World-Wide BBS (pg. 7) • SurfWatch/Cyber Patrol • Online Lexicon ■vafdAlu f^UOCIOtll HovaidAlunini CountjJ Lfcfaiy CnunfyBarfe AuociOtjOf^ A/tf/fi menu: Ldiinch tfour omj ontine sert'ice, right out ofthi: box, with W'orldgroup. Offer users e-mml. forums, multi-user teleconferetice. polls, files, Internet access and more. Worldgriiup Miiiiffger: {'.'ierti licre.i! mtd narigiilu your mslam uilh W'orldgroup Mimayer, a Windows client. With the dick of an icon, uscr.'i are cnwKcted and logged in to guur .system. Forums: Create up to JD.ODO group message areas or Internet newsgroups for users to exchange ideas mi a variety of topics. .-I map eren helps users track comvrsation threads visually. -1 Uciiaic* in GCDMU Fpm ^ Uiptl'-SWichlftgr" I'' M* Urn m ie S n o o z c m -0 r c Q r- > C O M M U N I C A 1 I O N S . 1 N C m on • EXCAI.IiniRCOMMUNirATlONS. INCOHPORATI-D • 4410 liAST SOTil I'l.Ari- . ■nil..SA. OKLAHOMA 74I.Wi . Kil()..W2.2.'i22 • >JIS.4SS.iM)l \i\>m VOLUME 6, NUMBER 11 NOVEMBER 1995 DEPARTMENTS 4 readme.txt 6 Newswire 53 AskTess 58 TheA-List 66 Netted Boards 72 Classified Ads 74 Bookshelf 76 Online Update FEATURES 10 open for Business Making Your BBS pay by John Hedtke 16 At Your Service APOrs BBS Service Bureau COLUMNS 22 Take My Web Site, Pieasel Webwise by Dave Kramer 24 Are Your Windows Open? Techiwraves by Lazlow Jones Hunt 95 The Big Boards by Terry Rossi bbs.notebook 26 30 by Steve Janas 34 Sharewaring by Maria Langer 40 Do You Speak Commodore Commodore Connections by Gaelyne R. Moranec 46 GetRiP-ed! Macintosh Online by Michael A. Kuykendall 50 Hot Files by Hank Hurteau 54 ZyXEL Fires Back Modems by Modem Mage NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MftGAZINE P«Se !0 t"igc26 l' — Suaasn Fivo-Nol ■ tfinnxh ontf kdfp^i °" kiuitviH teiki Join LI '—I' 00r^[ElrL^ H<^ 4 corawdjon couni: 239 1230 cfiftfilt) [ al Auilin "I RbixhI Clan' Sovn ill betiM tcdd th« 'policv' [lie ! UTSIDE OF TEXAS IWnairt wHtt t^^wm y«i «t annj. wf.s: ^ ■;■ J Oat Umm Stelsj -i "i^J^eca^ip laiagip^i 1311 J T--ac hazier Web Site and the SWC dial- up BBS are integrated by the TCP/IP network and a Novell IPX/SPX network, essentially allowing the two systems to share download- able files. There's also bulletins, an online store "Door" (actually something called 3 WAIVI, or Web BBS Add-on Module), rudimentary chat, and a time bank — the site requires users to log In and tracks time used. Linton says real- time chat will be implemented soon, and done so in a fashion different from what we've seen thus far. Linton also said he has plans io sell upgrades to Web BBS. but that sysops will receive the early version free. Price of the upgrade? Under $100. Searching is very BBS- like as well. Users can scan through all file names and descriptions in a few blinks. SWC is offering full access to its Web BBS with monthly and annual rates from $85 for three hours a day for a year to one month at one hour a day lor S4. 95. Sign-ups can be taken from the Web, too, with quick credit card verification. Current dial-up mem- bers can transfer their accounts to the Web BBS, othenwise they have to sign up as a newcomer. Check out the pages at http://www.swcbbs.com, or call SWC direct (voice) at 508.368.3654. NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE your desktop and waits. When a user dials the Net via SLIP, PPP or ISDN and attempts (or accidentally) hits a Web/FTP/Gopher site or newsgroup SurfWatch deems to have explicit material (they've programmed in over 1 ,000), a pop-up screen warns the site has been blocked. But what about sites created since your version of the software? That's where the SurfWatch Subscription Ser\'ice comes in, automatically provid- ing updates to your database of blocked sites ($3.95 a month). For further blocking, custom site databases arc available so password-holders can include their own list specific prefer- ences to block. Check out SurfWatch's Web site at http://www.surft\'atch.com (where soft- ware can be purchased), or call Offline Cybe^atrol "TO SURF AND PROTECT- 800.438.6600. Call Venlana Commimications Group lor retail reseller orders at 800.743.5369. Also in the blocking business is Framingham, MA, Microsystems Software. The com- pany recently released Cyber Patrol for Mac and Windows that also blocks restricted Web, FTP and Gopher sites, as well as IRC and Usenet. The Interface is clean and simple to use, but comes with a bit of a learning curve, especially for parents \vho have yet to venture online, or on a computer at all. Built into Cyber Patrol is a "Cyber by John Baynham NOT List" of researched sites "contain- ing material parents may find question- able" according to the company. {The list is updated weekly and can be auto- downloaded within the program.) The list is split into categories and access can be managed to the file direc- tory or page level, which means access can be allowed to approved material at an IP address and not restricted materi- al. The sites on the NOT list were determined by a team of parents and teachers, Microsystems said, based on criteria that include sexuality, racism, violence, drugs, alcohol and other sub- jects. Time of day access can also be set, as well as the number of hours of use per week. Loading at the Windows/Mac start- up, Cyber Patrol drops into the back- ground to block access at the Winsock level. Parents or employers can choose categories they wish to block and can override blocks as they see fit. Additionally, the password holder can add sites and desktop programs they want to block. Controls included in Cyber Patrol prevent disabling or renaming blocked applications. Still, Microsystems admits, no program is "hacker proof." Cyber Patrol lists for S49.95, includ- ing a six-month subscription to the CyberNOT List. Subsequent six-month subscriptions sell for $19.95. The home page can be found at http://\\'ww.microsys.com/CYBER/ where Cyber Patrol can be purchased or taken on a test run. Call them voice at 508.879.9000. One Well of a Site! The eclectic online com- munity of llBSers known as The WELL, based in Sausalito, CA, has taken to the Web in a big way. With its recently unveiled WELL Engaged! (a Web-based interface to The well's conferencing system), members can point and click their way NOVEMBER 199E 3BS MAGAZINE around conferences ranging from media, art, literature and Generation X to jazz, parenting and spirituality. Reading and responding to posts and email are now done with a simple dick. And Personal Library Software's (PLS) search engine has been integrat- ed to allow for swift inquiries into The well's whole conferencing base for concepts and specific subjects. "WELL Engaged! has fundamental advantages over any other Web confer- encing systems existing today," said Bruce Katz, CEO of The WELL, in an August statement. "The organizational structure of WELL conferences allows users to selectively track those confer- ences which interest them and search those conferences for discussion of par- ticular interest." The WELL also offers The Whole Works Internet Toolkit (included as part of a $15 PPP registration fee, where users can dial in from scores of cities worldwide), a suite of applica- tions accompanied by a TCP/IP stack and dialer. The suite includes the latest version of Netscape, Eudora for mail, clients for Telnet, FTP and a Newsgroup read- er. There's also a Gopher client, but it accommodates Mac only. Dip into The Well at http://ww\v. well.com or call (voice) 415.332.9200 for more information. Version 2.1 Tops the Banana Banana Programming has announced more new features for BananaCom Custom, the blindingly simple commu- nication program sysops can have cus- tomized for their own boards. It's version 2.1, and now includes a batch and upload facility, as well as an improved modem scan function, according to the company. Now BananaComm will automatically scan for the modem and detect its speed during installation, as well as test for possible com port conflicts. "We found 95 percent of our incoming support calls were because the user was experiencing some type of com port conflict," said Banana Programming's Paul Wheaton, who said V 2.1 also includes a feature that will perform an even more thorough scan of the hardware. Beyond all that, look for auto Super Kermit, a good protocol for file trans- fers across Telnet sessions, and the abil- ity to view JPEG and text files at once during download. The new JPEG fea- ture also lets a BBS show a thumbnail JPEG in the corner of a full-screen ANSI graphic — all this is in real-time, too. Banana Programming can be reached at 406.543.1928 (voice) or 406.543.8234 (modem). Have A Crappy Day Take a note! And if you hurry you might be able to get "The Masked Basher" to send a nasty note to your "crappy boss". Huh? That's right, somebody out there — a self-proclaimed "corporate dropout" calling himself The Masked Basher — has put up The Crappy Bosses Day Web site to service the tired, the week and the downtrodden who have come to that state after dodging the slings and arrows of a horrible boss. "I woke up one day and decided that T had taken too much abuse from my dysfunc- tional boss. So, like thousands of other people who leave big business every year, I quit and formed my own company," said The Basher, whose company is appropriate- ly named The Rude and Obnoxious Press and carries the motto, "Have a crappy day." "We're inviting ever)'one in the world to send their boss's email address," The Basher said. "Then, on October 16th, The Rude & Obnoxious Press will send anonymous email mes- sages to all the unsuspecting, crappy bosses out there, just to let them know they aren't appreciated." If your so inclined, the crappy-look- ing site is located at http://ivww.neosoft.com/~ro_press/ro_ home.htm. iluou ^BB mm ' '" 'V'-'-' ^ m Online Lexicon @ — When you're talking internet, the @ (at) symbol simply serves as a divider between the user's ID and the damain name In the address: edltor@bbsmagazlne.coiii. Archie — Use this tool to search Internet FTP archives around the world. Searches can be narrowed right down to the file name. Batidwidlh — A diminishing resource? Actually il's more like a measurement of the top speed your system can send and receive information over the Internet. Commercial Online Service — Sometimes it's hard to leil the difference anymore, between BBSs and the so- called online services that Is. Traditlonaiiy they were Prodigy, CompuServe, AOL, etc. But now local BBS sysops have captured large, paying markets using great software and backed up with even belter content. So who's who? You be the judge. It may come down to service and support. Freeware —Almost what it sounds like. Freeware is software you are tree to use, but not free to manipulate. GUI — Graphical User interface. Something that takes the plain old text sometimes seen on BBSs and adds the ability to point and click your way around using a mouse. It usually means color, graphics and, for many, simplicity. Newhle — When you read it here it's not derogatory. We just mean "newcomer". Snail Mall — That which came before email. If you're sending a letter to Aunt Martha through the U.S. Postal Sen/ice, it's riding snail mail. Zip — When you're asked to "Zip" a file, you'll want to compress It using a pro- gram called PKZip. This'il take that big program or file and squeeze It down to a more manageable size. Let's say this LEXiC0N.DOC file was 100,000 bytes in size. If I "Zipped" it the file might end up 50,000 bytes or less and be renamed, say, LEXiCON.ZIP. NOVEMBER 1935 BBS MAGAZINE 10 NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE pen for Business! Now that you've got a BBS, how do you make it pay? My article in the preceding issue addressed how to set up a bul- letin hoard service with the least effort. This time Vm going to show you ways you can use your BBS to make a little money. by John Hedtke Part 2 of 2 T here are two basic ways to make money with a BBS: you can either sell memberships and services on the board (treating the BBS as a business itself) or you can use the BBS as part of another business (to advertise, take orders, and pro- vide customer support and information). Both paths offer a Continues.. NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE 11 chance to spend vast amounts of time and money... and also the possibility of making huge profits. Treating the BBS as a Business Probably the most popular fantasy of new sysops is that of setting up a large, multiline BBS with chatting, forums, huge message boards, files, games, and Internet access. Subsequently, the sysop will assuredly reap vast profits, \vork at home 20 hours a week, and become famous in the BBS world. All this is truly possible, but is it going to be practical? My previous arti- cle talked about setting up a BBS like this, but now let's look at some of the economic details. Let's say you're going to set up an eight-line BBS. Typical costs and con- figurations are as follows: Item: 486-66 w/16 MB RAJVI, 2 1-giga- byte hard disks, 4X CD-ROM, tape drive, DigiBoard Cost: S3,000 Item: 8- 14.4k modems @ SlOO each Cost: $800 (More for 28.8s, of course) Item: Business phone lines (installation) Cost: $200 to $500 Item: Business phone lines (monthly service) Cost: S200-.$500 Item: BBS software Cost: SO-S400 Item: CDs, files, backup tapes Cost: $400 Total startup and first-month costs — $4,600-55,600 As you can see, you'll need between $4,600 and $5,600 just to get started, (unless you've got lesser ambitions or already have some equipment; see below) and perhaps between 52,000 and S6,000 for your telephone expens- es. Don't assume you're going to make money immediately, either. Prudent businesses have operating capital in the bank for their first year's expenses. To set the prices for memberships, you need to figure out what your expenses are, then estimate the number of people likely to buy memberships over a year, and divide. If your first-year expenses are 1 2 • $8,000, you'll need to sell 200 annual memberships at $40 just to break even. That's a lot of memberships — figure that you'll sell one membership for every five people who try the board (you'll need a free trial membership for people, too). TIP: insurance is a good idea. If you're set up in a spare room of your house, your house- hold policy may not cover the BBS because it's a business asset. But wait, there's less! You're going to need to do some kind of advertising, whether it's taking out ads in national BBS magazines or local newsletters. And it would be nice to make some sort of profit on all of this, too. So your membership prices \vill have to reflect these costs as well. Can you do all of this cheaper? Of course you can! You may already have a computer and modems you can press into sendee, phone service might be cheap in your area, and you maybe able to provide some of your start-up costs with pre-sok! memberships at a discount. But remember there are fixed costs that must be dealt with: the phone bills will come in no matter how many people are calling you. Selling It What will actually sell memberships varies. As you can see from ads in the BBS magazines, there are all sorts of profitable BBSs. In general, selling a mix of chatting, conferences, files, and online games is a good place to start. Adult files and chatting sell well but may cause legal or BBS policy issues. BBS networks for messages and mail are fair- ly standard for larger BBSs, and Internet access (usually for an additional mem- bership Ice) is increasingly connnon. NOTE: The costs and technical expertise nec- essary for providing Internet access vary enormously. Unless you're familiar with the Internet, you may want to skip offering Internet access until your BBS Is up and run- ning as a profitable enterprise. Finally, a litde market research before you begin can pay off handsomely. Almost all of your memberships will come from the local calling area. If there are already a number of boards established that provide first-rate file downloads, you may have a much easi- er time building a BBS membership that looks to your BBS for messages and networking. It may be much easier for you to define your own market niche and fill it than to go head-to- head with other established BBSs. Business and Corporate BBSs The preceding section discussed how to make money with BBSs as a business themselves. This section shows you how to use a BBS to make money as an adjunct to a business. Corporate BBSs can directly advertise products, display price lists, disseminate public informa- tion, and act as ser\'ice representatives. Corporate BBSs can also perform tasks inside a company, including acting as a messenger service and transferring files and other information. Some of the ways you can use BBSs in a business environment include: • Customer support • Exchanging information • Recruiting • Mail and message systems • Forums and sharing ideas • Telecommuting • Direct sales NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE Although you'll see BBSs in most high-tech companies these days, these applications can benefit large offices in any industry. Customer Support The most common use for BBSs in high-tech industries is for customer support. A business BBS can act as a 24-hour ser\'ice representative, giving customers technical support and instal- lation instructions, providing cus- tomers with suggestions on ways to use products better, and taking customer complaints and suggestions. You can also use the BBS to do\v'nload add-on programs, updated drivers, and patches to software. Support BBSs can handle frequently asked questions, A well-written answer to a question can be read by dozens or even hundreds of BBS users, preventing many extra phone calls to the support department. Users who have invented novel methods of solving problems will frequently tell other people how they did it. As a result, many support ques- tions posted on the BBS can be answered by other BBS users. Exchanging Information Businesses often use BBSs as a central source of information. For example, one major company installed a BBS for sharing general information and announcements with all its divisions, and for transmitting files and spread- sheets bet^veen divisions. Using the BBS cut the time people spent making long-distance calls each day from four hours to ten minutes. Recruiting BBSs are excellent recruiting tools. You can post job openings and descriptions on a BBS. Prospective candidates can fill out a questionnaire or send a mes- sage expressing interest in a particular job. Mail and IVIessage Systems BBSs are faster than courier services, and you have the added advantage of being able to receive a tile, change it, and return it, all within a few minutes. Many companies use BBSs to upload and download contracts and related files during negotiations when the par- ticipants are away from the main office. Forums and Sharing ideas The advantage of a BBS over a network email system is that everyone can see a forum on a BBS, but not everyone has to participate. In other words, the BBS is acting very much like a regular cork bulletin board on the wall near the cof- fee pot. Posting a discussion on a BBS allows both active and passive partici- pation, and you can see how the discus- sion has progressed simply by reading the preceding messages. Telecommuting Telecommuting is working at home and using a BBS to send and receive projects and assignments. A wide vari- ety of people, including architects, \vord processors, programmers, clerks, documentation specialists, auditors, real estate appraisers, editors, and actu- aries, hold jobs related to the manipu- lation and transfer of information. The people who hold these jobs can benefit from telecommuting, and the greater flexibility offered to employees improves both productivity and morale. NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MA6AZIHE Direct Sales A BBS can be a 24-hour salesperson. Customers can dial in at any time, look at online catalogs of merchandise (and even do\\'nload pictures of products), and place orders with credit cards or pre-approved accounts. The BBS gives you a competitive advantage by accom- modating customers (particularly long- distance customers) who might nor- mally have a hard time reaching you during regular business hours. Ways to Use BBSs in Business Applications for BBSs in business are limited only by your imagination. Here are some ways you can use BBSs in business settings. Hospitals and Clinics; Many hospitals and clinics have set up BBSs on which a patient can phone in and "talk" to a consulting nurse about general medical questions. These can provide a good source of basic information for people who don't have a regular doctor or who need to ask a question late at night. Hotels and Resorts: The BBS can act as an online resen'ation desk. For ski or fishing resorts, you can also use the BBS to post weather, fishing, or sports information. Advertising: You can also sell ads (usu- ally posted as bulletins) to local busi- nesses that rent equipment or provide services. Insurance Agents: BBSs can be a boon to insurance agents. The user can log in and enter any of a selected series of questionnaires that will then let the agent provide rapid quotes for insur- ance. With a little more effort, you can provide actuarial and financial projec- tion programs that will let customers determine many of their insurance needs on their own. Lawyers: A BBS lets clients see how things are developing and leave mes- sages for their lawyer. Even if a lawyer is not available, the client can leave detailed questions, something that is not usually practical to do with an answering service. The lawyer can then review the client's question, compose an answer, and put it on the BBS for the client to examine later. Lawyers and clients can also post messages in a 1 3 forum. This provides a complete case history and supports participants in a. case who cannot meet regularly. Publishers and Typesetters: Most pub- lishing houses and printers use BBSs to transfer files. BBSs are a fast, inexpen- sive alternative to express mailing man- uscripts and diskettes. A BBS can also solve computer incompatibilities — if the files were prepared on a Windows or DOS computer, they can be uploaded to a BBS and then down- loaded on a Macintosh. Radio Stations: BBSs at radio stations use boards as a listener forum, solicit- ing real-time comments about the music, requests, and general input, just like a listener hot line. In addition, the BBS can also be used to announce upcoming musical events sponsored by the station, including concert dates, times, and ticket information. The BBS can also have song lists for specific shows available for downloading. Real-Estate Agencies: For a real-estate agent, same-day or even same-hour information is the difference between making a sale and hearing about it. Many agents maintain private BBSs for clients listing the available properties and prices, \vith access for a small fee for interested home buyers. The main advantage to using a BBS in this indus- try is speed of communications. A choice property can be listed, shown, and sold in the time it takes for a letter to get from the real-estate agent's office to a potential client. By listing property information on the BBS as it becomes available, clients can find out about a property within a few hours of its becoming available. Stockbrokers: One stockbroker I know installed a BBS as a free service to cur- rent and potential clients. The BBS contains general information about the stock market in downloadable text files on topics such as over-the-counter stocks, IRA accounts, and recent devel- opments in state and federal legislation. The BBS also has a library with infor- mation about new books about the stock market. In addition, there is an online glossary of terms used in the business. Clients can request brokers to track a specific stock by setting up a file on the BBS. The brokers then enter the stock's daily closing price. BBS users can also utilize the BBS to set up brokerage accounts. Clients can also upload and download orders, files containing company analyses, spread- sheets, and statistical information. By relegating some of the more routine requests for information