Subject: Re: Whatever Happened to BBSs? From: justink@howpubs.com (Justin Kerr) Date: Wed, 7 Jun 1995 10:31:00 -0500

Cc: rballard@cnj.digex.net
Status: RO
X-Status: 

Jeez, Rex, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, or what?
I haven't swam in a lake of bile this deep since the old online-news
argument of Independent Services vs. The Big Three.

But back to your comments:

>On Fri, 2 Jun 1995, Justin Kerr wrote:
>
>> >I have been lurking on this list for quite some time now.  Back in the old
>> >days (about 8 months ago) ...

Actually, I didn't write these comments; they were part of a post
to which I responded. However, I _did_ write the following (my comments 
follow the ">>"):

>> We're still working with the FirstClass platform for CaluNET,
>> an independent online service based out of The Times newspaper in Northwest
>> Indiana and south suburban Chicagoland.  We've been in development for
>> about 11 months, and we plan to launch to the public in about a month.

Rex wrote:

>Does this mean that for the time I'm dialed into FirstClass that I will
>be unable to access other services?  I can't read my e-mail and "News"
>while I wait for your pretty pictures to load at (yawn) 28,800 baud?
>I guess I'm supposed to find something interesting to do while I wait 6 
>minutes for your 5 pictures.  Multiply that by 50 pages and I've killed
>an entire work-day.  I guess that's when I'm suppose to draft a hand-written
>memo to my boss about how great your service is.

You know, Rex, you should really reserve comment about a platform until
you understand how it works.  All of the background graphics, icons and
sounds in FirstClass systems are included in a Settings File that resides 
with the client software on a user's hard disk.  These graphics do not 
need to be downloaded every time a user logs on.  All in all, this system 
is VERY fast - much faster than waiting for graphics-loaded web pages
to pop up or for AOL to automatically update its graphics.

The disadvantage to this is that in order to update our background
graphics, our users will have to download a new settings file.

Oh, and by the way, if you _do_ choose to download one of our online
pictures or graphics, you can still jump into e-mail, a chat, or any other
part of the system while the download takes place in the background.

>> Our goal with CaluNET is to provide a channel for communication and
>> information with a distinct _local_ focus.  At the same time, we want to
>> allow our users to connect to the wide world of the Internet.  
>>
>> Although FirstClass is ideal as a stand-alone platform (high server
>> reliability, fully graphical interfaces for Mac and Windows users, etc.),
>> it hasn't been as transparent with the Internet as we might wish.
[snip]
>> Despite these short-term insufficiencies, we're still going with
>> FirstClass since our focus is very local.  We have hot local content
>> that you can't find anywhere else in cyberspace, and we think that
>> this will be the main draw to CaluNET.  At the same time, we want to
>> provide as much Internet connectivity as possible for our users 
>> (especially since there isn't an ISP in our coverage area ... yet).
>
>There wasn't.  Wanna bet there will be now that you are threatening to
>set up a presence?  You have called PSI, ANS, and checked the local
>BBSs and NONE of them have become ISPs? 

There's no doubt that people in our coverage area will soon have
other options for connecting to the Internet (there are a number of
companies that are trying to establish themselves as ISPs here).

But that's not our focus.  We are interested in becoming an information
and communication nexus for the LOCAL area, with a LOCAL focus.
Although we want to provide as many Internet services as possible,
this is not the primary business that we're in.  However, if the
tools are available to let us better connect with the Internet,
we will take advantage of them.

Part of the reason that we went with FirstClass is that we can
hand a disk to Windows and Macintosh users, they take it home and
dump it on their hard drive, and from there, it's point-and-click
to get into CaluNET.  For those with older computers, we have
a command-line user interface.  All along, our goal has been to
make CaluNET accessible to everyone.

UNIX-based Internet services seem to take a heck of a lot more 
knowledge and expertise on the part of the user to set up, configure 
and use.  You mentioned in another online-news post that going to
people's homes to configure their SLIP connection was a great way 
to pick up women.  Although this sounds promising (heaven knows,
I sure could stand an interesting date), we just don't have
the personnel for this kind of "stud service."

>> I can't emphasize enough the benefits of creating an independent
>> cyberspace entity - especially for a community-based newspaper.  We 
>> think that our model holds a lot of promise, and the reactions of our 
>> beta testers suggest that we're right.
>
>Actually, it makes sense to partner with local BBSs on locally provided
>ISP access.  This keeps the competition going, and provides three sources
>of potential revenue for which you can keep the "Lion's Share".  This is
>especially if you are willing to provide a "One price buys all" package.

I disagree. By partnering with local BBSs or online services, you lose
a great deal of control over the system. In addition, you don't "own"
your users, making it more difficult to get a piece of transactional
services, like interactive banking.

>> - Justin Kerr
>> Editor, CaluNET Online
>> kerr@howpubs.com
>> Justin_Kerr@calunet.com

>No web address?  Too bad.

FYI, it's on the way.  And hey, where's YOUR web page, buddy?

>        Rex Ballard
>        Standard & Poor's/McGraw-Hill
>        Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect
>        the Management of the McGraw-Hill Companies.

                                    (that's a good thing.)

- Justin Kerr
Editor, CaluNET Online
kerr@howpubs.com



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