Msg: 4023 *Conference*
02-20-93 13:45:37
From: RICHARD HANSON
To : PAUL WHITING
Subj: REPLY TO MSG #4021 (THIS BBS' SOFTWARE)
Thanks for the compliment... but... are you sitting down? I use TBBS (The Bread Board System, by eSoft, Inc., 15200 E. Girard Ave., Ste 2550, Aurora, CO 80014 / 303-699-6565 eSoft BBS). I've almost always used TBBS for over 14 years. I did use The Green Machine when I started in the late 70's but was turned on to TBBS by my mentor, alias: Preston King (SATAKA: John Stroud). I could give you a blow by blow history of TBBS but won't. The TBBS product line is available directly from eSoft or discount from Telesaurus, Corporation, 21832 Green Hill, Farmington Hills, MI 48335 / 800-488-9831. USERS COST TELESAURUS 2 295.00 225.00 16 895.00 675.00 32 1,495.00 1,125.00 64 1,995.00 1,500.00 I started with a single line system on a TRS-80 Model III (Newdos80, 48K, 4, 128K floppy disks, monochrome), then ran a second system on a Model IV (same parameters) to provide two line service--not networked--you had to log off of one and log onto the other--but that was way back in the dark ages when single line was all there was. I moved to a 4 line BBS in 1987, driven by TBBS 16 on a DOS clone XT (640K RAM, 8mhz, 20M HD, monochrome). Today, this BBS is TBBS 16 v2.2, with 4 lines running... are you still sitting down?... on that same XT (640K RAM, 8mhz, 40M HD, monochrome). Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Except that I've had to replaced 2 power supplies, the monitor, and the harddisk over all these years. It's been online, 24hr, 7days all this time; and sometimes I actually turn it off and clean it!! You asked one question, expecting just an answer. What I've tried to present is that you don't need a hot rod computer to do a compact car job; and that the software is far more important then the hardware. The important thing is to focus on the needs of your clientele and refine your focus over time. Also, 4 lines is plenty. We usually have a little less then 1,000 users in the userlog. Some use the BBS 1 to 20 times, then never come back. Others--only a small few--use the BBS often. Furthermore, it's really, really, really rare to have all four modems lit up at one time--two modems, and sometimes 3, but 4 is rare. You will find that people are passive. They would rather have mail come to them, rather then have to go get their mail; and that writing skills are on the low to really poor side. The main activity will be downloading files and information you provide. Also, you will find that a well liked and used BBS requires leadership and involvement on the part of the sysop (System Operator). The sysop can not just hang out in the background, but rather is expected to know everything, or at least where to find everything--the guru. If you're going to be the sysop of a BBS then run it by the goal-den rule: "The person with the goal makes the rules." Here's to you, Paul ... a new sysop... -Rick-