to the BBS, the broker can service a larger number of customers effectively. Unions: Union locals are using BBSs to keep the local's members informed on union news. It can also serve as a forum for straw polls and disseminating gen- eral information. During labor negotia- tions, getting timely information out to union members can be critical. Wholesalers and Direct-sales Organizations: A BBS can keep the company's field staff informed ot the latest developments. In many businesses involving direct sales, such as the wholesale food industry, prices and inventory change constantly. Many companies have used BBSs as a way to let dealers and field representatives receive the latest price sheets. Sales orders can also be entered quickly by tailoring a questionnaire to ask tor the appropriate sales information. With this system, a food sales representative can phone the company headquarters from a client's office on an 800-line check the current price and availability of an item, use this information to close the sale, and then enter the sales information necessary to reserve the items in inven- tory and start processing the order. The Wrap-Up Running a BBS for profit is not a casual thing: for-profit BBSs require a fair cash outlay and a substantial continu- ing outlay of time and money. Nonetheless, you can make a decent profit and work at home besides. The most successful BBSs have several dozen lines and offer a big range of ser- vices. But always remember that if you want to make money with a BBS, you need to treat the BBS as a business, not a hobby. You should enjoy what you're doing, but it's still going to be work. NOTE: a BBS is not always the best solution lor distributing inforinatlGn. Sometimes a paper routing system or an occasional con- ference call between offices will work better and more cheaply. It your only solution is a hammer, pretty soon every problem will start looking like a nail. Business BBSs do best at distributing information that changes frequently and that must go to a number of people separated from the source of the infor- mation and each other. Make sure that the BBS's intended users understand how to use it by teaching classes in basic telecommunications or writing a simple set of procedures. Then enlist as many helpers in remote offices as you can. Appoint someone in each office as a BBS resource to answer questions for other users who may be having problems. All in all, making money with a BBS is challenging, but it can be rewarding. Take time to plan and don't overextend your resources, and you should be able to do okay, mumii John V. Hedtke is a cohtmnist and the award-winning author of 12 books, incUidiiig the 3rd edition of Using Computer BidJetin Boards, Peachtree, Accounting for Windows Made Easy, and The Whidows Sliareware 500. He can be reached at johnliedtke@aol.coni or jhedtke@oz.net. John lives in Seattle. Copyright 1 9yj by John V. Hedtke, fortiniis nseii by per- inmiflil of MIS: Prc<<, il dsvisian of Hairy Hall c- Co. 14 NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE iPGBoald Bulletin ►oard Software Gives l(^ujybe World 1 T .he concept is simple, absolutely no other Bulletin Board Software gives you as much as PCBoard, And PCBoard costs a fraction of what you would pay for a comparable package elsewhere. It is no wonder PCBoard is the world's leading Bulletin Board Software winning such awards as the prestigious PC Magazine Editors Choice Award and the Hayes/Dvorak Award for Outstanding Telecommunications Technology for our programming language. Try PCBoard for yourself, with our compliments, and find out why PCBoard Bulletin Board Sofrware gives you the world without breaking the bank and why the competition is left holding the bag. PCBoan/for DOS PCBoard for OS/2 CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE DEMO 1.800.356.1686 PCBoard w/ PPLC ... everything you need right out of the box! standard features include: ■ Inleriie!/UUCP Gateway H Fido Mailer & Tosser ■ Internal QWK Mail B Credit Accounting H Programming Language ■ dBASE III File Access B Automated File Maintenance H Multiple Language Support ■ Optimized for DOS. WIN. OS/2 H Intelligent Multipart Support H OS/2 Coinm Driver Support ■ PAD (X.25) Support ■ Local & LAN Logins ■ PCB Mail for Windows M FREE D/L Upgrades for a Year H FREE Voice Technical Support for a Full Year and BBS Technical Support for lifel '^ -^ Clark Development Company, Inc. ^ ^J 3950 South 700 Eiisl, Suite 303, Murray, Ulah 84107-2173 — Tel SO 1 .26 1 . 1 686 Fax 80 1 .26 1 -8987 BBS 80 1 .26 1 .8976 email: sales@clarkdev.com - tech. support@clarkdev. com Copyright 1995 Clark Deveiopment Company, inc. Ail Rights Reserved. PCSoard is a registered trademark and PPLC and PCBMail are trademarks at Clark Development Company, Inc. s 'o you think you've identified the perfect application for an onUne system. You see it as one that will either save your company thousands of dollars or create sources of revenue not previously possible. The idea is solid. Now, how to make it reality? To begin you have to find the appropriate hardware and software, (as discussed elsewhere in this issue and issue 9/95), then there is sometimes the learning curve related to customizing the BBS features to meet your needs. And what about multiple communication lines, modems, Internet access, usage tracking, security issues, legal issues, data maintenance, on-going user support, etc.? The task can be daunting. If this scenario sounds familiar, you'll be pleased to know there are alternatives. And one of those is a BBS service bureau. I'^m mm i. Continues vhardware that makes APDI work. 16 NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZIh « i mm ^sv^'iiiKHiriiifiiinim I*-'' r"<=f- 1 17 BBS service bureau? BBS service bureaus exist primarily to relieve you, the BBS operator or sponsor, from the task of learning technical details related to implementing and operating an online system. The bureau will often assist in the system design and then imple- ment the online service in their specialized facilities, supplying all of the computer hardware, software and communication facilities. This leaves you, the client, free to concentrate on maintaining the system's data and promoting usage of the board. One of the major service bureaus of this kind (if not the major one) is Application Programming & Development, Inc. (APDl). Launched in 1990 by a group of technicians who coded an online system from scratch for the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC), APDl now boasts 15 full-time staff and operates over two dozen online systems for some of the nation's bigger organizations. Current capacity at APDI's Service Center, which is located just outside of Washington, D.C., exceeds 500 simultaneous connections handling thou- sands of callers per day. APDl was started primarily as a programming shop, but has evolved to concentrate on operating BBSs for those who don't want to get their hands dirty from the nitty-gritty of running a system. According to APDl President Mark Burnett, "Over the past several years wc have seen so many organizations spend thou- sands of dollars on BBS hardware and software which are cur- rendy sitting idle because clients mistakenly thought that BBSs were simple to set up and easy to maintain." For the absolute beginner that can be true; however, many BBS software companies are addressing this issue head-on with simple install procedures to get a board up and running in short order. Still, there's the issue of maintenance and hard- ware and future modification — all of which APDl accommo- dates. And while APDl will go to a customer's site to install a BBS, their main business is implementing online systems at their own service facility. Beyond Hardware and Software First and foremost, according to APDi, the company impress- es on prospects that a successful online system is far more than simply hardware and software. "In fact," says Director of Business Development Lee Hevner, "these elements represent only a small portion of the total cost of a successful online system. It is our job to make sure the client recognizes all of the other related costs." With all clients, APDl first works through a process of sys- tem design and analysis. Starting with a clear statement of goals, a detailed questionnaire is completed which defines all elements of the system. Such issues as user interface, commu- nication options, data formats, menu structures, security requirements, and reporting rcquironicnls are addressed. "The up front design effort cannot be skipped" according to Hevner. "This process separates fantasy from reality and leads us to a detailed design document which provides a clear understanding of the service to be provided. It forms the basis of a contract between APDI and our customer." APDl Pfesidenl Mark Burnett (center) shares a joke with Jim Harrer (yellow shirt), president of Mustang Software, and Galacticomm President Scott Brinker, at the company's booth at BBSCON. APDl usesGalacticomm's Worldgroup software and Mustang's Wildcat! product to run its clients' BBSs. Finding the right fit BBS software is changing and improving at a dizzying pace, and APDI says it retains the flexibility of recommending the best software available for a client's requirements. (As new products and revised versions enter the market, APDI road- tests and offers them as an option to clients.) Whenever possible the company recommends off-the-shelf software. In fact, most systems currently operated by APDI use either Galacticomm's Worldgroup software or Mustang Software's Wildcat! product. And if an off-the-shelf package will not do the job, APDI's programmers can develop a customized sys- tem to meet the requirements. "We only offer to utilize BBS software which is 100 percent rock solid," said Burnett. "After all, as a service bureau, it is up to us to support the users of these products." Currently APDI is a strategic business partner of Galacticomm and one of only three Certified Mustang Software Integrators for Wildcat! soffivare. APDI offers its clients a wide range of user connect options Each online system operated by APDI has its own unique look and capabilities. i 18 NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE as well. Among these are regular dial-up lines, 800 number connects, Telnet, and X.25 packet switching connects (allow- ing local calls from throughout the U.S. and many interna- tional locations). All communication lines enter the service facilit)' via fiber optics, and APDl has recently entered a strategic relationship with Bell Atlantic to offer full ISDN connection capability. Clients can m'\x and match any of these connection types for their system (e.g. three dial-up lines, two Telnet connects, and two ISDN connects). And additional lines can be added at any time system activity demands. Online systems operated by APDI can also be accessed directly from the World Wide Web. "This flexibility of connection quantity and type is extremely difficult to duplicate by organizations attempting an in-house installation. It is a major factor in our clients deciding to out- source their system to us," according to Burnett. After identifying the appropriate hardware, software and communication elements, APDI technicians customize the system to provide the capabilities as specified by the client, including presenting a unique "look-and-feel." Users of the online service can have no indication the system is running anywhere other than in the client's offices. APDI even answers tech support calls from system users generically. Like APDI's design process, the implementation process also follows a defined methodology. Well-defined perfor- mance criteria must be met before a system is released to the user population. The startup process includes alpha testing and beta testing, during which the kinks are worked out of the system and feedback from beta users is solicited. In the startup period, the service bureau supplies clients assistance that goes beyond just the technical aspects. The company says it advises on all phases of the system, including data collection and presentation, legal issues, virus protection and the creation of marketing materials and user help packets. "Over the years we have seen hundreds of ideas and imple- mented dozens of online systems. We have seen systems suc- ceed and we have seen them fail. We have a good feel for what works and what doesn't," said Burnett. "We want our clients' systems to be successful ever)' bit as much as they do . , .. And, quite honestly, we don't accept all of the business which is offered to us. We will not implement a system which is not sup- ported by a sound business plan and thus has ver>' little chance for success. That would be a waste of our time and their money. APDI is only successful if the systems we run are successful." Operation and maintenance Okay, the BBS is implemented to the customer's specifications and users are connecting. Time to relax, right? Not exactly. Says APDI, this is where the real advantages of using a ser- vice bureau kick in. For instance, APDI commits many resources to maintain- ing and operating released systems. Data is backed up daily and technology is constantly being refreshed. But perhaps most important during the operation phase of a system is what APDI points to as its Help Desk. Since even the best online service is completely useless if callers cannot connect to it, the company provides all systems with a professionally staffed Help Desk capability from 9 a.m. to midnight week- days (24-hour/seven days a week coverage is also available) to ■ ■ ■ ■ NOVEMBER 1995 BBS "APDI is only successful If the systems we pun are successful." — Mark Burnett, APDI assist callers in connecting to their system. If a user of any board has a problem connecting, they call APDI, not the spon- soring organization., and receive step-by-step instruction. According to Hevner, "Second only to the quality of the online data, no single element is more important to the suc- cess of an online system than continuous support of the user. And support at the level provided by APDI is prohibitively expensive for an organization to provide in-house. This is another reason organizations choose to out-source the opera- tion of their on-line systems to APDI." The service center A mistaken impression exists out there today that BBSs are run solely out of basements, garages or the wiring cabinet. Though many are, the reality is that professional business systems often require a state-of-the-art environment. APDI has built its Service Center in an attempt to provide this environment. "We operate mission critical online applications for some of the largest organizations in the country. These online systems are essential to daily business," said Burnett. "Unscheduled downtime is not acceptable to most of our customers." To achieve the best opportunity for continuous operations, all systems operated at APDI run on completely redundant hardware and mirrored data servers. Any glitch encountered by a server immediately kicks in a second server without inter- ruption. In addition, all systems are connected to industrial strength UPSes which maintain power for a minimum of two hours in the event of total power failure. Even this capability is redundant, however, as APDI has its own natural gas powered generator which supplies juice for an indefinite period of time. Is it for you? BBS service bureaus can be used by anyone from entrepre- neurs to the largest organizations in the country. Continues,. The APDI Help Desk on the job. MAGAZINE 19 Sje Jivofavivat, APDI treasurer, and Lee Hevner, director of marketing, withi several products from companies utilizing APDI's services. "Dating services, lotto online and purely entertainment boards would do best to look elsewhere," according to Hevner, "We target professional business applications, and among our most successful vertical markets are publishers, associations, financial service organizations and corporations. Each of these market segments have applications where cost justification and opportunities for new revenue streams abound." An emerging market for APDI ser%'ices exists in the form of back-end processing for CD-ROMS. Publishers and informa- tion providers who distribute information periodically (e.g. monthly) via CD are supplementing their product with a fea- ture programmed into the CD that automatically dials an online system at APDI to download daily data. Other CD pro- ducers are programming "buttons" in their software that allow users to place orders from the CD automatically, by dialing a service at APDI which collects ordering and payment data and then transmits it to vendors for fulfillment. Still others are dis- tributing millions of free CD-ROMs of all t)'pes that a user can test drive. If they want the full product they click a button on the software interface which transmits to a system at APDI payment information. The bureau then transmits back a key to unlock the full features of the CD. "The applications for online systems are tremendous and businesses are just now starting to understand the power of these capabilities" said Hevner. "APDI is positioned to pro- vide customized online systems to meet these needs." The money factor APDI charges its clients an initial setup fee for implementa- tion and customization of each online system. Then there is a monthly charge based upon the number of simultaneous con- nects dedicated to the system (APDI's largest client has 300 connects). APDI does not charge based upon system activity, information downloads or other variable factors. "We find that professional organizations want a firm num- ber which they can budget for over)' month, not one that varies all over the map," states Burnett. And make no mistake, operating a professional online sys- tem through APDI is not exactly cheap. Unless an organization is willing to commit at least S25,000 per year to operate and maintain the system, then APDI's services are not for them. 20 NOVEMBER 1996 "When put in perspective, however, running a system at APDI costs far less than hiring (or diverting) one or more employees in-housc to manage the system. And with APDI an organization can be assured of a professional system operating in a professional environment." according to Burnett. APfJI further offers clients the opportunity to start the sys- tem at APDI's service bureau and after a period of time bring it in-house when all is running smoothly. "So far we have had only one organization take us up on this offer and they are now trying to figure out how, political- ly, to move it back" said Burnett. "People just don't realize what it takes to keep these things running 24 hours a day, seven da)'s a week." What about the Web? "The advent of the popularity of the Internet and the WWW [World Wide Web] has increased our business several times over," according to Burnett, who says the Internet and the WW^V are not replacements for BBSs, but complementary elements. As mentioned, all BBSs run at APDI can be accessed via a Telnet session on the Internet allowing access with little or no communication charges. A Web home page can "front end" any of APDI's systems, enhancing the visibility and marketing of the BBS. In the final analysis, however, professional organi- zations prefer to conduct secure business and confidential information exchange within the secure confines of their own proprietary online system; a system with multiple levels of security and one which requires a password to enter. In other \s'ords, a BBS. And, while some people may find this hard to believe, says Burnett, sur^^eys which APDI has conducted of potential sys- tem users show that there are a lot of people out there who do not use the Net and don't plan to use it in the near future. "When one of our customers decided to switch access methods from phone lines to Internet only, they lost half of their audience. They put the phone line option back in very quickly," Burnett said. "Most of our clients are ver)' pragmatic about this. The days when everyone uses the Internet are sev- eral years off" Still, APDI's use of the Net is extensive. Systems that oper- ate this way are seamlessly integrated with the internet in sev- eral areas. Internet email is a common option which APDI integrates into client systems. The bureau can also include access to specialized Internet Newsgroups. And while APDI can build a system for an organization with full Internet access capability, most clients do not want to become Internet service providers. Their purposes for the online system are much more focused than that, and allowing users to browse the Internet is not one of those purposes. Online services are proliferating as more and more of the population is able to connect. Professional organizations and businesses are discovering online applications that are easily cost justifiable, yet the logistics and of implementing a profes- sional online system are sometimes beyond the current capa- bihties of many existing MIS departments. For them, the BBS ser\'ice bureau just might be the solution. For more information, APDI can be reached at I-800-785-APDI. ^B BBS MAGAZINE Put Your BUSINESS ONLINE ... E-MAIL - Private and public message areas, user mail boxes, and file attachments all in an easy to use word processor style editor. Users can preview graphic images from CD-ROM, hard drive or any other mountable volume. Send and receive files while using system features such as chat, and e-mail. ■.»i»l lr(c-n-.w8t tHufpakt/ Citizen Com&dy vsrith lAAalloj3 And it's pr*ttf tvxoij . toa "i April 3, 1995 Welcome to Cili»a Pokel j^ifjl Ppwrntnl ■ faiiw . channel after a few hours; the results of prolonged exposure to light bulb jokes have not been studied by medical science. I-ortunately, there's also a batch of links to other humorous sites to divert you, if you can break the spell. Like to make fun of corporate America? Who doesn't. Well, there's no better place to start that The Gallery of Advertising Parody at http://www.dnai.com/-sharrDw/parody.html. I he punch- line? Some aren't jokes. Parody is surely the greatest flattery on the Web. To see vv^hat i mean visit the What Snooze Page (a sarcastic take off on the NCSA What's New page) at http://www.digimark.net/mfu/whas- nooz.htiTiL Among the gems are PGt: ( Pretty Good luilhanasia) and Top Ten Rejected Wired Magazine Covers. Another parody site is The Squat (http://thBorv.physics.missouri.edu/~georges/Josh/ squat/), which appeared within weeks of the debut of the soap opera-ish Web site called The Spot {http://www.thespot.com/). Spawn of the Net The Internet has its own indigenous forms of hunwr, and much of it has been preserved for future generations who don't have a clue what they're in for. (Heh heh.) For one thing, there's the international sport of the Net: Barney hating. That anthropomorphic dinosaur has tlie face that launched a thou- sand newsgroups — most of them devoted to new and exciting methods of disembowelling the purple beast. Now, thanks to the magic of the Web, you can lake Harney apart yourself Surf to the Barney Fun Page at http://ugwEb.cs. ualberta,ca/~gerald/barney/, ivhere you can pick a weapon and go to work! Or, join the lihad to Destroy Barney on the World Wide Web (http://deeptht.armory.com/~deadslug/Jihad/jihad.html) and discover the six degrees of separating Bai-ney's head from his shoulders. If you can't squeeze enough humorous hate and loathing out of Barney, it's time to jettee to Australia for a dose of The Bas- tard Operator from Hell. The fully serialized antics of one loath- some system administrator are chronicled for your pure chew- ing satisfaction at http://www.st.nepean.uws.edu.au/stuff/bofh/. On a more unpredictable note, there's always the Usenet Oracle. If you're new lo the Internet or just stick to the back circuits, the Oracle is an all-knowing being that dispenses some ot the most sage-worthy advice ever devised to anyone who sends a query via email. Actually, the Oracle is a humorous force wherein the sender of a question is suddenly an authority on whatever random query she or he gets saddled with — at the price of sending a question. The results are often hilarious, and they're collected at the Best of the Oracle, located at httpr//paul.spu.edu/~zyistra/ comedy/oracle/index.html on your radio dial. You can also find Oracle memorabilia at The Usenet Oracle Index, just a short click away at ht1p://www.pcnet.com/usErs/stenor/oracl8/mdex.html. 