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-