours is not the only item to which I am
refering (take a look at the ZIP conference on the Diamond Bar BBS and
see what they do to Ed Dong).
We should be grateful and less critical to the people who utilize their
time to give us such wonderful computer programs. I didn't see the
August issue of the GAZETTE but I know the quality that is attempted by
the producer. I am glad he goes to such effort on my part to bring me a
unique way of spreading information.
Now let's hear more support for our editor and suggestions for
improvement stated in a thankful tone (or else in a "Receiver Only"
message). Nuff said...........................JAY
Date: 09-03-86 (07:00) Number: 111
To: JAY GRAHAM Refer#: 110
From: ROBERT FLORES Recv'd: Yes
Subj: FORM VS CONTENT Sec'ty: Public Message
Hey, if the product is getting stale, the maker should be told about it.
Of course everyone likes to told his creation is the greatest thing
since seedless watermelons but usually it isn't. The Gazette depends on
user/reader feedback in order to keep fresh and lively. Starting with
the Sept. issue there will be a section called "The I/O Port" which will
be exactly that: input and output between PC users. This board and
others will be supporting a simple network that will provide lively
discussion between users. Selected portions of these messages will be
published in each issue. Hopefully this endeavour will be supported.
Anyway, thanks again for your support....Robert
Date: 09-04-86 (02:16) Number: 114
To: JAY GRAHAM Refer#: 110
From: DAVID DENNEN Recv'd: No
Subj: FORM VS CONTENT Sec'ty: Public Message
Jay,
I'm sorry, but I must go against your will and say one more thing.
My last message was definately out of my uncalm and uncollective self,
but I meant it. I would like to further one of your points about
"demanding more from the originator". It is the many messages of hard
core non-sence to the others that contain resonable suggestions that
make all the public domain programs what they are. If people were not
open about what they felt about a certain software package, how would th
e originator know what the heak the end user wants? I'm glad they we
have this thing called the Public Domain. Let's utilize it for the
benefit of all of us, and continue to support those who support it.
Dave.
Date: 09-04-86 (03:03) Number: 115
To: ALL Refer#: None
From: CHARLES EICHER Recv'd: (n/a)
Subj: CALM DOWN! Sec'ty: Public Message
OK already! I once again forgot, that we sometimes state things more
forcefully through these mediums, including gripes, so they can be blown
out of proportion.. Sorry for blowing off some steam, but I think we are
all frustrated at the amount of time and effort it takes to do things
like the gazette, or write articles, or set up and collate all that
material. I certainly would like to see more and fatter gazettes, with a
surplus of articles & etc contributed by the public. To start things
rolling, I will contribute some article & etc. info.
Date: 09-04-86 (23:11) Number: 998
To: SYSOP Refer#: 937
From: BOB LANCASTER Recv'd: No
Subj: VALIDATION Sec'ty: Public Message
Thanks for the validation! Now I think I'll return to the bloodshed in
the Gazette conference and see how Robert Flores is holding up...
Things seem to get a little hot over there, but that's a sign of a
need conference, I suppose. Later! -Bob L.

Reference in New Issue View Git Blame Copy Permalink