'Zines Finally, there are stacks of humor e-zines on the Web. Foremost among them is Citizen Poke (http://www.amherst.edu/ -poke/) at Amherst University. Released monthly in Adobe Acrobat format, past features include 10 Steps to Beating jury Duty, sexual harassment trading cards, and, for those lazy stu- dents of pop culture, O.I. Cliff Notes. Or, perhaps, the Ooze is more your style. Based at http://www.io,com/-ooze/, the site boasts such articles as From the Editor's Dmiipsler, Rejected Metaphors for the Information Superhighway, and Stupidest Mac Shareware (which includes "Ooze: The Game"). For the more sophisticated palate, there is a somewhat more disciplined collection of Editorial Humor at http://virtumall.cam/newsstand/EditorialHumor/main.html.Thesite boasts sample cartoons to get you interested in the printed magazine of the same name. As a bonus, subscribers get a pass- word to access more online booty. Cap off your tour de farce with the Britcomedy Digest, which has features and links for fans of "Black Adder," "A Fish Called Wanda," "AbPab" and "Red Dwarf," to name a few. Check in at http://cathouse.org/BritishComedy/BD/ And for those with reall)' short attention spans, the one sen- tence short stories at http://www.cs,mcgill.ca/-lestat/short.html should suffice. Of course, if you have a reall)' short attention span, you probably didn't read this far. Ah, the irony. Overheard on the 'Net "I hope life is not a big joke, 'cause 1 don't get it." lymv Knuiier can be readied nl reehime@omni.vokenct.com. NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE 23 lechnoraves BY LA2LOW JONES Are Your ^ ? Windows Open^ (It's raining hysteria) The four ambassadors slowly enter the steely- cathedral through the 50- foot flashing monitor-laden doors . Smoke billows before them a 30-foot-wide computer animated Windows 95 logo. A deep bass explosion accompanies pillars of fire as the logo speaks. "You dare disturb the great Goz?" One steps forth, "Oh great Goz, we request back control of our computers." An ear shattering explosion from a cannon hurls Win 95 CD-ROMs like shrapnel piercing the prominent lead- ers, who now lay on the floor, slain: The king of neon -colored Wired ville "Oh |pnt Gai, wn iwpatt back lafNPi (the 51st state of the union), the CEO of McDisney CNNBSBSTV, SKGT- CIBM leader Steven Spielberg, and Mr. Start-Me-Up Mick Jagger. All kinds of doomsday scenarios were drawn before the release of Windows 95 this summer. Some viciously opposed the onslaught of the upgrade by mighty Microsoft, and painted the pre-95 release hoopla as preapocolyptic warnings. Others have moved backward, to the safet)' of decade-old operating systems like Commodore 64s and Vic 20s (which are Internet compatible, by the way). One woman even claimed to have infiltrated Microsoft and exposed a reli- gious cult that will use Windows to ele- vate BiU Gates as the one true Messiah. Every known medium worldwide has been plastered with comments on it. Obviously, something much bigger than an $89 platform upgrade is occur- ring here. Following Gates's screaming new- born, public reaction has been more interesting than the platform could ever hope to be. The question is, why was there so much anti-Microsoft sen- timent if 80 percent of users were run- ning the old Windows anyway? These are the folks who brought us the glow of the old faithful C:\ prompt. Should they have stopped there? Well, here are several responses received after I posted inquiries about reactions to Win 95: The 'They're robbing us blind^ argument A Microsoft employee recently emailed me this response: "I've been here for 4.5 years. When I joined it was 6,000 employees. . . it's now 16,000. But remember, IBM is 24 NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MABAZINE 200,000. So we're actually kind of small. IBM makes $52 billion in rev- enues — $10 billion in cash in the bank, AT&T over $70 billion in rev- enues, HP $10 billion in revenues, Apple $8 billion in revenues, then let's not forget all the Japanese companies — Sega, Nintendo, Fujitsu, etc. etc. etc. Microsoft is only $5 billion in revenue with $5 bUlion in the bank." Response: So that's why Bill Gates didn't have change for the soda machine in that Coke commercial? Is he broke? Are Coke and Microsoft going to merge and change that damn "I'd like to buy the world a Coke" jingle to "I'd like to buy the world Windows 95, and multitask in harmony?" The 'Windows 95 is the same as Mac" argument Comic strip artist Henry Payne depict- ed Bill Gates sketching the Win 95 logo using an Apple as a model. Macintosh interface designer Bruce Tognazzini recently said that the new platforms are still duplicating the original cigarette burns in the original Mac platform. Others feel the same: "Yeah, I've seen Winblows95 (sic) too, and wasn't impressed with techno- logical 'innovations' that were on the Mac ten years ago. Are you really impressed with Microlimp including Centipede as part of Lose95 (sic), a weak videogame also ten years old?" — SGSardi Response: Um, it beats solitaire, Tlie 'Bill Gates is out to ruin me' argument "Mr. Gates considers people vvho report problems with his software to be personally attacking him. He uses his power and money to stomp people into the ground, "During family medical emergency on August 21, 1991, Microsoft attempts to have me committed during after (sic) arrest fails when I pass test. I'm now having my cognitive differences used in an attempt to make me look insane. The cops assaulted me very badly and mocked me about Bill Gates and Microsoft. Both my children wit- nessed this and were traumatized by it. "Microsoft is crawling with cult peo- ple. Rick (Microsoft employee) was a New Age Christian. Like most of his type he began talking about Revelations in the Bible. Then he started in with this stuff about Bill Gates being the Messiah. Though his words kept saying he was going to rid me of this demon he perceived in me, he was definitely attempting to assault me." — Joan Grove, Seattle WA Response: Please, please, take the med- ication. (To see more of her grievances, head to http://www.halcyon.com/ redrose/joan.html). The 'Ifs a memoiy hog" argument "I have windoze (sic) 3.1 on my system because it shipped with my computer, and as far as I am concerned it is a memory gobbling hog. I use it very lit- tle. As far as windoze 95 goes, that is one piece of software that will never reside in my system. Just to show you how serious I am, I have in my hot little hand a slackware version oflinux... it will be installed later on this week as the rest of the brainwashed public installs the microscum (sic) messiah. "I'm so sick of all the h>'pe and I can only hope that there is a collective crash of systems on Thursday night as alt these lamebrains try to install that hacked piece of code." — Cassis in NY Response: That collective crash was cash registers. Sell your computer and buy some stock. 'I won't never use Windows 95, not if it was the last OS on earth. (rdusemyVic-2Sf!r^).' — Casale in Philadelphia Response: See if you can get a grammar checker for that Vic-20. Tbe'lBMOSyZWaipplatfonn doeitts same tpg" argument "I've been using OS/2 for the past three years. WinBloze (sic) 95 ain't nothing new or exciting for me!!! I've got the features already!!!" — macwarp Re^wnse: This is beginning to soimd liJ^e the VHS/BETA wars of the early 80s. The 'huh' argument "Color me square, but who's Bill Gates?" — Susan in Missouri Response: 10: print "wake up" 20: goto 10. The 'Windows is for stupid people who can't figure out computers' argument when MSN was unveiled overseas, one person coined it "the McDonaldization of the on-line world." In the same vein, core Internet users scoffed at the flood of AOIers hitting the Net, labeling them as newbies and asserting that stupid people are trying to figure out computers. Response: Stupid people have figured out computers. Run for your Ufe. ,^ Start I Windows is an operating system that cost hundreds of millions of dol- lars to develop, over 1,000 people to write and is comprised of 11 million lines of code. It seems the question is, "What do people want in an operating system? No nonsense ease of use?" Windows 3.x delivered that, somewhat. What is the perfect operating sys- tem? Is it Windows 95? Will Bill Gates buy us all a Coke? Is there a secret reli- gious cult inside Microsoft? Can I go to confession from my laptop? These reactions are amusing, indeed, and in many cases extreme. It's interesting to note that most email was critical and the positive feedback scarce. This may be what I call the "pizza delivery" phenomenon which I experienced in my teen-age days of slinging pies. On occasion a customer would call, bellowing complaints and insults at the store manager, grumbling that they weren't given the perfect pizza. No one ever phoned overwhelmed in culinary delight. Instead, they voted with their dollars by calling back in the future when they were ready to have their junk food intake upgraded. ^^ Sling Win 95 complaints and other stuff at Lazlow at lazlow@tmdernet.com NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE 25 Ilie Big Boards BY TERRY ROSSI Hunt 95 The quest begins for Windows tools and toys Along with a million others, I rushed to the computer store within four days of Windows 95 being released — S89 in hand. I read the printed manual, or at least the title page, and dove right into upgrading my new laptop to the touted wave of the future in operating systems. For those who haven't guessed from my previous columns, I have to admit I purchase and run almost every O/S you can stick on a PC. 1 have Windows, Windo^vs for Workgroups, Windows NT, OS/2 and FreeBSD Unix. I like them all and the last thing I needed \vas another one; howe\'cr I'm a tech-wee- nie at heart, and the one thing I couldn't do the latter part of August was drive past a computer store without knowing I was still running yesterday's software. "Would you like a receipt, sir?" Back to the laptop. 1 use it primarily for communications, access to all the online .services, direct and dial-up connections to the Internet, and outgoing faxes. I also have a PCMCIA net- work adapter and use it to connect to my Novell LAN, Microsoft Network, and TCP/IP networks. The reason I'm sharing all this is that I was wondering just how far "plug-and- play" would take me. Answer: pretty far, it seems. 1 had only one problem with the PCMCIA card services supplied in my Toshiba, and once I allowed 95 to disable them and use the new 32-bit ser\'ices, the minor configuration issues went away. After I had the installation finished it was all pretty boring; the only thing I was looking forward to was logging onto the new Microsoft Network. So I quickly dialed up the big three and MSN to search for the latest and greatest tools and toys for my new O/S. 26 NOVEMBER 1995 £^| e.i«™j«i ^r.lnjsj CompuServe First stop was CompuServe. It seems that if I'm looking for support or software, I always call CIS first and this time, as usual, I wasn't disappointed, i did a quick search for "win- dows 95" and clicked off on the first kew'ord "WTNNEWS" which gave me my first look at WinCim under Windows 95. At first I was pretty disappointed, because upon entering the forum, WinCim began to download a foi-um logo. (The forum logo is generally pasted right in the center of the Wintjm screen.) The forum logo was encased in a Windows 95 win- dow — however I quickly realized the forum logo was a pic- ture of a Windows 95 window and not the window itself. OK, my mistake. After reading the forum news file, I realized that the WIN- NEWS forum, which is operated by WUGNET, is part of the CompuServe Windows 95 Support Center (GO WIN95) hold- ing a wealth of information and software. The first tool I downloaded was the Windows 95 version of WinZip. If you've never used WinZip I encourage you to check it out. It's a great shareware program that gives you total BBS MAGAZINE ■ ■ control over your compressed files in a very thorough and graphical environment. After I installed WinZip I was able to uncompress and experience some of my downloads. I grabbed some great ani- mated cursors, bitmaps and images to show off my new sup- port for Windows 95, Microsoft's new O/S handled them all. I encourage you to check out both the WinNews and WIN95 forums on CIS to hunt your own treasures. AOL Next stop was America Onhne. 1 was looking for a good image capture program for 95 after being told by my editor that my old standby Hijack Pro was producing "weird" images under Windows NT. I figured it might also break down under 95, so off I went. I followed the same procedure as on CIS, and clicked on the search button looking for "windows." AOL produced two services: the Windows Forum and Windows Magazine Online, both of which were accessible via keyword WINDOWS. After clicking the Windows Forum icon I was presented with an icon for AOL's Win 95 Center (Keyword: Win95). After AOL auto-downloaded some new art, up came a rather pleasing interface for something called the Win 95 Center, complete with news, software libraries, World-Wide Web sites and an offer for a free Windows 95 tutor. According to the center's introduction, "You'll find tips from Microsoft (check out the "WinNews Electronic Newsletters" section), World-Wide Web links to areas of interest and much more. AOL already has the best collection ot Windows 95 files available and, as always, our message areas are a great place to get help from peers and experts about Windows 95 issues." I quickly went to the Software Library and started looking for my screen capture program. Unfortunately AOL's claim to the best collection of Windows 95 files available did not include a screen capture program. I did however find one in the standard Windows software libraries — the program Grnblt Pro (GP50.ZIP) by Software Excellence By Design Inc. The file description makes the following reference: "The Chicago Computer Society magazine Hard Copy had this to say about Grabit Pro: 'In short, Grablt Pro will increase your NOVEMBER 1995 efficiency at least 50% and probably (no kidding) 80% or More!'" I'll let you know if it helps me. By the way, it turns out that GP50.ZIP is indeed a Windows 95/NT v3.5 1 program that just hasn't made it into AOL's Win 95 Center. I also enjoyed the Windows 95 Message Boards, which were well written and full of useful information. One particularly interesting category was "Tips and Tricks." ! found many of those good un-documented features along with some need-to- know type information. Delphi My next stop on the Win 95 quest was Delphi. 1 stumbled into the Windows Users Forum (GO COM WIN) brought to us by Jim makely [FRODOH] and Valda Hilley IVHILLEY), co- authors of "Windows 3.1 Configuration Secrets" from IDG Books. It seems that Delphi has just upgraded this forum from a Custom forum to an official Delphi SIG. I quickly found the database, Delphi's naming convention for a file library. In there I honed in on "1995 Windows" — my assumption is that the Delphi folks named the menu option this instead of "Windows 95" so that users could take advantage of the com- mand line completion feature of VMS, the system on which Delphi runs. Unfortunately, the file collection was really small — a total of 10 files — however it wasn't a wasted phone call because I did find a utility 1 was looking for. The program RoboDUN is a freeware scripting utility to use with Microsoft's Dial Up Networking in 95. 1 downloaded it to test out the dial-up PPP connection I use while on the road. After finding the screen capture utility for 95 in the stan- dard file libraries on AOL, I figured it might be worth a try on Delphi as well. It was. Going up one level to the standard win- dows database (file libraries), I found a few more 95 ufilities Innouncencnts Foil k»nFei~encc Set Pt-efe )atahcises CFiles> Topic Pes -nti'u Log Uha's Her -orun <[1eEs.iiges> UorhspaCQ ntemet Hftuigator Help lail Exit lenber Uirectorif UindQwc Users >Uhflt do you want to tlo? Databases arc rticnjsoft WinHeuE availiiblc Benepal Infatuation IFpconing Sc Ifindous Cnnf igui*ation Neiic and (in Iforkcfruup Afiplicationc Fi'otii^anning Hot Sliai-euai'e 1995 UindoU ropiOUJiicJi topicTQPIOUMch topic? Pleas^c respond. -sasji en for hllsJncas! Ndus and ftnnoiincenonts topict including one which was right up my ally: CLNUPW.ZIP, or CleanUp For Windows. This little jewel allows you to scan one or more disks to identify and remove unnecessary files, save them to a directory, create (and optionally execute) a batch file, or print a list of files. CleanUp will identify files with the same name in any directory and display them in the main window. You can also display a graph of the space used by BBS MAGAZINE C O N T I N V K S 27 MSN TODAY your largest directories. Alternatively, you can choose to view all files on the disks, zero length files, backup files (*.BAK), or tagged files. In any view, you can Tag and Untag files tor dele- tion with a plethora of selection criteria. Prodigy Convinced that there must be more great shareware out there, I logged into Prodigy and received some more of the focelift I told you about that last month. The Prodigy user interface is really starting to shine — I especially the new "Dear Member" Prodigy's suggestion box for the next generation of the service. I quickly went to the com- puting section and the Ziff Davis Shareware Club, where I was happy to see the open- ing screen featured a Windows 95 logo. If you've never used ZDNET on Prodigy before, you're missing one of the best things online. ZDNET's claim to fame in my opinion is a feature called "Preston's Picks." Preston Gralla is the man behind the picks, and he rounds up some of the best software tools for Windows and its step-children. I find his picks to be excellent and particularly liked one called DOCMAN.ZIP, which Preston describes as follows: "If you can make any sense at all or find any real, useful purpose for the Documents section of the Windows 95 Start menu, then you're a better person than I am. Among its many shortcomings: you can't add individual documents to it, and you can't delete individ- ual documents or groups of documents from it. As far as I can tell, that makes it well- nigh useless. DociVIan (Document List Management System) changes that, turning it into a true power tool. This great little program allows you to add and delete files from the Documents menu easily. With it, you'll find the Documents section something that you turn to again and again instead of something that you tune out." Microsoft Networl< OK, here it is... A search for Windows 95 software would not be complete without a look into the new Microsoft Network (look for a full review of MSN ne.xt month). The MSN client is a standard component of Windows 95 and has been at the heart of much controversy regarding Microsoft allegedly attempting to monopolize the online market. Remember that 28 ■ NOVEMBER 1995 FAVORITE MEMBER^ASSISTANCE CATEGORl ES 2' • m there are over 100 million Windows users, many more than all the online users combined. I must admit my first impression of the software was not a favorable one. It was slow and the multi-tasking support of the system made it difficult to use. Windows were popping up all over and several times I double-clicked on an option and, when it seemed like nothing was happening, I clicked again, only to get a bogus error message that "The task could not be completed at this time." I also didn't like the fact that to access all the features of the service (i.e. the Internet), I had to download what MSN reports as an upgrade — eat- ing up half an hour in the process. I just bought the darn thing, and I know there was plenty of room on the CD for MS to include this stuff. It just appeared to be either poor planning or a lame attempt to keep users online longer. In the spirit of the quest for 95 software I did attempt to use MSN to find some new stuff. I found that after leav- ing the "Microsoft Central" main screen, 1 had to load several screens of file folders traversing through Computers and Software, then Software, then Operating Systems, then Windows 95, and finally to Free Stuff. Then I hit the mother- lode . . . PowerToys. PowerToys is a series of user interface enhancements developed by the members of the Windows 95 develop- ment team. The catch here is that it's essentially unsup- ported software, hence its free status. The kit includes many simple little changes to your desktop, each of which may speed up, simplify, or otherwise improve your navigation through the new 0/S. The tool I liked best was Xmouse. Xmouse gives the Windows desktop the functionalit)' of X-Windows. When the mouse moves over a window, for instance, that window moves to the top and "gets focus". There's lots there, so check it out. All and all I think my quest was successful. Top ranked was CompuServe as far as the sheer number of files available for 95 users goes, and MSN will undoubtedly be filled to overflowing soon. And I'll bet many of you will have your coffer filled by the time you read this. The Microsoft Network MSN TQDAYW^ MAIL PLACES BBS MAGAZINE Don^ [ifflStart] Your Modem Without The 32-bit Power Of QmodemPro For Windows 95 You're a speed freak, right? You bought the Pentium and 28.8 modem, and you just upgraded to Windows® 95 to take full advantage of your computer's 32-bit architecture. So why are you using old |- . ^^_ 16-bit communication software that 5 'i-^ j ^f^^ chokes the performance of Windows 95? I ^-^ "*r_— .;:^* Get on-hne fast mth the 32-bit POWER in QmodemPro for Windows 95 v2. It's the first communication softwarethat delivers all the features and performance you need to get the most from the new 32-bit Windows platform. And since you demand performance, you'll hke the fact that QmodemPro's communication and Internet capabilities go way beyond the standard terminal software included with Windows 95. So whether you're connected to the office, compa- ny mainframe or BBS for data/file transfer, you'll get the powerful, 32-bit technology in QmodemPro to satisfy your "need for speed." fee '"^"^^^n^ll'T'^-'^tc ''-•««Ti'2s-i..,^ ■ ^^^"^ JPEG fik"^-"^ dose 800-208-0616 Available at Software Etc., Babbages, Computer City, CompUSA, Electronics Boutique, Egghead and other software outlets for S129 or less. Registered Qmodem/QmodemPro customers call for upgrade pricing. rjisi i^^ Connecting The World SOfl\VUt£ ma Mustang Software, Inc. • 6200 Lake Ming Road • Bakersfield, CA 93306 Voice 805-873-KOO • Fax 805-873-2599 • BBS 805^73-2400 Internet http://www.mustang.eom Exciting New Features Include : • A Phone Book that uses Explorer style menus and buttons, with display options including Large Icon, Small Icon, List and Detail styles. • OLE 2.0 support so you can drag & drop files, phone boot entries and text to and from other Windows applications quickly and easily. • 35 Terminal emulations, including ANSI, VTIOO and IBM 3270 to get you on-hne quickly while the programmable keyboard will satisfy the needs of any system administrator. • A programmable tool bar with up to 50 different program ftmction icons. • A graphical file viewer that lets you display files in GIF, BMP and JPEG formats with zoom, even while downloading. • Fully multi-threaded protocols that keep going even when your PC is very busy • Transfer files with 10 high speed protocols, including Zmodem and CompuServe B+. • TAPI support for sharing communications devices between multiple applications. • MAPI support for transferring text, images and files to major mail applications including Exchange, Microsoft Mail, and cc:Mail. • Telnet support with MD5* secure passwords for Internet access to your favorite sites. ♦ RSA Data Security, Inc. MD5 Message-Digest Aigoritlun 199G Mustang Software. Inc. At! names are trademarlt* of Iticir respecUve companies. *%, Jio Au % 'j)Ll„ ^w^'-^i^K. .!) !i-MiHU K.J ->^- bbs • notebook ST PK BY STEVE JANAS / C. To qualify for possible review in BBS Notebook, call The Livesvire BBS at 609.235.5297. From the main menu, type ADDBBS ami follow the prompts. Vetlink Sysop: G. Joseph Peck Location: Tampa, Fla. Data*: K 13.249.8323 BBS Software: Osiris 2.11 There are actually 85 "vetlinks" scat- tered around the country, each one committed to the same mission as the originah namely, to stitch togeth- er a support network of friendship and camaraderie for veterans of America's armed forces. The focus hero is on war veterans. Sysop G. Joseph Peck did not actual- ly go abroad when he served in the Army during the Vietnam War era, but he was severely wounded in an accident and understands the psy- chological, sociological and bureau- cratic hurdles war vols face. Thus, Vetlink acts as a clearinghouse for uiformation on dealing with the Veterans Administration at the same time as it provides group purgation with such features as the Wall, a Door that launches a database con- taining the names of each of the 56,000 servicemen killed in action { t;iav ... 30 • during the Vietnam conflict. The board also allows old war horses to chew the fat about their memories of the service. The mes- sage areas are divided basically into two areas: the Korean War and the Vietnam War, with each section fur- ther divided according to what ser- vicemen were actually assigned to do in each war. For example, in the Vietnam message area, there is a sec- tion devoted to what Joseph calls the river rats — soldier.s who patrolled Vietnam's rivers in boats n la Martin Sheen in "Apocalj'pse Now." The messages, ferried betweeti Vetlink nodes via Fidonet echos, run the gamut from the boastful to the poignant. In one thread in the Vietnam area, Marine and Army vets traded quips over who had to put up with more grief during the war. Meanwhile, in the Korean War area, a Vietnam vet posted a message appealing for mail for his father, a Korean War vet who had just been institutionalized in a VA hospital in Massachusetts. He got several responses from other vets, total strangers except for having shared the intimacy of being under fire together in the same isolated back- water of the world. Joseph says he founded the board in 1985 after 20 frustrating years liv- L3">. (^ NOVEMBER 1995 BBS IVIAGAZtNE ing as a disaliled vet and trying to find a BBS that had the community of others like him. "1 looked for one and didn't find it," he says. "So if you can't find it, create it." He admits that (CompuServe does have a veterans conference, but "it's too much of a shotgun approach. The veterans conference is just one conference. There are many issues that do concern veterans: education, the \'A, how do 1 process and how do I present my claims." Each of those areas is addressed in a conference on Vetlink. In addition, the board helps vets cope with the lingering psychological effects of war. Joseph even credits the link with saving some vets* lives. On at least five occasions, a vet has logged on to a chat threatening suicide, launching a full-blown effort by the sysop to intervene, Joseph says. Fortunately the 85 individual vetlink boards represent a network of resources for Joseph to mobilize. "If someone is in trouble, they contact me and I have the files here and I know the buttons to push," he says. 'Tf 1 don't know I'll call some- one who does know," In addition to active participants of the board, there are what Joseph narnsuiiourir^p^jl ■- — r^;^ /i/.A/Jt" >' r^r^. ^) — ^^ MaH.ntonL V . Tf /' W. AtJgusta ' /'^ Unlonv '{{ f'orrTb( lowann rcp IJJOJ 'Wetisboro) calls "lurkers," vets who drop in without revealing their presence. "They'll log on and see answers to questions they don't want to ask themselves," he says. loseph runs the board from a two 486 machines linked together via Ethernet. One machine, which Joseph calls his work machine, holds his personal files on a 700MB hard drive. The second machine, with a 420MB hard drive, carries the .system information for vetlink and is attached to a CD-ROM drive. The system runs on Osiris 2.1 1 software, which Joseph says he is cur- rently in the process of upgrading so he can offer his users Internet access. Membership is free, he says, and vdll remain so even after the board is connected to the Internet, loseph says he'll pay his provider out of his own pocket rather than ask his mem- bers to pay. "There'll be no fee," he says. "Our veterans have already paid their price." Intercity ' ''' '"^ ' * Sysop: Tyronnc Foy Location: Richmond, Va. Data #: 804.353.4160 ^^HanOVef.. BBS Software: RBBS Richmond, Virginia's Intercity BBS began life as a basic message board about nine years ago, developed an affiliation with genealogists largely on the strength of its substantial Fidonet connectivity, and has now become something of an online gath- ering point for local African Americans. Sysop Tyronne Foy, a one-time blues saxophonist, says he averages about 3,000 calls a week on the board's two nodes, and on any given day receives up to 800 Fidonet echos. It is that kind of activity that prompt- ed the National Genealogy Society, which wanted to establish a presence in the Richmond area, to contact him about setting up a genealogy confer- ence, Tyronne says. Now, in addition to running that conference, the board is a part of three different VsOK?i!i5'''8 ml \^ Honesdale(W2Ui >Cl7f Monlicello '¥ genealogy networks. "And I'm still not a genealogist," Tyronne says. More recently, after hearing about it in a conference on America Online, Tyronne set up his board as a node of the International Black, African, African American and Minority net- work, which carries conferences on black-themed topics centering on teen-age and family issues, male and female relationships, black/ African art and, of course, genealog)'. Another black-themed network Tyronnc has allied himself with is the Black Data Processors Association, a Another biaGk-themed network Tyronne lias allied himself with is the Black Data Processors Association, a Los Angeles-based network of black computer professionals formed about two years ago to discuss entrepreneurial issues, pass along job prospects, and hash out technical issues. Los Angeles-based network of black computer professionals formed about two years ago to discuss entre- preneurial fssues, pass along job prospects, and hash out technical issues. A broader mission of the net- work is to involve more African Americans in the computer world, Tyronne says. "A lot of people are not computer literate," he says. "They're afraid of it. But that's where communication is going. It's all online." Like many people, Tyronne got his first exposure to BB.Ss through work, when his employer, a comput- er firm, decided to set up a company board and asked Tyronne to run it. He did, until he left the company in 1987. For a while, he went without running a board of any kind. "But then I got that little itch," he says. He founded the board and strug- gled a bit over the name. Originally, he says, he wanted to name it "Intra- City" because of its location in the center of town. But he liked "Intercity," and went with that name. It turns out he's not the only one fond of it. An Australian board has exactly the same name, he says. Tyronne runs the board from three PCs of varying speeds, all net- worked together. Two of the PCs, a 486/33DX and a 486/66DX, serve as workhorses for the board, while a third, 486/lOODX, operates in what Tyronne calls an "R&D" capacity. Occasionally it gets pressed into active duty, however. "If the lines are busy, 1 can fire it up," Tyronne says. The board's 2 gigabytes of hard drive capacity is augmented by four online CD-ROMs. There are 370 message areas, 72 online games and 10 online databases that include information on travel, restaurants, and genealogy. Tyronne also runs 35 online magazines, including the online version of "USA Today." Tyronne has the board set up with simple but striking color graphics, and an extensive list of bulletins greets the user after he logs on and identifies himself. He provides his users with email, but Internet access is limited and a bit convoluted. Tyronne subscribes to a number of Usenet newsgroups through a gate- way in New Jersey, and he provides FTP and Web access through another gateway in Ohio. Tyronne admits that it would he easier for him to connect the board to the Net directly, but as always, the issue is cost. He claims that the Richmond area is a "poor market," where users are unwilling or unable to pony up the monthly fee for lull Net access. He also complains, like many sysops, of hostility at the hands of Internet providers, who look at C O N T 1 N U K S . . . Chancellutii \Fredericksff Falmouth fJOVEMBER 1995 olonial Beach BBS MAfi r.l<. :ownj yj', ach iach 31 exington Nunticoke / 1 Princes LI2. (lis) Rusty Edie Dual Eliminator Rusly n Edie's BBS announces the introduction of their Dual Eliminator. Simply plug your phone line (o the Dual Eliminulor unci then plug the Dual Elimin- ator into your modem. This device consists of 2 passive electronic filters that handle both high and low frequency noise from the phone line. Both high and low frequency are independently adjustahlc wiih knobs that mounl on the front of the unit. Surge protection is provided by an electronic varistor. A light emitiing diode, also mounted on the front of the unit, glows whenever the device is eliminating noise from the phone lines. This device can solve the majority of noise problems a.ssocialed with telecommuni- cations today, and is sold with a 30-day. money-back guarantee. They sell for S25 each plus S4 shipping and handling. To order, call Rusty n Edie's at 216-726-4217, fax to 216-726-3595 or call their BBS number 216-726-2620; they will accept Visa. MasterCard and American Express. Rusty n Edie's BBS 7393 California Ave. Youngstown, OH 44512 32 BBSs as competition. "They assume we are the enemy," he says. He believes prices will come down once providers realize how many potential customers they're pricing out of the market. He also believes that will be the end of the war between direct-access providers and BBS sysops. "This is big bucks," he says. , The Regulator / Sysop: Steve Coker Location: Charleston, S.C. Data #: 803.571.1100 ^ "V BBS Software: TriBBS 5.11 According to sysop Steve Coker, the Regulator BBS started out as an environmental board, with confer- ence topics chosen to reflect Steve's occupation as an environmental engineer. The environmental angle didn't take, however, and as Steve explains, "that theme was put on a back burner in short order." No matter. The board is still a colorful and well-organized system, with a diverting selection of features (that include some not entirely uncommon Doors) and a promise from Steve that the whole thing will be upgraded sometime before the end of the year. At the moment, Steve's running his system from a 386 PC loaded with 16MB of RAM and a !.2GB hard drive. Additional files are kept on an online CD-ROM, and Steve has hooked an SOOMBg tape drive into the system. There are two nodes here: a public node that sup- ports modem speeds up to 28,800 bps, and a private 14,400 bps node. The upgrade, which should occur sometime over the fall, will replace the 386 with a Pentium and add additional storage space, Steve says. Three more public nodes should go online as well, Steve says. Internet access is strictly a Fidonet affair, in which registered members compose messages, and Steve calls them into an Internet gateway. That may change too, Steve says, as he gets more ambi- tious with his Internet offerings. "I'll add anrthing that is useful, supportable and affordable," he says. Since the board went active on January 1, 1994, Steve has collected a total of 377 registered users. According to the membership bul- letin, new users can get limited Pun? access for free, and if they're willing to pony up some cash, they get a •\^y selection of higher-access member- ships. For $5, a user receives a member status, good for six months. For SIO, one is upgraded to a benefactor, and for $25 a user is dubbed a patron. Of course, appro- priate access privileges accrue with each step up the membership hier- archy. When users log on, they're greet- ed with the usual bulletins, plus a few witty bon mots that Steve either culled from BarUett's or — who knows? — maybe even made up himself. A sample: "To err is human, to blame it on a computer is more so." Users are often given the oppor- tunity to participate in elections for BBS "team members." Among the positions available are those of ANSI artist, features manager and file critic. Users nominate candi- dates and cast votes for each posi- tion. They call it "modemocracy." Cute. Arriving at the main menu, users equipped with RIPterm software are presented an attractively laid-out selection of buttons to take them to the various features. Included are seven Doors that launch programs that are interesting, even if they don't hew to a common theme. For example, one Door opens a text-only edition of the King James Bible, while another offers legal advice on everything from the tax deductions available to sysops to how to get out of jur}' duty. There's also a match-making program that links compatible users, and a graffiti wail on which a total of 1 2 lines of user wisdom had been scrawled NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE ra \[&.. J vc ( W. Augusta UnionvJl Orange))— < Galetor^JWellsboro) i^j Troyi lovvatiu :' .fUttI C\^ yalusing Lenox'iL — ^ Monesdale Another button opens a "reading room" in \\'hich the user can select from a Hst of tOO online publica- tions. They deal mostly in shop talk: BBSs, electronics — that sort of thing. But then again, that's exacdy what a lot of people who go online are looking for. Ttie Secret Garden Sysop: Kathy Landy Location: Salinas, Calif. Data*; 408,633.8022 BBS Software: Wildcat! 4.11 s ■■ A divorced mother of two, sysop Kathy Landy writes in her bulletins that she came to BBSing because of her "continuing fascination with BBS systems." She's built a fair one, with a mix of chat rooms and files presented in a crisp, clean Wildcat! point-and-click format. By way of e.xplaining herself, Kathy says she values the BBS experi- ^ hU^ ence as a "social outlet and vent for expressing my opinions on every- thing from Stroganoff to O.J. Simpson." Indeed. Given that pre- amble, you'd expect the Secret Garden to be a hotbed of hotheads, each one struggling with the others to grab hold of the pulpit, as it were, and deliver long, incendiary rants. It is not that. While the 10 confer- ence areas that were open to me, a casual browser (i.e., non-member) bore titles capable of piquing interest {one was called, simply, "imponder- ables"), most of the discourse I encountered more closely resembled Kathy's admonishment to willful users that she'd shut them out if they continued to adopt multiple person- alities in the role-playing games. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to connect with Kathy personally to get the details on membership and the system set-up. Nowhere did it men- tion anything about membership rates, however, so maybe this board is one of those freebies. There is i an email offered to users, but it doesn't appear to connect to an Internet gateway, except, perhaps, by way of a Fidonet echo. The files are your typical games, screen savers and utilities. Scanning through them, I did get a hopeful flash of recognition when the word "Mac" appeared but, alas, it was not what I hoped it would be. It seems despite all the good press (and the recent launch of a new operating system by a certain multi- billionaire that sells itself by mimic- ing our machines), Macintosh is still relegated to the online ghetto. Oh well. It makes us that much more appreciative when we come acro.ss those little gems that our sys- tems can use. You hear that, sysops? ^BB Steve Janas is editor and co-founder of Nexus Six magazine, the journal of gutter-tech. He welcomes news of new ami noteworthy boards. He can be contacted at janns@aoi.coni. (lOJ :owni V. I Online Income l~rGG Report on how to increase your I Online Income by S3,000 a month! I This unique report reveals how even a little guy can be a real ■ player on the information superhighway. It contains money- I milking information on cvciting new online business opportunities including the Internet, BBS, and various other hot I Online Services- You'll learn how lo get a FREE 200 pLij;c Internet ■ Course that teaches "all you'll ever need to know" about using the Internet, oblain up to SI 0,000 in s,i vings for online services and products, as well as how to: _ Get up and runnin g in as little as 2 weeks | • 5 solutions to getting your system up and running quickly. _ • How to set up a board with no software costs. I • 7 techniques to save from S2,l)t>0-S3,000 U'hen expanding your system. I Generate your cash flow in as little as 6 more weeks • 9 proven ways lo attract pauiiig customers to your service. I • 7 specialized techniques for increa.sing vour subscriber base. ' Achieve S3.000 per month in as little as 8 more weeks | • 11 marketing secrets to multiply your income rapidly (and ' at little or no cost). | • 5 secrets to turning your online service into your own "Gold | Mine." _ • Limited availability. I Inf oLink .W)23 Yucci Trail, SuitL> 2>KD1 1 , \'ucM V.llk-y. CA 92284 | 619/228-«65.'i FAX 61 9/369- MS? ln(cnlcUch-iiseiji.nL ii PtolihlUf Jiili-raf !, BBS, i>r Online Ser.-ict. I THE BULLEilN BOARD 5Y^TEM5 Subscribe Today Don't miss anotlier issue □ lyearUS.Ji .S36: ME.X/C.AN S60 LS: Elsewhere .S120 US (First Class mail) n 2 years USA $60; MEX/CAN SlOO US; Elsewhere S220 US (First Class mail) vol CAN aimili VISA ok MASTIiKCAKi) BY CALLING 1-800-822-0437 (10 am - 4 pm est) □ Enclosed is my check for S n Credit card (circle one) VISA M/C # Exp. dale Sigiialiirc Name Address Cily Slate/Zip Code Phone (home) _ (bus.) . MAn. TO: (Wallers Di-e.-^l. In<-.. 701 Stokes Hd,. .\Iedford. NJ 080.5.5. // li«yi'iil liy credit card, you nuiy FAX this fiirm ill (6t)9) 953-7961. NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE 33 Shareuyaring BY MARJA LANCER Use NeoShow to create your own slide shows from PCX and BMP images. Business or pleasure? How about both? This time, I've managed to find shareware that can help you work and relax . . . Enjoy. DOS NeoShow Professional 2.6c NSP26C.ZIP by NeoSoft Corp. 354 NH Greenwood Avenue, Suite 108 Bend, OR 97701-4631 BBS:503.3S3.7195 On-screen "slide shows" have become an important part of business presenta- tions. With NeoShow, you can use your DOS-based computer to create slide shows that incorporate PCX and BMP images, and even add sound effects to For a new twist on the old breakout style games, try BreakFree, a tliree-dimensional version with sound, graphics, and special effects. play back on SoundBlaster-compatible sound cards. Use your mouse and NeoShow's menus to create a new slide show file, then add slides and sounds to it, speci- fj'ing a transition effect and timing for each slide as you go. Note what you want to happen before and after each slide. Organize the slides in the order in which you want them to appear and let the show begin. The screen goes dark and shdcs appear, one by one. Now, use your mouse or the Remote Control feature to advance the shdes. The program is remarkably easy to use — you'll find yourself creating slide shows, as I did, in no time. NeoShow requires an IBM-compati- ble PC with EGA or VGA graphics, DOS 3. 1 or later, a hard disk, and a Microsoft or Logitech compatible mouse. A SoundBlaster or compatible sound card is required for playing sounds. You can tr)' NeoShow for 30 day.s, after which, if you continue using it, you must pay the shareware fee of $35 plus shipping for the regular version, or $89 plus shipping for the professional ver- sion, which lets you create standalone, executable (.EXE) slide show files. BreakFree 1.0 BRKFRE1A.ZIP by Software Storm P.O. Box 2029 Orem, Utah 84059 When it's time for a break from work, Breakl-iec is a good program to turn to. 'I'his IJOS-compatihlc game offers a three-dimensional twist on the old breakout st}'le games. In BreakFree, you have a nmnber of 34 NOVFMRER 199fi BBS MflGflZINE fireballs at your disposal with which to break through walls. Shoot the fireballs at the walls around you, and slap them back with an invis- ible paddle when they bounce at you. You can move the paddle right, left, forward, and backward b)- using the arrow keys or a mouse. As you play, you'll tuid there are several kinds of walls, including breakable, unbreakable, power drain, and special effect. Hitting each t)'pe of wall yields a dif- ferent effect. Some walls release objects that you can catch or avoid — you decide which to do as you get more experienced with the game. Online help provides enough information to get you started. BreakFree requires an IBiVl- compatible running DOS, with VGA or better graphics. A 386/20 processor and SoundBlaster or compatible sound card is recom- mended. Users who pay the $14.95 plus shipping shareware fee get a registered version on disk that fea- tures over 70 levels and more spe- cial effects. It also includes a level editor you can use to create your own play levels. WrUe Paintt o i3 i You have a message with tiie foHowing Items: Date : B/2 1 f35 Time : 1 2:1 5:0D PM Take your medicine Caler C^ ChaiacJeiMap MtdiaPlayw Sojrd Recmdei Cios!^>Md Mania" FiaOasi the $15 shareware fee. Registered users receive a version that excludes the shareware reminder as well as three additional Windows programs on disk. Make Your Own Screen Saver 1.5 MYOWNSS.ZIP by Garner Enterprises 13298 Rocky Ridge Road NW Silverdale, WA 98383 Win Bar Clock does far more than just put a clock in your title bar. i. Make Your Own Siirccrn ! Efitet bitmap Nart'e ^uiiffnl Bttnapt (one lequircHn nohvdO.bmp AddBkiaqp^ ^ J ^ No. Included: 1 T olal aflowed: 1 5 Pa«wofd Oplioni" winlogo.brop Cftftce) Time Delay F^ in S econds L_ Kininuim - 1 Maximum: - 50 J £a9iwDid Plot act ad ^bI PassfffWdL D Place all bUmaps m your wrndoni dirpctai'jp ai in yout path. PleaxB luppoil ths ihaicvraro concept by legislating Hake Vqut Own Scieen Saver if you tiy the soltwafa and continue to use it. Press the B^egislralion... button belon foi details. Qegixtialion... S^t Ahojfu.. Make Your Own Screen Saver lets you do just that — using up to 15 bitmap image files. Windows Win Bar Clock 4.1a WBARCL.ZIP by G.L. Liadis Software, Inc. 5167'/! Saling Court Columbus, OH 43229 BBS: 614-888-4749 GLLIADIS@aol.com No room for a clock on your desk or in your office? If you're using Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later, you can use Win Bar Clock to put a digital clock in the title bar of the active window. If that's not enough, you can also have a lloat- ing "bar clock" anywhere on screen, letting you always know what time it is. Win Bar Clock is fully customizable — you can change colors, font, and font size. It can display the date, time, memory, system resources, and person- al messages, too. Use the alarm feature to set reminders and the timer feature to track the amount of time you spend online. But Win Bar Clock goes far beyond simple timing functions. Use it to edit system files, access system commands like Exit and Restart Windows, jump to DOS, or reboot; dial the phone, launch other programs, and get complete information about your system setup. You can configure all these options and more vvith a Center Console you display by clicking the right mouse but- ton on the clock. Win liar C'lock re(.|iiires an IBM- compatible computer running Windows 3. 1 or later and VBRUN300.DLL. Try it for 20 days before either uninstalling it or paying Everyone knows that a screen saver is an important piece of software that can pro- tect your computer investment. Make Your Own Screen Saver is a Windows-compatible screen saver file that lets you specify up to 1 5 bitmapped images to dis- play when your computer is inactive. Install Make Your Own Screen Saver by copying it to your Windows subdirectory. Then open the Desktop control panel and choose Make Your Own SS from the Screen Saver menu. Click the Setup button to configure it. You can add up to 15 BMFs to a list of images that will dis- play when the screen saver is activated. Specify the amount of time each image is displayed — the default value is 30 seconds. If you like, you can specify a password to protect your computer from intruding eyes when you step away from your desk. If you use this feature, you'll have to enter a password in order to clear the screen saver and continue working. Make Your Own Screen Saver is simple and easy to use. It requires an IBM-compatible computer running Windows 3.1 or later and Windows 3.0 or later compatible bitmap image files. If you continue to use Make Your Own Screen Saver after a reasonable trial period, pay the shareware fee of $8 to register it. Make Your C3wn Screen Saver is distributed as a fully functional file, and its author depends on your honesty for compensation. C () N T 1 ,N LI K S NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE 35 TimeTracker lets you keep accurate records of the time you spend on projects - you can submit accurate bills to clients and customers. Macintosh ■fimeTracker 2,7.5 by Maui Software 189 Audi Drive Makawao, Maui, HI 96768-9313 billin@maui.com One of the biggest problems facing consultants and other professionals who bill by the hour is finding an accu- rate way to keep track of time spent on various billable tasks. If you've got a Macintosh on your desk, TimeTracker might just be the solution. It combines timing and record-keeping features that make it easy to maintain exact records of billable time spent on tasks. TimeTracker works with categories, projects, and documents. Categories are tasks with associated hourly rates. Projects are identifiers for billing pur- poses and documents are collections of TimeTracker entries that can corre- spond to clients or customers. To keep track of work done for a specific client, you create or open a TimeTracker document for that client, choose a task and project, and start the timer. TimeTracker creates an entry for that task and records the start time, stop time, rate, charge, and other infor- mation. You can stop or pause the timer by clicking buttons on TimeTracker's toolbar. Have as many documents open as memory allows, making it easy to switch from tasks 36 done for one client to another. Time- Tracker is extremely well thought out and includes every feature a user could want. You can set time increments for billing, edit entries to include ex- penses and comments, create docu- ment bud- gets, search and sort entries, and print or export entries. To reduce the amount of space TimeTracker takes up on screen, users can just minimize windows. Toolbar buttons arc attractive and well designed — if you can't figure out what one of them does, point to it and a description appears in the toolbar area. An illustrated manual in DOCMaker document format accom- panies TimeTracker and covers every aspect of its operation. TimeTracker requires a Macintosh running System 7 or later. It's a "fat binary" application that can run in native mode on a PowerPC. But if you continue using TimeTracker after a trial period, you're expected to pay the S25 shareware fee. Payment of the fee removes a per-document time limita- tion and the shareware reminder that appears each time you start the program. A portion of the shareware fee is donated to help preserve the Hawaiian environment. PlayerPRO 4.4.2 by Antoine Rosset 16 BD Tranchees 1206 Geneva Switzerland ProOnline BBS: -1-41 22 738 26 26 rosset@dial.eunet.ch The Macintosh has always had built-in sound capabilities, either through its internal speaker or the sound out jack capable of accepting headphones or powered speakers. No category' of soft- ware shows the range and flexibility of Macintosh sound more than "sound- tracker" programs. These programs play special MOD format files, which are popular on the Amiga, Atari ST, and IBM computer platforms. Now there's PlayerPRO — a deluxe soundtracker program that offers all the features you'd expect to find in a MOD player, and then some. Open a MOD format file with PlayerPRO. {It comes with one you can use if you don't have any others.) Click the Play button on the Tools palette to start playing the file and watch as its progress is tracked in the Tools, Partition, Pattern, and Piano windows. You can change the tone, speed, and volume of play with sliding controls in the Adaptors window. These are only some of the windows and controls PlaverPRO offers. It also PlayerPRO is a soundtracker application that you can use to play, edit, or create MOD format sound files. NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE includes a variety of analysis tools, including Fourier's analysis, oscillo- scope, tubes, and animations. And the sound plays flawlessly, even when PlayerPRO is the background applica- tion or is hidden from view. If you want to create or edit MOD files, PlayerPRO also offers a variety of music editing tools. You can write music through classical or digital parti- tions, playing MIDI instruments, or opening and working with MIDI files. The shareware version provides enough information to get you started editing MOD files and connecting MIDI devices to your Macintosh so you can use them with PlayerPRO. The software requires a Macintosh running System 7 or later. It is a "fat binar)'" application that can run in native mode on a PowerPC. Although not required, stereo speakers are highly recommended. Users paying the share- ware fee of S20 receive documentation and a complete version that excludes the shareware reminders. A CD-ROM disk full of MOD format files and instruments is also available from the program's author. Newton Files eWorld Access 1.1 by Giles Road Press P.O. Box 212 Harrington Park, NJ 07640-0212 BBS: 201/767-6337 GilesRdPrs@eWorld.com If you use your Newton for NewtonMail and spend a lot of time on the road, you might be interested in a truly portable list of NewtonMail/ eWorld access numbers. Be sure to check out eWorld Access 1.1. This Newton paperback is a listing of all 2400 baud eWorld access numbers in the United States — the same numbers you'd use for Ne%vtonMail. The file, which takes up only 93K of Newton's precious RAM, appears in the Extras drawer with the name eW Access. Each entry includes the area code, cit}' name, phone number, and a code identifj'ing the network as either SprintNet or MCI/British Telecom. You can change the font size and style for the listing to make entries more legible, and copy phone numbers right into the Phone Number field of Mail Prefs. eWorld Access requires a Newton- compatible PDA and the Macintosh or Windows Newton Connection kit to install it. It's distributed as freeware. Oh yes — one thing I forgot to men- tion: I wrote it. Finding these Files If you can't find these files on your favorite BBS, try mine. The Electronic Pen BBS is a two-line FirstClass-based system in Harrington Park, NJ. The number is 201.767.6337. Look in the Sharewaring conference that appears right on your desktop for all the files covered in this column. If you're on the World Wide Web, you can FTP these files firom the Giles Road Press web site. Use your browser to view the URL http://\N'ww.intac.com/ -gilesrd/ and link to the Sharewaring page from there, mmmm Maria Langer is a freelance writer and computer consultant who has been run- ning a BBS since 1989. She is the author of several computer hooks and is current- ly hard at work on a new Microsoft Excel book for Peachpit Press. Contact her at gilesrd@intac.com. Galacticomm Software! The Major BBS v6.25 .... $155.00 WorldGroup by Galacticomm .... CALL! Place your Major BBS on the Internet with Major TCP/IP! Add Incoming and Outgoing Telnet & Rlogin, FTP, Finger, a Telnet Dialer, and a WWW Server right on your BBS! We sell the entire line of Galacticomm Hardware & Software. In addition , we also sell addons from such Quality TPD's as: DataSafe, High Velocity, Sirius, East Side Computing, ProDesign, Human Ware, HighWaterMark, MajorWare, Logicom, and Vircom. GTEK BBS-550 w/Cables - $395.00 GTEK Blackboard-4 -$225.00 We Also Do Turnkey Systems,,, Call For Details! Digital Consulting Services, Inc, 800-899-2002 Sales 212-697-7340 Sumort Call for a Free Catalog! VISA, MasterCard, am! American Express NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE 37 We Cant Keep The Future Technology Under Wraps Become one of a few select SYSOPS to experience a preview release of tiie first true 32-bit client/server BBS The seal on Mustang Software's top secret projea Wildcat! BBS re-write, code-named AiniihUator, has been broken to allow 5000 "leading-edge" SYSOPS a glimpse of this breakthrough 32-bit client/server BBS technology. Your reward, when you purchase one of the limited Pre-Release Atmihilator CDs for only $49 and team the inside story, is a 75% discount off the purchase price when Aiinihilator is released later this year. Learn How Interactive Multimedia Can Expand Your On-line Experience Aiinihilator takes full advantage of the new multitasking in Windows 95 or the robust server operations in Windows NT to provide a solution that brings full on-line multiniedia to every caller. See how you can use Annihiliitor's built-in remote graphics to provide an exciting muhimedia greeting, using familiar JPEG and GIF graphic editors to customize the caller interface. See How You Can Deliver More Information At Greater Speed Auiiihihitor's Preview CD will demonstrate how the true power of client/server functionality can be unleashed to provide a broad, BBS-based solution. Learn how to implement a BBS with a core information seiver, and route that information using a number of application clients at the Sysop's location. You'll be able to establish a true distributed processing system that delivers more information at greater speed, now even on a single PC. The Client/Server Model Provides A Number of Advantages The AuniiuUitor Preview CD wilt show you how a SYSOP can offer a BBS on a desktop platform with the expansion capability to run any size on-line service. • 32-bit Windows multitasking means no additional multitasking software is needed and 16-32 lines can be run easily without loading multiple copies of the BBS. • The server controls all access to messages, files and other system information, isolating the core of the host activities to provide secure, private system access even to local users. • Under Annihiiator, the enure BBS configuration can be modified even while in full operation, but only by authorized personnel. Of 32-bit BBS Much Longer Single PC Running VV^idows 95 or Windows NT USERDATABASE SERVER AsngteuBCuttiile ; sllriquesbb ' isalsoanrQisd FILEDATABASE trfvfcfcal EwoJl*!? Prngrara Ijxa! V HafeMrii K Mnkiit Ttiiet HlDBl Hf*ta fTelneJSefVHrt mw. Itoduifl iWa&S«wi) TMIAoduie ISDN Hie client/server model ofAtmibihtor cm be easily itistaUeci with the server ami aU clients running on a single PC. The computer can operate under Windows 95 or Windows NT Workstation or Server. This configuration offers the most compact system and allows for total management from the single BBS computer. Build A Powerful New BBS With Annihilator Server And Client Modules Standard Annihilator modules included with every BBS create a foundation for the new client/sen'cr BBS: Server Module - functionality for processing all database and configuration requests and operational characteristics of the BBS. Local Client - a fully graphical connection for anyone connecting at the host PC or over a LAN. Modem Client — ansvifers the phone for all dial-in lines and presents the BBS in ANSI, ASCII or in full graphics. QWK Client- handles QWK mail exchange between the host and other BBSs. TAPI Client - provides a link to the Windows Telephony Application Program Interface and a mechanism for ISDN, X.25 and other connectivity. Graphical Remote Client - a set of freely-distributed Windows programs for callers to experience full multimedia when connected. This 16-bit program suite operates on Windows 3,1 , Windows 95, Windows NT and any OS/2 release with Windows support. Optional Annihilator modules increase the power of a client/server BBS; UUCP Client - handles dial-up Internet e-mail and news- group support. Internet Package - accessories to handle TCP/IP support: Telnet Module, FTP Module, WWW Module, IRC Module, SMTP Module and NNTP Module. MAPI Client - a mechanism to exchange messages between applications such as Microsoft Mail, cc:Mail, Lotus Notes, etc. wcCODE Package ~ a new high speed, 32-bit development language so powerful that all standard BBS functions are written in it. Source Code - for total customization of online activity, the wcCODE source for the BBS is also available for purchase {requires wcCODE). SQL Database Client - provides full remote connectivity to distributed database processing using the SQL language. Reports Client - reports BBS usage and statistics, and provides a means for manipulation, export and selection of database records using match criteria. Billing Client - bill callers for any action performed on the BBS, includes report and invoice generation, pre-pay and post-pay models. Annihilator fully supports all DOS-based doors and includes a program for DOS program redirection to any line. It can be connected to any multi- port serial card that includes drivers for Windows 95 or Windows NT. Buy The Pre-Release AnrtffiflaforCD For $49^ And Save Up To 75% Off The Purchase Price Instructions and informiition on the Pre-Release Aniiiliihlor C,V> provides SYSOPS with an insideJgok_ into the ftiture of BBS technology. Purchase of the Pre-Rclcasc Annihihiloi establishes eligibility for a 75% discount off the j mLinuniclurers suggested retail price when Aimihilati>r | Only 50O0 Copies Of The Pre-Releasc Aimihilalor^ CD Will Be Mastered. Get The Inside Track And - Stay On The Leading Edge Of BBS Technology By Getting Your Copy. Call Today To Reserve A Copy i.8€X>-20e-061 6 M(iW $10 far sliipphtg ami hiUldling AnnihilaiorW. [Vtm node + local) '/1n/;Mafo/-M16(16no de) MSRP' 75% alt* 6B.B%oir Availability S149 $37 S49 4th qtr. 95 S349 $87 Annihilator WZ (32 n ode) S699 SI 74 $115 41hqtr.'95 $230 41h qtr. '95 a Pack Node Increase S199 $49 S65 4tti qtr.'95 UUCP Client (dial-up) 3149 $37 S49 41ti qtr.'95 Internet Clients (Telnet, RP. WWW, UUCP. IRC) S799 SI 99 $265 4th qtr.'95 lulAPI Client $793 $199 $265 Early '96 SQL Database Client $799 $199 $265 Early '96 Repor ts Client Billing Client $149 $37 $49 Early '96 $149 $37 $49 _Early'96_ CODE Development Language & IDE S149 S37 BBS Source Code S799 $199 $49 4th q1r.'95 $g65 4th qtr.'95 MSRP tnuimifactureti su^ested retait price), ?59& olf AwiMator CD, 66.6% off to Wilikal! SYSOPs H-itli niiid to purchasers of the re^L'iration nwitbcr. special Pn'-Release imsHNs Connecting The World ^'^c Mustang Saftwaie, Int. • 6200 Lake Ming Roati • BakersfiBJd, CA 93306 ffi)5-B73-2SKI • FAX 805-873-2599 • BBS BQ5-B73-2400 • InRme!: hnp/AwmtrasOngcom Alihiiu^i the BBS ori r/w CD wjR he aptrathruiL it if mil inlenikii 10 be ttitti tii it commcToai BBS bccaitse it wilt iic( /mw atmpielcd Kiting nor will rr iiKtfdefiiH Jin'irtrti daatiimitalimi, EaiJt CD ajiitaiiis AmTiliHtllor \il6 plus ctU inod- ufcs rtvtiiLjWf in J995, Same inotil^is. itldutlitlg tite Ctaphiati Remote Oicnt are nt>l }n i-i^mpltteii, Intt will be nwds mmlable eiemvnicaQy rp Pirvieii' purihiiicrs itt liiey tin ctnnpleled. Jtiis Preview' CD reqwtes eitfier WiivJctvj 93 vr lV(»kftni9NrvJ,JJ^rn/ile, Kb or K — 1,024 bytes. In common use, it stands for an approx- imation of "1,000", especially when referring to the speed of a modem or the size of a file. Commodore users often confront this for the first time when modeming, since we normally think of file sizes in terms of the number of disk blocks it uses. 1 K is approximately four disk blocks. Megabyte, meg or mb — 1024k. Often refers to memor)^ or disk stor- age space. 1MB = 4,096 disk blocks. Commodore Operating Systems Commodore computers can have dif- fering operating systems, which means the entire system can function differently from its "native mode." Native CBM Mode — The operating system available when the computer is first turned on (BASIC). CP/M — Control Program for Microcomputers. An operating sys- tem available for the Cl 28, which has some similarities to MS-DOS. It uses the same disk drives as Native CBM mode, but uses the drives differently. RAMDOS — This is software used so an REU can be used as a RAM disk. GUI — Graphic User Interface. Any Operating System that uses graphics and pointers (a mouse or joystick) to represent programs and disk files. GEOS — Graphic Environment Operating System. The GUI system nodore, pre- X > developed for the Commodore, pre dating Windows and the Macintosh. Both GEOS 64 and GEOS 128 are commercially available from CMD. Unix — Unix is used by many sys- tems which are connected to the Internet. ACE — Advanced Computing Environment (64/128). ACE is very similar to Unk. ACE14A.SFX (through ACE14E.SFX, five files). CSDOS — Chris Smeets DOS. C128 operating system similar to MS-DOS. This system has utilities for creating and dissolving compressed files, including other platform archives such as ARC, LZH and PKZip 1.x. CSDOS- 15.ARC, CSASSTl.SFX, CSASST2.SFX, CSXTRA45.LZH. Commodore Software SEQ -— Sequential file. Usually a text file, but sometimes used for data stor- age by programs. PRG — Program file. In BBSing it is sometimes used as slang when dis- cussing software. A program file is usually (but not always) an "exe- cutable" or "runnable" file. V ' Docs — Documentation or instruc tions for software. Doc files often end with ".doc". TXT — Files ending with .TXT are text or readable type files. ASCII — American Standard Code for Information. A universal computer code for English letters and characters. PET ASCII or Petscii — Commo- dore's Standard Code for Information. The characters are in a different order from standard ASCII. Lowercase let- ters in ASCII appear as uppercase in Petscii. Many CBM programs can save text as either Petscii or ASCII. PD — Public Domain. Software placed in the Public Domain. Free, Freeware — Software which can be used for free, but the author retains all rights to the program. It is not the same as Public Domain. \ \ VV Shareware — Software \\'hich requires the user to pay a fee to the author. Some may have features CONTINUES... 41 D \V lO^ iv^x-^^^^^^ which are only available once the user pays the shareware fee. Rego — Australian Slang for registra- tion. Pronounced "Re-joc". These are shareware programs that are registered and have been paid for by the user. Browser — Freeware program to read text and other files. BROWS- ER2.SFX FGM — Fun Graphics Machine. A commercial C64 graphic manipula- tion program. FGM6DEM.SFX and FGM6D0C.SFX (demo). GIF — Graphic Interchange Format. These files end with the extension of ".GIF" and were designed as a univer- sal graphic format that could be used by many different platforms. SID — The sound chip the Commo- dore uses. Many music and sound files have a file extension of ".SID". TWS — The Write Stuff, commercial word processor. PC3 — Paper Clip III, commercial word processor. Zed — CI 28 PD text editor. ZED077.SFX BBR — Big Blue Reader. A commer- cial program that can copy files to and from MS-DOS disks. Requires a 1571, 1581 or CMD disk drive. LRR — Little Red Reader. A freeware program which also copies files to and from MS-DOS disks. LRR200.SFX LCP — Little Computer People. A commercial game. File Compression Omega-Q — A general purpose disk utility. From the now defunct Q- Link, it decompresses many Commodore archives. OMEGAQll.SDA CSDOS — Sometimes mistakenly referred to as program to dissolve non-Commodore archives, particu- larly because many use the CSDOS Operating System only for this pur- pose. CSDOS- 15.ARC, CSASSTl.SFX, CSASST2.SFX, CSXTRA45.LZH CSXOl — Dissolves MS-DOS ARC files. A "stand alone" program from the same programmer as CS-DOS. It includes modules for both the C64 andCl28. CSXOl.SDA LZH — LHArchive. A compression method used on Amiga and MS-DOS computers. CSDOS can create and dissolve lower versions. LHARC128.ARC SFX — SelF extracting archive. These are .Izh files which can dissolve them- selves when run on the 64 or 128. LHARC128.ARC ARC (CBM) — ARC250.4, a C64 archiving system. The .ARC files it creates are not compatible with MS- DOS archives of the same extension. ARC250,SDA SDA — Self Dissolving Archive. A Commodore style .ARC file which has been modified so it can be uncompressed by loading and run- ning the file. ARC-SDA.SFX ARC (PC) — MS-DOS style archive. Can be dissolved using CSXOl . PKZip — - MS-DOS archiving pro- gram. Commodore users cannot cre- ate files compressed in this format but can dissolve files zipped with PKZip version 1.x or lower. ZIP — File compressed with PKZip on another platform computer, which can be dissolved using either NZPI2817.SFX or UnziplOl.SFX. NZP128 — Unzip 128 utility. Includes utilities for the C64/128 and for RAM DOS users. NZP12817.SFX. Unzip 64 — C64 unzip utility. UNZIPIOI.SFX. ZIPCoded files — A Commodore disk compressed into files. The files begin with the letters a,b,c,d followed by ! and a filename {eg. AIBIGUS- DISKUS). ZIPUNZIP.SDA. Modem and Telecom Interface or RS232 Interface — Allows Commodore users to use non-Commodore modems. It con- nects to the User Port and is used for modem speeds up to 2400 bps (C64) or 9600 bps (CI 28). Null Modem — A device that con- nects between two computers that are in the same location to transfer data ed to X ^ between them. Sometimes used to transfer files to or from other com- puter platforms. 14.4k modem — A modem which can transmit up to 14,400 bits per second. 28.8 modem — Modem which can transmit up to 28,800 bits per second. ACIA — Asynchronous Communications Interface Adaptor. UART — Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter. SwiftLink or SL — An ACIA car- tridge that connects to the Cartridge Port and allows communications up to 38.4K. HartCart — A UART cartridge which connects to the Cartridge Port, simi- lar to the Swiftlink but allows up to 57. 6K communications. Flow Control — The way data to and from the modem is controlled. CTS/RTS — Hardware method of flow control. Xon/Xoff — Software method of flow control. Terminal Programs Novaterm — C64, shareware. NOVA95-1.SFX (four files), plus NOVA95-DOC.SFX. ACETerm — C64 and C128, free- ware. Used within the ACE operating system. ACE14A.SFX (five files). Desterm — CI 28, shareware. DES200-1.SFX (five files). Also, DESOl.SFX and DKS02.SFX. Dialoguel28 — C128, commercial. Fritzterm — C64, shareware. FRITZTRM.SFX. BBSing D/L and U/L — Shorthand for down- load and upload. FREQ^ File REQuest. Reserved for sysops only, but you can ask a Fidonet sysop to request files from another BBS for you. This is an established system for sysops to transfer files without going lliiough the process of logging onto a bulletin board. C O N T 1 N u I- s . . . THE LABYRINTH PRESENTS..?"^ Bulletins Look! Worldgroup Bulletins ♦ Use any installed Windows font ♦ ♦ Supports color text ♦ ♦ Bold, Itaiic, Underline and Str i keout ♦ -Subscript and Superscripts ♦ Framed paragraphs ♦ Prev Next in Print B« Close ^ Send bulletins by class, key, sex, age, or any combination of the four. ■^ Sysop uses a full WYSIWYG editor to create and modify bulletins. ■^ Bulletins can have a lifetime. •> Bulletins are created and modified online. ■^ Various text colors and styles can be used to jazz up the text. •^ Users and sysops alike will enjoy a very simple interface. ■» Supports ANSI/ASCII users too! -» Works on-deck (offline)! y^' B u I k - m a i I e r •^ Works with the Worldgroup client and ANSt/ASCII users. ■^ All items have defaults. •^ You can change the "from" field to avoid replies. ■^ Messages are not sent until the user logs on. •^ File attachments are supported. ulk Mailer Addressee Information User class: User sex: USER T±j User key: NORMAL MALE t FEMALE 13 E Between the ages of: 18 and |35 (blank or means all ages) Message Information Wfio sfiould this message be from Distribution message Sysop (Distributed) Would you like a return receipt: Days message should be active: (» Yes CNo 10 (blank or means never remove) File attachment (if any): C:VMBBS\CLIENT ZlH 1 Select..,! ADD-ON MODULES FOR WORLDGROUP! The Labyrinth PO Box 1017 Arcadia, CA 91077-1017 75.95 for both! Th '. Labyrinth BBS (818) 794-0490 VOICE (818) 398-9459 W lo^ 1\\ Commodore or Related Conferences ^^ RIMEnet: Commodore — Commodore and Amiga topics. Fidonet: CBM — Commodore eight-bit com- puters (not Amiga or CBM-PCs). CBM-I28 — The Commodore 128. CBM-GEOS — C-64/ 1 28 GEOS. PCWRITE — PCWrite, Cross plat- form computing and emulators. CPMTECH — CP/M computing. Usenet Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm — Commodore eight- bit computing. comp.binaries.cbni — Distribution of uuencoded binary files for Commodore eight-bit computers, comp.emulators.cbm — Using Commodore emulation programs on other platform computers. Correction hi the September 1995 issue o/BBS Magazine, Commodore Connections column, it was stated that Novaterm 9.6 bad been released as shareware. At press time the release is still pending (it may be available as you read this). A demo version will be released as share- ware. The full version will be commer- cial ($24.95) and will includ the print- ed manual. For further information, contact Nick Rossi at voyager@eskimo.com, or at his mailing address: Nick Rossi, 10002 Aurora Ave. N. #3353, Seattle, WA 98133, U.S.A. SB Gaelyne Moranec can often be found in the Fidonet CBM echo. Comments or suggestions can be sent to 1:366/221.128. 3:800/809.128, or moranec@hal9000.apana.org.au. Her home page resides at: http://www.msen.com/-brain/guest/ Gaelyne_Moranec/index.html :> 'ou OugnraD(^1firdPicrlir(^$ NcwMci-ito Qftlinc - New klcxnt i Ofli wMll iM UHl "Vie^^ lapis pjUoiis tjtip /* 4^^ ^1 l£j ~ T-mJif r Itlcionferiwc ! fnt liwotin bwi{M»Wl ymdStnnn) < UinMrY Hey, you might not make it in pictures, so how about the next best thing? If you've ever considered running your own online service, there's never been a better time. Worldgroup is the next generation of online server software, integrating all the multimedia capa- bilities of Windows and the \'ersatility of an online environment No more tedious scrolling text, no more graphi- cal display barriers, no more limits to what you can do. With Worldgroup, you can present graphics, text, even sound to your users. Features like telecon- ference, e-mail and audio-visual registries make Worldgroup a friendly and fun environment. And with add-ons from several different independent soft- ware vendors, your online service's capabilities can expand even further, such as offering connections to the Internet, online shopping and a multitude of other features. So pick up your copy of Worldgroup today, and let your imagination go wild. Besides, even if you don't make it in pictures, at least you'll be the star of your own BBS. ProDesign is your best source for the Worldgroup telecommunica- tionssoftware package and its add-ons. We also offer a host of services, from custom ap- plication developmentand custom graphics services to full turn-key systems. In addition to our own sof twareand services, ProDesign also Jn in^ hU*J:i represen ts the very best in Indepen- dentSoftware Vendor add-ons from such companies as Vircom, Logicom, Human ware Sys- tems, Cinecom, Labyrinth and High WaterMark. Call ProDesign today to order your Worldgroup system, or to expand on your already existing system. PO Box 14314 Albuquerque, NM 87191-4314 (505) 271-5858 Voice ♦ (505) 271-5845 Fax ♦ (505) 244-0000 BBS Call today to place your order or to receive our free catalog! [Hacintosli Online BY MICHAEL A. KUYKENDALL Get RIP-ed! and emulate your way through DOS country Just a few months ago I reached a major turn- ing point in my life. I hit the ancient age of 30. While many of you may laugh at the minor relevance of this, for me it was a time of great reflection and soul-search- ing. 46 Figure 1 I was no longer a "twenty-something." Would 1 have to give up Pearl Jam and Live for easy listening? Start taking my Geritol and stop staying up past 10 p.m.? I think not. But I had to do something. First, I had to grow a beard. Seems to me ever)^ couple of years you need to grow some- thing new. My kids love it — they ask me daily when I'm going to shave. Next, I went back and looked at a bunch of my memorabilia, including old software. I've been "Mac-ing" since 1984, and possess some of the oldest software you can find for the Mac. Remember the "Pepsi Caps" appli- cation used to show off the graphics capability of the fledgling Mac? Don't worry, most do not. I, on the other hand, still got it. NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE RIPRoarin' You're probably wondering what all this has to do with BBSs and Macintosh computing. Wcli, suffice it to say it has something to do with those caps. Recently my editor asked me to evaluate RIP terminal software for the Mac and to check out some PC BBSs with RIP interfaces. (RIP stands for Remote Imaging Protocol, by the way, and essentially gives DOS boards a very colorful GUI.) After a thorough terminal search, the only relevant package I could find was PowerConnect by Cambridge Computer Corp. PowerConnect is a terminal emula- tion package capable of emulating a variety of terminals including RIPscrip, DEC VT52/VT100/VT200/VT300 series, ADDS Viewpoint, Lear Siegler, Honewell/BULL VIP7700 and DKU series and Tektronics 4010/4014. Communications interface includes: Async, Comm. ToolBox, TCP/IF and VIP Sync. It reminds me of my early days of using TTY and VT terminal emulation software. This is definitely NOT a pack- age for novices, mind you, but fortu- nately there's an electronic user's man- ual over 100 pages long included (as a Common Ground document). PowerConnect has a director)' with lots of boards already listed, including the Cambridge BBS. One thing I deter- mined very quickly is that RIP GUI BBSs are very popular and also very busy most of the time. To check them out meant late-night or eariy-morning calls — while everyone's asleep or at work. I dialed several different kinds ni' PC boards. The Major BBS (produced by a company called Galacticomm) sup- ports RIP graphics, as shown in Figure 1. But a funny thing 1 found is this board has the same look and feel as a marketplace and information board here in Atlanta, leaving me to wonder about the ability of The Major BBS to allow customization of the RIP graph- ics for their boards. Anyone running a Ripped Major BBS please feel free to correct me. The next flavoi" board 1 visited was Wildcat! (Mustang Software), as shown in Figure 2. All of the RIP boards I checked out only allowed connections of 9600, and therefore it took some time for me to sign up as a new account, as a different graphical screen appeared for each bit of information. (Frankly, 1 prefer the Noval.ink Pro and First Class single-screen approach, with different fields you can tab to and fillotit.) I also had some problems with dropping carrier during registration on several different boards. Mowcver, I'm not sure if it's the brand of modem or the quality of our wonderful lines that was to blame. But after finally signing on and holding carrier, I did find plenty to enjoy graphics-wise on each of ihe boards. The lettering was colorful and large — clean enough for me to read easily. A standard main screen for a Wildcatl board may be seen in Figure 3. rambhdqe - pDuierConnect Figure 2 [ 11 nCART10.TXT 1,23 DL line uu^uu^uj I [ 91 JtlBBS.ZIP left bii GRAHF GIUItSIHI . Figure 3 The use of buttons and being able to mouse-click my wa)' through made the journey much easier. Still, it all feels somewhat alien from my standard Mac interface. 'I'he lack of crisp icons and graphics makes me feel that 1 am definitely dealing with a f^C, and that PC BBS software has a lillle way to go with the RIP graphics. I'm not knocking it, mind you, I just enjoy the use of graphics immensely and was occasionally experiencing bad flash- backs of those awful early Prodigy days. On the ^vhole, PowcrCtmnect does a good job of supporting RIP graphics. Ho\vever, PowerConnect does not sup- port pattern flood fill; it fills with a rJOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE solid color instead. It also does not sup- port animation of the color palette when flood fill is selected, PowerConnect is shareware and may be used for thirty days, after which you must register the product or remove the software from your system. To reg- ister, contact: Cambridge Computer Corp. Product Registration 80 Mount San ford Road Mount Carmel, CT 06518-1210 203.288.6004 Internet: info(?Pcam.com Continues.. 47 Check out some of these new applications and utilities, availaljle on many online semces, BBSs, and Internet IH'P sites. ImageMasterl.O is a freeware utility made to handle really big disk images. You can use ImageMaster just like ShriiikWrap, bjl it's specifically designed to tiancfle large volumes like fiard drives, removables and CD-ROfi/ls. You can use ImageMaster to back up your old SyQuest cartridges, verify the integrity of CD- ROM builds, take a "snapshot" ol your system configuration, mount volumes over the network, or create "instant RAM disks." Mascot 1.4 is a freeware utility for First Class administrators that performs four different functions. It vi/ill take a desktop/conference capture and convert it to a batch admtn command to create those conferences/folders on another server. (This is good if you want to start gating a large number oi conferences); take a corrupted desktop capture and convert it to a normal conference capture for use with programs such as Conference List Tool; take a return delimited list of conferences/folders (in a text file) and convert it to batch admin to create those conferences on a server: and, it will convert a user list to a comma delimited document, whicfi can be imported to most database programs. Guillotine 1.Dd3 is a tile utility that "decapitates" those ugly all caps DOS- like filenames. Just drop the offending files/folders on it, and the names will become all lowercase. Guillotine processes the complete contents of dropped folders. fJote: you will have to close and reopen the folder for the new name(s) to appear in the finder. Mac-IBIVI-conipare □ Version 2.0,4 compares the Mac and IBM machines CPUs, hardware (monitor support and expansion), operating systems (includes number crunching), networking and printing; it covers not only present hardware/sottdvare statistics and features but also future possibilities. Despite its condensed and generalized format it still provides some tiiougfit-provoking reading on the relative merits, problems and deficiencies of Macs and IBM PCs, It also contains some FAQ answers about both machines and the PowerPC tine. 48 Other RIP Programs In all fairness, I need to mention two other products that support RIP on the Mac. NovaLink Pro for the Macintosh (from ResNova Software) has support- ed RIP graphics in their host software from its inception. There is also allegedly a program called RIPTerm for Macintosh from TeleGrafix (RIP cre- ators) that's supposed to be a clean and simple application (much like PowerConnect). However, I couldn't get TeleGrafix to send me an evaluation copy to review for this column (they promised a copy, but it never arrived; they were also impossible to reach by phone). If it arrives, I'll deliver a report in the future. Mail and Utils 1 try to stick to answering questions about BBSs and Macs, for the most part, but I've had more and more queries each month concerning the Internet and how to connect using a Mac. Here are a couple of the ques- tions, as well as a few new utilities and applications worth checking out. Q; Is it possible to attach files (like graphics) to an email message from \vithin Eudora? A: Of course. In Eudora, if you look under the "Message" menu, you'll find the "Attach Document" command. Eudora will BinHex the file and attach it to the message. Q; I close my connection under "Config PPP", then go out and launch one of my Internet apps or utils, but then the Config PPP window pops back up again. What's happening here? A: Don't use the "Soft Close" button in ConfigPPP, use "Hard Close" instead. "Soft Close" will cause Config PPP to try to re-establish a connection when- ever a TCP/IP application or utility is launched. "Hard Close," on the other hand, won't allow re-connection until you click the Open button. Net Files Cyber Link is a URL utility that allows you to use the Finder and its icons to keep track of and organize all the NOVEMBER t995 BBS MAGAZINE places you visit while you're out surfing the Web. Cyber Link files are like Macintosh Finder aliases except they point to W^WW files and documents instead of Macintosh files and docu- ments. When you click on one in the Finder, the Cyber Link application sends a message to your Web browser telling it to go to that location. You can drop MacWeb URL files on the Cyber Link applications icon as well. InterSLIP Timer V. 1.4.2 is a utility application to be used with InterSLIP that allows you to keep track of how much time you spend on your SLIP account. InterSLIP Timer requires System 7.0 or later. MacPPP Timer v. 1.4.2 is a utility application to be used with MacPPP that allows you to keep track of how much time you spend on your PPP account, MacPPP Timer requires System 7.0 or later. EasyTransfer is a file transfer utility that allows you to access files on Macintosh computers over the Internet. It completely does away with the need to preprocess (BinHex) files before they can be sent. Throughput is very fiist, too. It also supports run-time file compression. Control PPP 1. 1 is a control strip module that lets you connect or disconnect MacPPP and open the MacTCP and Config PPP control panels to change your dial-up number, etc. It also indicates whether MacPPP is open or not by its icon, in case you have an internal modem. Control PPP 1.1 is postcardware. Michael A. KuykendaU can he reached through the Online Macintosh Users' Group BBS, Macintosh OnHiie, at 404.822.5929, or via his email address at andykirk@aol.com. Apdi - The Nation^ Largest Service Bureau Witfi over 500 simultaneous connect lines (and growing fast!} APDI is the nation's premier Service Bureau providing customized on-line systems for corporate and professional organizations nationwide. APDI will work with you to design your on-line system and then implement and operate it at our state-of-the-art Service Center located just outside of Washington, D.C. We provide all hardware, software and communication facilities required to make your system a success. We also provide a professional Help Desk to assist your users in connecting. You are free to concentrate on the data, APDI takes care of all technical details! Your Choices APDI offers you a wide range of options for your on-line system including: • User Interface: MS Windows Client, RIP, ANSI, Terminal • Connect Method: Toll Call, 800 Number, Local Call Nationwide, ISDN • Internet Access: Telnet, World Wide Web, E-Mail • Systenf) Design: Customized to present your unique image On-Line Applications APDI has implemented systems for some of the nation's largest organizations. We have developed service bureau applications for publishing, associations, university courses, customer support, software distribution, CD-ROIVI order processing, and more! If your project doesn't fit a standard application, we can develop a custom on- line system to fit your needs. QicGlaJi For Windows, v. I.OC T^rrr 1 Saw^CHn [o E]3„ u^ Jj |? jvlgft^nfl f&oem HO. S4H 03831 Drug bf^'tsmpntg SufaWance CoOe Screen shot from APDI's new Cheetah for Workgroup Product APDl's Cheetah product is the on-line industry's fastest and most powerful full text search and retrieval program. Search one or multiple databases using Boolean and proximity search phrases. Megabytes of data can be searched in fractions of seconds. You can take advantage of Cheetah on your system running at APDI's Service Center or you can buy the package to run on your in-house system. Cheetah is compatible with virtually all popular BBS programs including a new version for Galacticomm's Worldgroup! President Mark Burnett in one of APDI's Computer Rooms What Makes APDI Number One? Our Stale-ol-the-Art Service Center and Secure Environment • USRobotics 33.6Kbps modems on all phone lines • ISDM, Packet Switching, Frame Relay • Fully redundant hardware systems m • Independent backup power facility • Automated data backups daily •Complete virus scanning •7 by 24 system monitoring • Continuous technology refreshment Our User Support • Professionally staffed Help Desk for your users from 9 a.m. to 1 2 midnight EST Our Customers and Alliances Vm- Some of the largest and most progressive corporations, associations and even major online services have selected APDI to implement and operate on-line systems for them. Additionally, many manufacturers and service providers have chosen APDI as a business partner. Among these are: • Galacticomm, Inc. • Mustang Software, Inc. 'CompuServe Network Systems Our Reputation and Demand lor Excellence ...having worked with APDI in setting up the PTO's on-line information system we continue to be impressed with their high quality of service and professionalism. Jim Moriarty, United States Patent and Trademark Office ...we are very impressed with APDI's excellent support and operation admission critical Worldgroup based on-line systems. Scott Brinksr, President, Galacticomm, Inc. . . . CompuServe is excited about the benefits that APDI can bring to our existing and future client base. JeffKiely, CompuServe Network Systems Application Programming & Deueiopment, Inc. 6805 Coolridge Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20748 Ph: 1-800-785-APDI Fax:301-449-1224 INFOmPDI.NET Worldgroup BBS: 301-449-1835 APDI Wildcat BBS: 301-449-6100 By Hank Hurteau Following are top downloads as recorded last month on three BBSs across the U.S. Look lor them on your favorite local BBS, too. Files such as QWK packets have been omitted, as have any graphic files. Descriptions are generated by author or bulletin board. Programs carried in the " Top Ten " download list don 't necessarily denote a good program, of course — just one that's frequently downloaded. You'll have to be the judge v/hen it comes to quality. And keep in mind: always look tor the latest program, as one of the advantages to using (and registering) sharevme is that you'll be privy to the frequent updates. ABSOLUT(e)LY TEMPORARY 702.254.8601 Sysop: Chip Shapiro 1 WIN95TPS.ZIP 3123 Tips for Windows 95. Helps you get past some annoying little "features" of Win95, sucfi as autoloading at boot up instead of going to DOS. and hov; to fix the Start menu delay. 2 2FIFFY5.ZIP 267106 REoL TOUGH 2: Forbidden Mines. MAP01 replacement for Doom II! An old mine shall has been convened to a demon's base of torture, with lots of work done to become their base! Recommended: 486/66 or better 3 CSEVILDM.ZIP 49086 Chainsaw's Evil: PWAD for DOOM I happy spots in which you get to kll (Hmmm.) :? I. You are in an evil place filled with your friends, enemies and relatives. UPER :±> PE 4 IDA304.ZIP 529572 The Interactive DisAssembler v3.04. Full WYSIWYG interactive disassem- bler for i80x86, 18085 zBO. i860, PENTIUM — Input: US Windows, OS/2 files, EXE, ME. LE. LX. HEX, NLM etc. 5 L0GI64.ZIP 572628 Logitech Mouseware Enhanced Version 6.40 with cloaked drivers. 6 SSUPER.ZIP 252581 Super Speed Version 1.1, Ihis speedy car racing game delivers pure action for up to four players. Challenge friends or compete against the computer's drivers. Eventful tracks with all the obstacles you usually pre- fer not to find in real life driving. Requires: 386+. VGA. 7 WINZIP60.ZIP 313724 WinZip 6.0 for Windows 3.1 S Workgroups . Now supports McAfee WSCAN and other scanners. Brings the convenience of Windows to Zipping, External programs not needed for ZIP, tar. gz. z. 8 AIRDRUM1.ZIP 708083 AIRDRUMS is a Windows multimedia MIDI drum machine which does more than bang a drum. Sound Blaster Compatibie, record MIDI instru- ments from external devices-like triggers, sequencers, keyboards, or even a PC keyboard. Play along with a CD. mix the levels while you record a MIDI file, all in a Ray Traced graphics program. 9 FUZZY10D.ZIP 2078615 Fuzzy's World VI .00s — Pixel Painters releases its most spectacular game to date. It's vM. It's zany. It's. ..space golf? That's right, the most outrageous sport of the future is here for you today! Completely animat- ed, outstanding graphics and music. Req: 4M, RAM, VGA, HD. Mouse. 386/33 (486 recommended); Opt: Sound Card. 10 SHEZ1D7.ZIP 424037 SHEZ v1 0.7--Premier Compression Shell. ZIP,LHA,ZOO.ARC,ARJ,S0Z.PAK,UC2.HAP,RAR. WINDOWS COM- PRESSED supported. One of the most full-featured compressed file shells around. Fixed problem with SMARTCOPY/MOVE. Added ability to NOT fil- ter chars when autalaadlng 4D0S desc. file. Can config, SHEZ to NOT sv/ap when performing 4D0S functions, Nov; includes 386 version of SHEZ, 50 NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE Freeware Hall of Fame BBS 804.293.2693 Sysop: Rey Barry 1 C0IV1BI113.ZIP 47104 Combi cache v1.13. DOS 6 and downward compatible. Adds support of XMS 3.0 for Windows and XIVIS re-allocate function for MkSM 6.0. The default installation parameters are changed to how 99 percent of users were setting them. Allocates all available XMS memory, creates RAIVI disk of maximum size and releases as much of its buffer as is available (i.e. total buffer size minus RAM disk boot sector, FAT and root directory size) unless told otherwise. 2 BIN2ASC1.ZIP 16008 Binary to ASCII converter to send any kind of binary file, GIF. ZIP. EXE etc. to an email message. Widely used on the Internet to include pictures and execulables in email documents. 3 FP-218E.ZIP 585367 F-PROT version 2,18e Ttie F-PROT anti-virus package contains a virus scanner combined v;ith a disinfection program, as well as a resident mon- itoring program for intercepting known viruses. Free of charge for private users. 4 FREEV17A.ZIP 31004 Free v1 .7a Free space mapping utility. Displays information on single dri- ves, ranges or lists. Displays both bytes and true megabytes of space available, space used, and total drive space. 5 FTASK123.ZIP 49241 FTaskman v1 .23 WIN Task Manager with many additional functions, such as showing invisible tasks/displaying icons of tasks. By Andreas Furrer (one of the most committed freeware authors). 6 GLDWV21.ZIP 283377 GOLDWAVE v2.11 WIN sound editor/player. Supports sound cards SB, SB16, PAS16, GUS. t6-bit Stereo editing uses 386 — 32-bit instructions for processing. Super zoom magnifies a sample level for accurate editing. Direct editing v^ith mouse. Editing lunctions: undo, cut, copy, paste, trim, mix, delete. Built-in support for WAV, VOC, IFF, AU. Sf^JD. 7 OZUITERI.ZIP 555254 TERMINATE 2.01 Epsilon [1/4] Outstanding free multitask communica- tions program for DOS, OS/2 Warp or Windows. Internet/ISDN speeds up to 115,200 bps v;hile using integral OWK'em mail reader. File Mavigator or playing its TETRIS game or a CD-ROM, RIPscrip and Fido. Powerful REXX-like Script Language. SmartPad, MQUseMenu(TM). Comprehensive Fax Manager and cost management included. Long distance carriers, Zmodem, CompuServe 6+, Kermit and voice calls. 8/21/95, 8 D2D1TER2.ZIP 583235 TERMINATE 2.01 Epsilon [2/4] 9 D2D1TER3.ZIP 264579 TERMINATE 2.01 Epsilon [3/4] 10 0ZD1TER4.ZIP 535786 TERMINATE 2.01 Epsilon [4/4] Fuzzy's World Uncle Hank's BBS 413.527.8977 Sysop: Hank Hurteau 1 #1HP11-A.ZIP 336054 HOCUS POCUS vl.1 by APOGEE! Part 1,'3. Also needs #1HP11-B & #1HP11-C.2iP. Scrolling action game like Mario Bros,, with constant vari- ety o1 levels, graphics, music, enemies and awesome parallaxing back- grounds. In a magical kingdom, Hocus must overcome many realms before becoming a (ull-fledged Wizard. Supports all major sound boards, like Ad Lib, GUS, PAS, SB & general MIDI. Three skill levels, joystick/pad optional. 2 #1HP11-B.ZIP 305906 HOCUS POCUS vl.1 by APOGEE! Part 2/3. 3 #1HP11-C.ZIP 303313 HOCUS POCUS vl-1 by APOGEE! Part 3/3. ORGAN.ZIP 121611 AMF Intelligent Organ/Synthesizer for Windows. The first organ to offer features such as 127 instrument/voice seiection, volume control, octave control and recoding capability as well as playback capability. This organ actually looks and works like an organ. Has an auto playback feature to ma!(es it appear someone is actually playing! Works like a Casio keyboard but easier! 5 1_TAGENT.ZIP 1452508 Teen Agent — One day a teenager is captured by two men in dark glasses and long coats. This could be a very interesting day. Get ready for a v^on- derfully humorous adventure. Teen Agent is a point-and-click animated graphic adventure that features detailed hand-painted backgrounds and 20,000+ individual frames of animation. REO 286+. Supports SB, ADLIB, GUS, Mouse, 6 ASECRETS.ZIP 144273 Amazing Secrets, a hovMo of amazing stunts & tricks. Includes fire tricks, strength stunts, psychic secrets, weird stuff, shov/-off tricks, impossible things, bar bets and "con jobs." Great fun. 7 GIFSZE15.ZIP 46151 GifsizeV 1.5 — Resize GIFs and produce zooms/icons from them. Use the mouse to specify areas. Requires mouse. VGA or SVGA graphics. 8 iSHIFTER.ZIP 287295 Shape Shifter Adventure. The weirdest, coolest, text adventure you will ever play. To win the game you must find the machine to cure Shape Shifterism, Once you find the machine, hopefully you can fix it and then turn it on to cure yourself. 9 AIR233.ZIP 119182 Aircraft Modifier V 2.33 for FS5 airplanes. 10 A1RL1FT.ZIP 131883 A really cool remake of the classic game Choplifter. Fly your chopper behind enemy lines and rescue hostages but be wary of the menacing tanks, jets and drones. Requires 3B6DX-40 or better, VGA (joystick optional). SoundBlaster or compatible highly recommended to enjoy the original soundtrack and digital sound. If you are a sysop and carry a Top Ten bulletin on your BBS, and woulil like to see your board listed here, please contact "Uncle" Hank at Uncle Hank's BBSoratunkhank@ix.netcDm.com UMM Hank Hurteau can be reached at unkhank@crocker.com NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE 51 ^ £atch The Waves CQ The Pier Exchange CD-ROM Publishing Inc. is proud to present the HOTTEST and most CURRENT dated shareware CD-ROIVl's ever released. The Pier Shareware CD-ROIVl's are a series of sequential updated disks containing the latest Shareware programs. All files on the discs are TRULY the most CURRENT files available on the market at the time of their release. To top it off there are NO duplications of files between discs! 650+ Megs of Shareware files. directory. 100% files dated 1995. Smart Date Checking In place. ThePier v3.0 The Worlds FASTEST Retrieval Software!!! Database is ACCESSIBLE from the CD-ROM. Minimum HD requirement ONLY 600K. All files have been scanned for viruses with the latest McAfee SCAN. Full GAP, PCBoard, Spitfire, Wildcat, TBBS Remote Access FILES.BBS Support. Less then 1% duplication between The Pier Shareware CD-ROMs. O Nd We have set the standards for Shareware CD-ROM's in regards to the quality of files one comes to expect on CD-ROM's, but now we are going to raise the standards for CD-ROM access software. Introducing for the first time on The Pier Shareware CD-ROM, ThePier v3.0 High Performance CD-ROM Access Program. This is not just another retrieval program, it's in fact the WORLDS FASTEST CD-ROM retrieval software! Windows Applications windows Games Programming Languages Programming Tools JPG/GIF Pictures Educational Programs Games / Entertainment Sound Blaster / IV1IDI DTP / Clipart Bible Medical / Health Word Processing Laser/Printer Utilities BBS Programs / Doors Communications Legal OS/2 Programs/Utilities And Mucti, Much, More! I ^f^ 4^ nr GUI Graphical Interface - EGA VGA Full Mouse Support Pull-down Menus File Comment Field Entries Worlds FASTEST Retrieval Software Multiple File Viewer Configuration Will Not Modify AUTOEXEC.BAT Keywords Search File Name Search File Name Within Archive Search Copy / Extract Files "On-The-Fly" Built-in Default Text File Viewer Can Run In Text Mode Discs Sold Separately: 1^ Pien, S^Lanmf<^fle * 7 $20 Blows Competitors Out of The Water Mged #/ Shareware CD-KOM Cyber. Xpo. 95 Limited Time Offer Please add $5 for S&H ($8 for overseas orders). Check and Money order must be in US funds and drawn on US bank. Make check payable to: THE PIER EXCHANGE INC., 346 BEDFORD, BUFFALO, NY 14216 International Orders, FAX, or Information 716-875-4931 BBS 716-875-3130 ORDRES ONL.V 1 -800-438-9734 m%\\m Q&A BY TESS HEDER Ask Tess Q: While leading some online chats on my BBS, occasionally one of my callers asks to meet me or wants to visit my BBS, This always catches mc off guard — especially in a group chat situation, since my BBS is all of one PC in my bedroom! Any suggestions about how to respond? Chris from Pcfiiisylvania A: Here's my take on this type of situation. You certainly can say no. However, if you are truly interested in meeting a user who makes an inquiry, respond via a receiver only message outside of the group chat medium. Just tell the user while in group chat that this topic's out of bounds in your role as group chat facilitator. Once you switch your dialog over to email you're in a one on one situation, which you are on your own to handle responsibly. Should you notice your users often talking about meeting each other or meeting you, you might encourage them to schedule a social event such as a BBS picnic, brunch or party. BBS social events can be a lot of fun, and strengthen the bonds between the mem- bers of your online community. Ql Many people would agree that one of the best things about a BBS is the interaction with other people. This seems to be especially true with BBS Door games that feature multiplayer interaction. I am in the process of setting up a BBS and was hoping you could rec- ommend some Multi-User Dimension (MUD) games and other types of multiplayer games. Nate from Alabama f^i A: Yes, interactive online games are very popular and relative- ly easy to set up on your BBS. One of the major BBS software publishers packages a series of online games, all of which you can add to the system. Other BBS software users can select from literally thousands of independently authored BBS Door games. Some well known, fully interactive text adventure Door games include Legend of the Red Dragon, Lunatix and Tradewars. Widely played graphics adventures games include Land of Devastation and VGA Planets. Online board games, chess tournaments, trivia, card and sports games also have avid foUowings. Colorful ANSI or RIP graphics tend to distin- guish BBS Door games from the MUD games — which popu- late the Internet and feature truly awesome, real-time global interactivih'. Q: I saw your Q&A in BSS Magazine. I am new to the Internet, etc. and am wondering what the policies are regard- ing advertising on various BBSs? Email from America Online A: Advertising policies vary from BBS to BBS, so your first responsibilit}' as a curious user is to ask the sysop. With few exceptions, BBSs do not present paid-for advertising integrat- ed with their content. And for the most part, public domain and shareware software files that distribute on BBSs are not pure advertising. Advertising often comes into play in a couple of ways, however. Buy/sell message bases and classified ad- type interactive online databases are very popular features on many subscription boards. Typically BBS users buy and sell from each other in these areas — which function sort of like ongoing electronic garage sales or flea markets. When it comes to the files and other informational goodies that circulate on BBSs, these are often packaged with a small file that identifies the author or the producer — another relatively non- invasive way folks can make themselves known and peddle their wares at the same time. -# ;^ Q: I'm a new sysop and was wondering how to get callers. |Ah, the eternal question.] I've put up flyers but I'm only getting a couple of callers to dial in each day, and one or two who call once a week. What do I do? Dan from New Hatnpshire A: This is a tough spot to be in and one that new sysops often face. But, to be sure, electronic signs work a lot better than paper ones. Get an up-to-date listing of BBSs in your area. Call these boards and ask the sysops if you can post messages announcing your new BBS (many sysops will let you do this). And while you're at it, get your BBS listed, too. Make your mes- sage attractive, your BBS welcome screen engaging, and be sure you have good content — then hope for the best! ^^ Tess Heder is co-founder of Channel 1*, winner of the Dvorak/Zoom Award of Excellence in Telecommunications 1992 — Best General Interest BBS. Contact her at: BBS: Comment to sysop, 617.349.1300 V.34 Email: tess.heder@channell.com Fax: 617.354.3100, Attention: Ask TESS US Mail: Channel 1, Attn: Ask Tess, 1030 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138. NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE 53 ITIoileins BY MODEM MACE ZyXEL Fires Back Modem maker, at last, offers new line Let's get re-acquainted with an old friend of the sysop/BBS caller. The friend, known as ZyXEL, has received little press lately, and as a company, they've actually been pretty quiet since last year. You see, ZyXEL waited nearly 12 months longer than most manufacturers to release a V.34 modem, probably hurting their reputation in the sysop community as well as the desktop market. They're back now, however, and ready to do battle with the Big Boys. Where they've been... The Anaheim-based extension of the Taiwan-bLiscd ZyXEL C^omniiinications Corporation was founded in 1988, with a charter "to be the driving force in modem com- munications by leading the field with proactive pricing, intelligent features, technological advancements, and aggressive marketing." The company first entered the market with a high-speed data pump in 1990, followed by a full line of high-speed V.32bis modems in 1991. Subsequent products have resulted in an array of standard and Intelligent features at low prices. All ZyXEL V.32bis fax/modems (with voice) come with ZyXEL I6.8Kbps Ultra High Speed. The Plus Series offers advanced voice capabili- ty with Speech Compression and increased throughput of up to 2,200cps. The modems offer enhanced fax capabilities including V.17-14.4Kbps and G3 fax with auto- matic detection of fax or modem calls. ZyXEL ZFAX software supports up to 1,000 data, fax and voice mail- boxes, ^vhile the Macintosh and Windows versions support up to 1 ,000 voice/fax mailboxes — all on one phone line. The entire line of ZyXEL internal, external, rack- mount, cellular and portable modems feature Call-Back Security with Password Protection as well as the ability to upgrade by firmware. ZyXEL high-speed modems even support distinctive ring for incoming fax or modem calls. They also sup- port remote configuration through dial-up lines, and are designed to operate over dial-up or leased lines. Where they're going... Now ZyXEL has introduced their lat- est lineof ISDN/V.34 modems, (a tact that's not exactly news by the time you're reading this, I realize) combining data, fax, voice and cellu- lar. The new family of modems includes the ZyXEL Elite 2864 and the Elite 28641. As you may be able to tell from the product designator, the key difference between these two units is with and without ISDN. The 2864 is upgradable to ISDN for a nominal cost. The ZyXEL Elite 2864 conforms to all ITU-T standards including the \'.34 protocol. It will automatically fall back to lower speeds when communicating with slo\ver modems or when line condi- tions degrade, and it maintains com- patibility to ZyXEL proprietary 19.2Kbps and 16.8Kbps speeds. What is obviously missing from both these units is support for the fjopular VFC and less popular V.32terbo protocols. ZyXEL seems to have taken the same ITU-T high- road that companies such as Motorola have also ventured upon. No word yet as to possible support for 33. 6K V.34, otherwise referred to asV.34PlusorV.34bis. Did I say ISDN upgradable? With an optional ISDN line interface module, the ZyXEL Elite 2864 can be upgraded to a ZyXEL ISDN device. Users have two B Channels that can «R5- III NOVtMBEf be used for simultaneous communi- cation. For example, one B Channel using ISDN can transmit informa- tion at 64Kbps while the other B Channel is transmitting analog data (using an external analog device such as phone or modem) at up to 28.8Kbps. The Elite Series modem family allows ISDN's two 64Kbps B Channels to be combined for 128Kbps. ZyXEL is the first manu- facturer to implement V.42bis data compression over ISDN. It should be noted that both these additives are not standards for ISDN. Combining the two B channels, known as bonding, has yet to be standardized. Supporting bonding is only compatible among other ZyXEL ISDN modems until a standard B channel bonding protocol is adopt- ed. The digital modems support AT&T 5ESS, Northern Telecom DMS-100, Siemens EWSD, and 1TR6 EDSSl switches — with either NI-1 or custom protocols. The Elite 28641 supports Async/Sync PPP, rate adaptation ITU-T V. 1 20, V. 1 10 and also X.75. The ZyXEL 28641 digital modems automatically switch between ISDN mode and fax/modem mode without user intervention. Traditionally, users had one tele- phone Line that could be used for a single purpose. With the Elite 28641 you have the capability of establish- ing an ISDN connection AND a standard analog connection at the same time, with the same modem, with one standard ISDN line. Other manufacturers such as Motorola and U.S. Robotics have followed suit. The Elite series of modems pro- vides a number of other features not necessarily pertinent to the sysop or online service provider (OSP), so I'll skip those features. ZyXEL also offers the RS-1602E, a Rackmount System for the ZyXEL U-1496RE Plus and the U-1496RE modem cards. The cards offer the identical features as the company's U-1496E Plus and U-1496E models. TABLE I — SVSOPS HIGH-SPEED MODEM DISCOUNTS BY VENDOR AND MODEL TYPE VENDOR/ 14.4KV.32liis 14.4KV.32bis V.32TERB0, V.FC, V.32TERB0, V.FC PRODUCT INTERNAL EXTERNAL V.34 INTERNAL V.34 EXTERNAL Continues AT&T Paradyne 3721 -B1 -001- £150 3710-A1-20r S165PC;S190Mac $175 N/A CPI/ ViVa ViVa 14.4 S180 ViVa 14.4 SI 96 N/A N/A Hayes Corp Optima 144B* $179 Ultra 144 $249 N/A Optima 288+FAX v.FC 28.8k $259 Optima 144+FAX* $179 PC; $179 Mac Intel SatisFax/400 $249 14.4 EX $269 N/A N/A Faxmodem 144i $99 SatisFAX/400e* $245 Faxmodem I44e $109 Microcom N/A N/A N/A DeskPorte FAST v.FC 28.8k $249 Travel Porte FAST v.FC 28.8k $249 MulfiTech IVIT1432BC $400 MT1432BA" $400 N/A N/A MT1432ES $400 MCA MT1432MU* S300 MT1432BL" $450 MT1432PCS $575 Practical Peripherals N/A PM14400FXSA* $215 N/A N/A PM14400FXMT- $155 Supra Corp SuprafAXModem" $109 SupraFAXModem" $139 SI 59 Supra V34 $179 USRotioiics N/A N/A N/A HSTV.Eveiything V.34, VFC, FAX* $249 Ven-Tel PCM144FAX' $195 EC144FAX' $215 N/A N/A PCMV.32bis* $480 ECV.32bis* $525 MCM144FAX- $380 MCA flMV.32bis 11' $425 Zoom Telephonies VFPV.32Bis- $99 VFX V.32BIS- $119 PC; $130 Mac VFP V.FC 24k $99 VFX V.FC 24k $119 PC; $130 Mac VFP V.FC 2B.8k SI 39 VFX V.FC 28.8k $159 PC; $170 Mac ZyXEL U-1496B" 16,BK S299 U-1496E- 16.8K $299 N/A U-1496E* v.32terbo16.8K $299 U-1496B+* 19.2K $389 " Modems with an asterisk include 14,400 baud FAX send/receive at no extra charge] Nates on Table I: 1. All internal modems are assumed to be PC-AT ISA t)us unless otherwise noted. Some manufacturers do not offer internals: be careful when ordering. 2. Consult manufacturer tot details on availability of Caller ID or voice-mail processing options (any modem above). 3. Ttiese prices NEVER Include shipping and handling, which is always extra, Ttypically S5 - $15 U.S. dollars. 4. V.34 is International (ITU-T) standard for 2a.aK. This is not the same as V.FAST (generic name) or V.FC (Rockwell based 28.8K standard). NOVEIidBE TABLE II — VENDOR CONTACT INFORMATION VENDOR NAME CALL THEIR BBS AT THIS NUMBER AND... ...DOWNLOAD THIS FILE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS CALL.. CONTACT VIA EMAIL AT&T Paradyne (813)532-5254 ATTSYSOP.TXT (800) 554-4996 t.bradshaw@paraclyne.com CPI/VIVa (805) 499-9646; (215)746-9948 CPIA.TXT (800) 854-7600 Hayes Corp. (404) 446-6336: (800) USHAYES H96SYS0P.TXT (404) 840-9200 rlacy@hayes.com Intel (503) 645-6275 OFFER.TXT (503) 228-9707 Microcom (800) 822-8224 SYSOP.TXT (617) 762-5134 MultiTech (612)785-9875; (800) 392-2432 PRICE.TXT (612) 785-3500 Pract. Per. (404) 734-4600 SYSBBS.TXT (404) 840-9966 GO PPIFORUM (CompuServe) Supra Corp. (503) 967-2444 SYSOP.TXT (503) 967-2400 Qrders@supra.com USRobotics (708) 982-5092 SYSDEAL.TXT (708) 982-5151 (800) 550-7800 suppon@usr.com CIS 76711,707 Ven-Tel (408) 922-0988 SYSDEAL.TXT (408) 436-7400 Zoom Teleph. (617)423-3733 ZOOMBBS.ZIP (617) 423-1076 CIS 71333,1527 ZyXEL (714) 693-0762 ZYXEL.TXT (714) 693-0304 sales@zyxel.com The Rackmount System was specifically designed for the demand- ing needs of the sysop and OSP mar- ketplace. The RS-I602E is a nice solu- tion for small businesses that need remote access to network resources and a managed voice/fax/data com- munications system at an affordable price. The ZyXEL RS-1602E aUows you to manage the modem require- ments of up to 16 lines from one cen- tralized unit. The Rackmount System's compact size measures in at 7" X 19". The RS-1602E is now available with a suggested retail price of $799. The company is offering special sysop pricing for the Rackmount System and the U-1496RE Plus and U- 1496RE modem cards. These offers are available to sysops in the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America. ZyXEL in Anaheim should be contacted for current pricing on this and all sysop offers. It has been rumored that ZyXEL was suffering financially, primarily due to a lack of competitiveness in the V.34 arena. Indeed, resellers tell me ZyXEL experienced their first los- ing month last July. However with their re-entrance into this market, their ISDN entries, and their ever- present rack system, ZyXEL may be turning the corner. As with all new technologies, real proof will be in the performance and long-term reliability of the products. If they perform as advertised, ZyXEL will be a welcome friend to the sysop community. The modem turns... New relations are forming in the modem industr)', new employment opportunities abound in the fall months, and the face of the online community is, as always, changing. I thought we'd be seeing a new face (or facelift) for Hayes and BOCA by now. But wait! Is that another Chaotic spell I sense? {See issue 10/95.) For instead we see BOCA slid- ing back out of the picture and yet another new look for Hayes on the horizon. What new friends will we be meeting soon in that camp? Additionally, more new folks are joining the SUPRA team, bringing untold gifts and potential fortune. So stay tuned for more details. And me? I'm but a simple Mage who brings to light what others might not see. You can reach me at modem- mag® ais.net. Sysop/Provider programs I've included a couple of basic charts for those who believe a picture (well, chart) is worth a few pages of ram- bling text. MOVE The minimum performance level is v.32bis (14,400 bps), but will soon be displaced by V.34. All modems also must have v.42bis for error cor- rection and data compression to make this list. The rightmost column of Table I shows all modems faster than 14400 bps that support at least v.32bis standards. I recommend only V.34 for sysops. End-users can economically afford to now live by the same stan- dards. The V.34 ITU-T standard offers 50 percent more throughput than v.32bis, at only minimal cost increases. It also offers a better chance at a high-speed connect (24,000-28,800) than VFC under minimal line conditions. Beware of upgrade plans to v.FAST/v.34 modems; various manufacturer pro- grams vary greatly. More than a modem Some vendors offer more than just modems to the sysops joining their program. For example, US Robotics offers substantial discounts off their CommServer 486 LAN product. Other vendors, such as ZyXel, offer big discounts on modem rack- mounts. A rackmount reduces the tangle of multiplying power supplies and becomes economical for sysops planning on larger, multi-line sys- tems. Buyers' restrictions If you maintain a system operating 24- hours per day for the last six months, then you're eligible for any of these dis- counts. Some manufacturers only require that you are currently running a BBS at time of ordering. A few may actually waive the current operating requirement. Once you receive your modem, you're expected to keep the BBS up and running between six and 12 months (requirements vary). Generally, the modem is yours to do whatever you want with after this period expires. Some manufacturers may ask you to never sell modems purchased on a discount plan. Modem resellers, such as computer stores, are generally excluded from participation in discount plans. Nearly all of the modem vendors are accepting VISA and MasterCard for orders. Some also accept a cashier's check or money-order for prepay orders. Personal checks often require additional clearing time which just holds up your order. C.O.D. is becom- ing less common, and is rumored for phase-out by several of the larger play- ers over the next few months. One requirement, which goes for nearly all vendors, is that they generally expect at least a one-line advertisement somewhere in your welcoming screens. For example: "Using the finest Model XYZ modem from Acme Modem Co," would be perfectly acceptable in all cases. Order processing and availability Delivery times and schedules vary radi- cally, so your mileage may vary. Many manufacturers are placing orders on hold until they release V.34, Hayes typ- ically shipped in 48 hours, and to the far extreme, US Robotics guarantees a two to six week waiting period. For Canadian, European and other sysops outside the U.S., you may or may not be eligible for discount offers. Please check carefully ahead of time to avoid disappointment. You may want to check with their European sub- sidiaries before contacting the U.S. ModemMag@nis. net Rusty Edie Call a different kind of BBS. "We are the Friendliest BBS in the World." Our name says it all. Edie and 1 are a couple of burnouts from the 60s. We didn't like rules then and we don't now. Come on in and relax; you will be among friends. We have a huge adult section, including over three gigs of adult graphics, as well as a fine selection of public domain and shareware programs, including over a gig of family-type graphics. But that's not what sets us apart. When you call the first time, you'll know what no amount of words can tell you, you are Home. That's right, put up your feet and enjoy yourself. We live by three no's: "No Censorship, No Rules, No Hassle." You'll find us like no other BBS: • We answer your messages and comments. • We answer your on-line pages. • We post our address. • We post our voice phone number. Rusty n Edie's BBS 7393 California Ave. Youngstown, OH 445 1 2 Voice 216-726-4217 HSTonly 216-726-1804 Compucom 216-726-3584 Hayes V-Series 216-726-3619 All (V32etc.) 216-726-2620 Fax 216-726-3595 NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE 57 The fl-List To check out the A-hst on the Web, go to http://www.channel1.com/usbbs/home If you're a sysop and would Hke to be considered for the hst, contact one of the following sites. Posting to the USBBS List at these sites will place you on the A-List. BOBsBBS — 916.929.7511 Livewire/CD SUB — Download CDSUB.2IP from The Livewire BBS (BBS Magazine's support board) at 609.235.5297 and register the CD SUB Door program for a permanent listing. FTP — Download USPUB103.ZIP from oak.oakland.edu, create USBBS.DAT and send the completed file to BOBsBBS or update@bobsbbs.uucp.netcom.com. Call 609.953.91 10 (voice) for help. Derived fwm the USBBSLIST. LEGEND BAUD z z o ^ = 300 o ^ Lk 1 = 12D0 s 1 a. C 2 • 2400 - ° i S3 (C 9 = 9600 or (aster £ ^ 1 a S 3 i £ S z » Z « MODULATION TYPE B 29 D 50t 3 s 3 ViV.32orV,32bis U = USRobolics HST H = Hayes VSM BBS rtPi F = V.Fasl. V.34 (1/25/95) A - Auntie = Other proprietary method B = PCBoard D = USRobolics Dual Standard C = Phoenix/ColMe'Collosus iV32 and HST) D.dBBS B = Hayes Ultra (V32 and VSM) F=SpiSjte SIZE H = PC-Hosl lndrcatea-.l,l,W,-mBT1!Wll1MB.TT.V^r.Tmi!mL4Mlll.lM«,tl.Vi»ll.liil.l...mVJ,,.lj.^l-,„y Major BBS v6.25 - $129.95 Special Price far Limited Time Qniyl Call for th>e full itna of Galacticomm Products Valuable Applications for The Major BBS! (tlnhal Monilor - Splil strccn monitor us<:i*. hy key. L-hiss or uscrid A slill use bbs. S7'J Cti Jl-Now - Splil screen cnc on one chiit & i,l\U usf the bbs? Sysop forced cliai :oo\ % 1 25 l.n.sl CavcmS' Open Lniicd Mud - yojr users build iht fiiitne as ihcy play ii! Sy)^f Pick l-'p Aflist ' t.els sec if you're as hot as you think you art! Cartfyi not to get dumped. S^^^) li.irtcndor * Make drinks for computer controlled customers & manage your own bar S*-)^} \ \x Viewer - Let Lsers sertill up down and keyword search any length lextfilc on your bbs. S7'^ ALCOiinltng Autt>niatiDii - Attxpi 9iM)ii. Credit Curds und other forms oT payment. S3'l AnonyinuuN Telei;titiifcrent;e - Nobody knows who said what in this leScconremee. S4'J CoioriJic - Let your users, color ciiordin;ite messages, rcgislrics. piSgcs. whispers and more. $25 Credit Exchange . Allow users to swap days for cirdita or credits for days, totally flexible. S.19 Dual Password .Security - Give nscrs a second password for certaJt: areas of your bbs. .Sl'^ nscculivc Informer - Send New.s. Hulk F.mail hy key, eliss, sex. age &. more. S-)'^ Global Teleconl'creiKe - Talk in 36 channel ai the same time froni anywhere. S-l'* Grafmi Wall - Our colorfuJ Cirafiiti Wall is globally acccsslbSe for extra usage. SI 5 Modem- fo-Modem - Play modem to niodfin ganics or transfer files directly to users S29 Not Keys - N'tgiite the clTeeis of keys in personal or class keyrings - give ti> users or classes S-19 Major Pager- [.ci users make thoir bcci^rgo oil when receiving emEiil. pages and more! S79 \ fitra Globals - I he most usetul packugcofglobals available, many unique features. S7'* Vt'orki Wide War ■ lurntcfly Wtirlii C'ihhjucsI. .ilrategy game of world domination S I .VJ .Aiilojiosl ■ Leave.-! message for the next user, can liold configurable ft of message.'^ SI 5 l y liorlecll - Kuii,irtsljc role playing text adventure, ovvr -iOO aionis, player combat S7y } ■uhiddcn Lands ( - The City of Fakhon, over 300 rooms to explore, DiiD Style thimc $79 I orhiddcn t,ands II - The Vak* of Orimyrc, o\er 500 rtwmsattd over 120 mtm^ier types S79 } oibiddcn Lands III -Tlic Islands of Diiwn. ovtr 600 rotmis and configutabie quests S79 ii/--Mailer - Send all new -iignnps a flyer in the mail automatically I S79 CliiikL' - Graphical word game: save the sywip from being choked! F.xpundahle dictionary S'^J Star Market - Einild iniding companies in space ar\d then purchase stock to make prolii. $129 Online Menu Tree Editor - FMil mcjitiing system wilhoui taVing system oflline $K9 Wlia Cares'.' - t'oiurol what gets posted lo your audit trail. $29 LLser Infonnalinn Bditor- Replaces account difiplay/edil. Sysop edit user info $6-1 Major QiiLTy - K,ey\\ord search your anilii trail onlinu', list users with a ccnain ke\ & more $39 K M Cheersoft 457 Highway 79 Morganville.NJ 07751 800-466-1318x7300 ^^S':;^ Surf The %t On J ifiTInTil iTTmMi Full internet access & 172 million ad listings in dozens of ad papers. Download the latest software, no dubs or viruses. Play 70 hottest interactive games, chat world- wide on 10(3 lines. No long distance charges from any of our 600 local phone #'s. Dial the number below with vour comouter for a l-HtL l-ULLY IIN I tHAU I IVt UtMU. We're not just part of the communication highway, we're paving it as we go. Power Up The Classified Worid lUetworr 1-800-753-4223 ~~^ 1-800-RJW-TCOW (Into via voice) (Into via modem) 1-317-359-5100 (modem info & local access #) teimit:trader.com flBS:908-5S'l-11?l NOVEMBER 1S95 BBS MAGAZINE 59 334-702-4713 AL Dothan Shadow NbI BBS Phil Willis Games adult DOS Windov/s. w 29 b lOt 1 360-299-0491 WAAnacortes Fat Point S. Chris Spry Mission #2 support, liles.lun. W 09 VB 3+ 1 360-427-6854 WAShellon The TimberJack Brad Gallien Jr Fun, games, Iree speech, Q 29 V 9+1 401-621-4600 Rl Providence E'NeslBBS Stanley Ulbrych General purpose board 3/84. B 19 FV 3204-31 F 402-474-3747 Da Place BBS Mark Fruehlino 403-283-1107 AB Calgary Foothills HAM Chris Krinjel Support (or amateur radio. B 09 DF 15 2 404-476-7880 The Late NIte Bobby Nowell 404-478-9700 The Night Shift Bill Hardy 404-773-7966 Warp Factor Mark Stewart 404-936-0550 Music Conn David Coleman 405-354-6937 OK Yukon Chamljer32Di)ors Dave Mather Music & games. X 29 V 6t 1 3 405-478-8250 OK Edmond Medicus BBS John Gilliam Medical computing on DOS, B 19 FD 60+ 3 3 405-670-1367 OK OK City Shadow Magic Ouane Robertson Free speech & computing. X 19 f 14+ 1 405-728-7124 liotel California Uoyd Uwson 406-256-1301 IWT Billings Great Escape! S. Richardson Games, and ions of fun, W 19 D 14+ 2 407-574-0670 FL Deltona ShyNel Jeff Ballard Largesttiles section in area, X 29 F 52+5 S 407-676-6233 FL Melbourne Fisherman: Net Shawn Edwards Christian, CalvafyNet, X 19 D 3 1 407-684-1200 FL West Palm TheEaglesNesI Markrjetzel Online games, chattinQ. S 29 VF 10 3 407-687-8712 FL W PIm Beach Bloomunil Linda Bloom Forhomeschool families, X 19 V 13 1 407-722-5020 FL Melbourne Onllne'Lusions Alex Rudloff Chat & general all around BBS, W 19 VO 10+ 6 S 407-740-8353 FL Winter Park Round Table Allan ffollz Armor accounting software, W 19 V 7+1 407-834-9468 FL Altomonte Tech net Steve Miller Mode! search94, usenel, fido, B 99 B 11+2 S 2 407-859-7428 The Death Star Nicholas Seabury 407-895-0076 FL Orlando Sneaky Pete's Jim Muddle Communications & networking, W 19 DF 8 1 407-932-0584 FL kissimmee NiVETS BBS Steven webb Epic games site, 288 modems, W 09 FO 14+ 1 403-364-2789 PereLine BBS Tom Serface 408-378-6583 CA San Jose Matrix Online Darryl Perry San Jose Bay Area T 09 V 14+ 2 408-384-8634 CA Marina Sleel Beach Ronald Pugh Programming. Linux, Internet Q 29 VF 11+1 409-769-4249 Wayne's World Wayne Belvin 409-342-3251 TX Beaumont Broad Reach Tim Beard Sailing and aviation, W 09 D 11+ 2 410-239-7473 ,MD Westminster Shrwre Paradse Bryan RIttmeyer Science. TV, messages. X 29 F 6+1 410-551-2586 MD Severn The Edge BBS Tom Collins General interest. X 09 FV 42+ 2 S3 410-558-3882 MD Baltimore iguana Online Bob Gerchalk AOL-like interface;social&tnfo. M 99 V 21+ 2 410-687-4876 MD Rosedale Rosedale Conn Mike McCullough Genera! IBM Interested related, B 29 V 8+1 410-744-1102 MDCatOhSville File Exchange Steve Cain Files, mall and online gaming, B 19 DF 42 2 1 410-893-6905 MD Forest Hill TimeDistortlon Tom Vaccarino 40+ doors /2aK+ adult tiles, W 29 VF 76+ 5 412-421-8561 PA Pittsburgh Frank's Place Frank Lisak Family oriented IBM support, W 09 VF 100+ 4 3 412-667-6782 entertain me Shavvn Cupec 412-635-0934 Pa Pittsburgh Microtech Jack Lawrence Windows 1 0S2 / genealogy, Q 19 V 17+ 1 3 Tlie fl-List 412-734-2129 PA Pittsburgh AWEsame.blis Tony Waters Easygoing BBS, W 29 FV 12+ 1 412-767-7068 PA Pittsburgh Doberman Gang Tom Bing Over 100.000 files, sharevrare, W 09 FU 180+ 5 503-393-5580 Chemekela Bob Hunter 413-527-8977 Uncle Hank's HankHurleau 413-568-7016 MAWestlield The Upper Room Thomas Long Christian forums, files, etc. W 29 D 8+ 1 3 414-672-6630 Wl Milwaukee plainbrnwrappr Freddie Reitz Files, W 29 B 3 1 414-862-6221 Wl Trevor Chip -N- Disk Rich Cmiel Technical support, W 09 VO 6+ 1 S 415-564-9440 CA San Francisco IBBSWesI Margery Chia Business & personal shareware, X 09 FV 20+ 5 SI 415-648-9489 CA SanFrancisco Realilycheck KurtWeiske Information v/ants to be shared. 19 V 3 1 1 415-961-6911 CA Palo Alto INTERACT Eric Knight Live chat & multiplayer games. T 29 V 5 32 S 9 416-770-6917 Platinum Expr Glenn Jarvis 419-599-4878 OH Napoleon Bob's Micro Bob Weitzel Police /general, X 19 V 10+ 1 501-278-5032 AR Searcy The Playroom Mike Liddekee Home of ISC soliv/are, B 19 F 4+ 1 3 502-245-8117 KY Louisviile lS!fclW Options and features that you would normally expect to pay extra for. like multinode chat, split-screen private node chat, caller ID security, fax-receive support. RIP menus, module/shell compiler, PostLink, FidoNet, and QWK networking - are all included free with Synchronet. Internet, order processing, fax-on-demand, and match making options are also available. m Technical innovations such as real-time LZH mes- sage base compression, routed point-to-point QWK NetMail, ARS'''^' Security, HyperAllocated message bases, hierarchical message, file, and program areas, as well as 32-bit DOS and OS/2 utilities are simply COMPRESSED MESSAGE BASES not available - at any price - with other packages. JIDigital Dynamics® P.O. Box 501 Yorba Linda, CA 92686 (714) 529-6328 Voice (714)529-9721 fax You can even retain the user informa- tion, message areas, file areas, menus, and the look-and-feel of your old BBS software. Whether you're running a single-line hobby BBS or a colossal multi-line entertainment system. Synchronet will meet or exceed your expecta- tions. But don't take our word for it. Download the free 20-user demo version today! Multinode Bulletin Board System Software Undeniable Value 1 Node License $ 99 2 Node License $ 1 49 4 Node License $ 199 8 Node License $ 299 1 6 Node License $ 399 250 Node License $ 499 Bajo™ Compiler FREE Add'l Local Node FREE Technical Support FREE C/C + + XSDK FREE SikIc license upgriiiics are iivaihbic fur tin- (.lincrt-niec pIUN \0M. ^ Minur revision upynnJc-i cum be downl™dcd free af charge- ^ Download the free demo version: 14.4k BBS (71 4) 529-9525 FidoNet 1:103/705 28. ak BBS (71 4) 529-9547 FidoNet 1 : 1 03/706 ftp.netcom.com (/pub/sb/sbbs) Mnematics VideDlex vlx.mne.com Modem Madness MADNESS.EPIX.NET . . 199.224.91.135 The Modem Nation bbs.modEmnation.com . . 199.67.37.66 'Manaliih Chat and discussion only cal 1 6A033. student, uwente. nl 130.89.22B.12 Moanflower moon.iea.com 198.17.249.11 •The Mottierboard mottiertjoard.com 204.74.100,3 MPI Online Services bbs.mpi-net.com 204.71.44.3 Mr. Natural's BBS bbs.mrnalural.com . , 205.199.208.248 *Mullicomm-4 BBS Network Free gay/lesbian/bisexual board multicom.org 199,190.113.3 lyiuili-Comm Las Vegas mcomm.mclv.net 204.95.95.253 IVtulliverse telnet.multivErsE.com . . . 199.213.112.3 Music & More!!! BBS mambbs.dnaco.cam 199.3.29.10 HandnNet camelot.nandonet 152.52.2.82 Hasty Playmates npl.com 204.132.116.1 Heedful Things BBS needfullhings.com 199.221.95.12 HET-LINK ONLINE net-link.com 204.254.156.2 HETIS bbs.netis-com 198,186,186.16 •The flew Domain Sametbing for everyone. newdomain.com 205.197.2.2 Hew Jersey Computer Conneclion pluto.njcc.com 165.254.1 17.51 The Newtonian BBS ne^vton.com 152.160,99,254 netted Boards 'New York Matchmaker Pen-Pal Network A greal place lo meet some very friendly people online. newyork.email.net 199,173,74,39 NFE BBS (Naperville File Exchange) nfebbs.nfe.com 199,89.235.68 Nitelog BBS - 165,227,94.25 Nucleus informalion Service nis.nucleus.com 199,45.65.130 HucleusI nucleus.atom.com 204.49.61,5 Nurse Net Nederiand bbs.nursing.nl 193.78.222,138 Odyssey Online odyssey.ody.com 204.94,37.100 Olympia Online uranus.Dlympia.com 204,77,68.7 'The One Stop BBS the, one-stop.com .... 205,133,113,131 On-Line Entertainment connect.on-iine.co.uk . . . 193.130.168.1 Onix BBS onix.com 198.70.175.1 Online Computer Distribution main.oncomdis.on.ca .... 204,101.15.3 Online Data Systems ods.net 204.95.172.4 Online MontgDmery 204.96.29.2 Online Orlando 00, com 204.215.243.15 OHiine WElcome bbs.onv/eco.za 196.7.192.2 OS/2 Shareware BBS bbs.os2bbs.com 204.194.180.10 Pacific Connections paccon.com 199.74.141.67 Pacific Horizons pacilic.seanetcom . . , 199.181.167.246 Paciller Online Data Service podE.pacifier.com 199.2.117.108 Paradigm Online 202.33.54.66 , Paradise B8S pplnet.com 205.240.194.3 Party Line EntertalnmenI , bbs.party.com 166.82.196.2 PC Genius 158.182.6.137 PCS Online Services bbs.pcsonlinecom 204.251.132.2 PENN-COf«M BBS mailer.pennet.com 199.234.141.3 Pennsylvania Onlinei paonline.com 198,69.90.250 Phantasy BBS bbs.phantasy.com 156.46.216.10 Pics On-Line BBS bbs.pics.com 192,135,139.200 Pink's Place BBS pnx.com 199.190.97.2 Point Blank poinlblank.com 204.117.211.3 The Porch BBS bbstlieporchcom 199.150.244.1 The Power Exchange tpe.com 199.190.65.10 Powersystems BBS pwsbbs-com 205.14B.196.2 The PressRoom pressroom.com 198.69.131.1 Principle ol Obscurity BBS obscurity.pd.mcs.net . .204.137.229.20 Prism BBS prism.com 199.190.77.3 Prolink 204.95.170.95 Prostar Plus Information Network prostar.com 204,57.131.1 Proton Palace proton.com 198,53.206.68 Public Data Network bbs.chatlink.com 205.139.105.2 Rain Forest Systems. Inc (RFSI) 204,96.24.10 RCI (Ripco Communications Inc) foley ripco.com 198.4.164.3 ■The Rec Hall Messages, files, chat, games, and Internet. rec.ocala.com 204.1 17.196.B 'Rippers BBS A family and business service BBS bbsrippers.com 199.190.105.2 'River Styx General BBS riverstyx.com 199.1.42.182 Rock Garden garden.hvs.com 165.247.49,130 Rock Pile BBS rockpiie.com 199.173.32.200 'Rusty-N-Edie's A massive system v/itb ail the sharev;are and freeware for IBIVI, Windows and fi/lac, plus huge adult section. rne.com 204.179.147.2 S & H Computer Systems BBS sandh.com 204.181.142,11 Sacramento Exchange BBS iccse.com 204.87.174.10 Salt Air BBS 199.67.41.252 Silicon Matchmaker BBS silicon.email.net 204.152,80.17 SIO Support BBS 199.246.240.2 SirJohn'sPubBBS SJPub.com 204.215.137.174 Smurph Land BBS smurph.com 199.250.197.34 A BBS Caller's Guide to FirstClass ® ABeSOy.LEIf5 Guide TO ISBN l-3S66"-(KI-R 2 1(1 pes. 514,').; US liy I'nnld (i. t;iiriii>in: L;;;irii limv to m;ikc the most of even' se.ssioii you .spend on a FirstC[a.ss system, \vhethei' you connect via Alacintosh or "W'indows Client sofware. This book takes voa every step ot the wayl Save 20%: pay only SI2 per book + S.i S\-1 1 fill- the 1st book ami Si .S&ll lor each add'l book. Pay !«■ check, money order, or credit card. (In KI, add sales tax.) Mail or i'a\ orders CO Chiles Road Press. P.O. Box 212, Harrinu^- ton Park. iXJ 07640, Fax: 201/767-7457. Far ff/ore mfontuitiou, adl 201/767-7001 or i'-imtii nilcsvdpy.^rc.'oi III .com. nitelog BBS4S Nodes p , .-J FkJonet/ Internet Email /Usenet W|^^ Rime & lUnk Mail ^■^^ DOS /0S2/ Windows/ Amiga /UNIX/ MAC/ Adultfiles Areas (409)655-1096 v,32bls ^^^ ^„r,^ oa and AOP mem- bers, 3000 mail network forums, over 80.000 files. Authorized PCBoard BBS reseller with installs. MISC. CUSSIFIEDS Software package offer: Just S39.00 (plus S&H). 3 packages available (Financial, Games. Office) each have many programs. All software compatible with DOS using Windows 3.0 or high- er. RJ Software 716.594.9084 or 76750.332@compuserve.com Free Videos & CDRoms catalog of over 1500 special interest CD-Roms and Videos, hundreds of subjects. Call 800.469.7977 ask for ext. 33843 Livev/ire Doors! Send 4-1.4 disks with a stamped return envelope to: Livewire Doors. PO Box 416, Mt. Laurel NJ 08054. Total of 35 door programs which will operate with any BBS soft- ware which can run doors. CLASSIFIED ORDER FORM Classified Dept,, Callers Digest, Inc., 701 Stokes Rd, Medford, NJ 08055 The rate is S25 per ad up to 300 characters long. Save money and send S250 for a full year of advertising. The BBS name or first rvvo words arc set in bold capitals. All other t^-pe is plain. If you wish to have a heading category not list- ed, simply write in this new categoiy and we will create it for your ad. PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT. Run this ad under the heading of (For additional words, use separate sheet of paper) NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP PHONE (home). (bus. Run class ad for issues. Payment of $ enclosed. IF PAYING BY CREDIT CARD, YOU MAY FAX THIS FORM TO (609) 953-7961 . M/C VISA (circle one) # cxp. ilatc Sigiiatitrc How to run a BBS for profit. Electronic multi- media book tells you how to profit with your BBS. System setup, promotion, menus, screen displays, secrets not used by 99% of sysop's. Keep callers calling and subscribing. Only SI 9.95, fomard to: Mark Adams, PO Box 96, Waterford CT 06385 BBS Magazine BACK ISSUES! Save when order- ing back issues. Send your mailing information along with S5.00 tor each back issue. When ordering 3+ issues send only 33.50 each to: BBS Magazine, c/o Back Issues, 701 Stokes Road, Medford NJ 08055. Please specify which back issues your v/ould like. All available except April 91 issue is sold out. First issue is Sept 90. t^OVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE 73 Networking Personal Computers Networking Personal Computers with TCP/IP by Craig Hunt $29.95, 408 pages The challenges of TCP/IP nenvorking are formidable indeed. Perhaps few know that better than Craig Hunt, a 20-year computer veteran now with the National Institute of Standards and Technology. His book Networking Personal Computers with TCP/IP (O'Reilly & Associates) advises on how to deal with the chal- lenges of TCP/IP net- working and so-called net- working islands. The book offers basic TCP/IP configuration information for the more popular operating systems and addresses advanced configuration topics and configuration of specific applications such as email, remote printing, and file sharing. Specifically, Networking Personal Computers looks at how to reduce problems PCs can cause for network administration; tools to help a network administrator support PCs; detailed examples of TCP/IP configuration under DOS, Windows, Windows NT, Windows 95 and Novell Netware; alter- natives to custom, system-by-system configuration, including techniques for using tools such as RARP, BOOTP and 74 ■ DHCP; configuration of the Post Office Protocol (POP) servers and clients that allow PC users to receive email directly at their desktops; and, configuration oi file sharing and printer sharing. The Mac Internet Tour Guide Cruising the Internet the Easy Way by Michael Fraase $29.99,391 pages When I signed up for an Internet account through my local provider, I assumed I would be mailed a start up kit with all the software I needed to lose myself for hours on the net. Instead, I got a fax of a tenth-generation xerox of a logon script to type, and smudgy instructions on how to configure InterSLlP, MacPPP and MacTCP (had to find them on my own) to make my connection. Eventually the sign-on procedure worke^l, and I sat there fac- ing a window that simply said "Connected." Okay, now what? Michael Fraase's Mac Internet Tour Guide (Ventana Press) points Mac users in the right direction and pro- vides the software in which to drive away. Bundled shareware like Eudora, Mosaic, Fetch and InterSLlP, and Apple's essential control panel, MacTCP, will take care of all your mail, brows- ing, file «MAC iNTERme JIDI ■ I ME tJ — TOUR GUIDE — I transfer and connectivity needs. It's probably worth the price of admission just to avoid the hassle of collecting all the bits and pieces necessary to use the Internet. But don't stop at the software; the text has much to offer. Fraase explains the Internet using colorful metaphors — enjoyable reading of a pretty technical subject. (For some rea- son, Ventana neglected to give this worthy writer a byline on the cover.) The Tour Guide covers a full range of subjects, including the various transfer protocols, ne^\'sgroups, email and the WWW. A good chunk of the book lists hot spots on the Internet, and although this type of information can quickly go out of date, it nevertheless makes a good point of departure. WMtM ADVERTISER'S INDEX APDl 49 BBS TECHNOLOGIES 67 BRIN COMMUNICATIONS 68 CDS 68 CHEERSOFT ....62 CLARK DEV. CO., INC 15, OBC DIGITAL CONSULTING SERVICES 37 DIGITAL DYNAMICS 69 DURAND COWMUNfCATIONS IBC EXCAI.IBUR 2 EINE TIME COMMUNICATIONS 57 GALACTICOMM, INC SEC, 1 GARI.IQUE GRAPHICS 6.1 GILES ROAD PRESS 70 INFOLINK 33 IN THE EEET OF THE NIGHT 65 LABYRINTH 43 LIVEWTRE 64 MACINTOSH ONLINE 70 MEDIA HOUSE 21 MIS; PRESS 65 MUSTANG SOFTWARE INC 5, 38, 39 NITE LOG BBS 70 ORIENTAL EXPRESS 70 PICS ONLINE 71 PIER EXCHANGE 52 PLANET .SYSTEMS 75 PROr)F.SIGN 45 PROFIT OPPORTUNITIES 71 QMODEMPRO 29 RUSTY-N-EDIE'S BBS 32, 57 TE.SSIER TECHNOLOGIES 61 TRAILERS CONNECTION 59 UNCLE HANK'S NEWSLETTER 68 NOVEMBER 1995 BBS MAGAZINE ¥ Now Planet Connect brings realtime data within the reach of every BBS. Our sports data is delivered to your BBS via satellite as the ^ ,^..,^ news is created, so its always the latest most current information. Your users can learn about important sports events and news hours before they appear on TV or make the newspapers. No other sports information source can match the completeness of Sports Connect. Players, teams, leagues, and more are completely covered with over 4 megs of data daily Scores are reported as the games and events are in progress. A variety of doors are available for most brands of BBS software and the system is designed to be fully automated. Our satellite data systems also provide the latest files and nets plus Internet Usenet Newsgroups. Our 19,200 baud system can deliver 1 50 megs of compressed n files daily. If you | ]X already own a satellite, J *• dish you can get H started for only $299.00.. ^ Weather and sports are now available. Stocks and News are coming soon. Instead of thinking of their BBS as a place to store and distribute information that may be hours or days old, tiie progressive Sysops tha< have Planet Connect can now deliver data in real time. Highly desirable data such as Sports, Weather, News, Stock Quotes, and more can be obtained from Planet Connect via satellite. These Sysops are finding many new users who want to obtain information as soon as it happens. People that need time sensitive data will come to you, since you'll be hours ahead of newspapers, and other media. Whether at work, school, or at play your users needs only a modem and computer to quickly locate She exact data they want. With satellite delivery, your BBS can be almost completely automated lo provide services that only the big on line services have traditionally provided. Planet Connect negotiates with quality data providers to obtain data at excellent prices, and passes these savings on to you. You'll be amazed at how inexpensive a satellite real time feed can be. Winner of the Dvorak "Best Product of the Year Award" Online Update BY JACQUELINE KRAMER Brave New Chat World Conversing in the third dimension Have you ever had an intelligent conversation with a pen- guin or a fish? Have you ever conversed with Alice in Wonderland, a chess piece, or a floating oriental head? You will. And the company that will bring it to you: Worlds Inc. Cheesy commercial allusions aside, the opportunity to come face to face {or face to back) with any of the above representa- tions — plus a few more — is at the heart of Worlds Chat, which Worlds Inc. bills as the first ever 3-D chat program. The program is intended to revolutionize the way you spend your precious time online. Now, instead of just tj-ping to strangers, you can type to strangers while iooking at how they see themseh'cs via Digital Actors, or "avatars." (More on the avatars later.) The main selling point of Worlds Chat (at least at the moment) is the environment. Instead of staring at a plain text screen, you are surrounded by a sci-fi extravaganza (Could the pre- ponderance of Trekkers online have anything to do with this?) When you first arrive, you are unceremoniously plopped into a portrait gallery' that bears an almost litigious resemblance to Disneyland's Haunted House ride... except this place has lights. Each portrait is a straight-on view of the various avatars from which participants can choose. In addition to the mentioned avatars, participants may appear as a poorly-drawn (IMHO) Teddy bear, a punk rock goddess that resembles one of the chicks in the old Flock of Seagulls videos, a giant floating head ( female), or a variety of prett)' tame "business people." During my repeated visits, the penguin, chess pieces, and Flock of Seagulls chicks seemed to be the most prominent. I've yet to encounter anyone that has chosen the "iust-left-my-accounting- job" look. I chose the penguin, just to see how long it would take lor someone to begin a conversation with "Hey! You look just like me!" — the one phrase guaranteed to trigger the ultimate Worlds -,.^^'*fidvWH*il*^ ltd, *!)«»■* Ill *i' fc ^ y Chat slam (zzzzzzz). ■■■■■• 76 NOVEMBER 199i I was pleasantly surprised to discover that not only did the other penguins avoid this particular line, but there ^vcrc quite a few BBSers to be found. Within a few minutes of my BBS inquiries, I was bombarded with five BBS numbers and several messages from folks who said they ran (or used to run ) a BBS ser- vice. Not only could they talk the talk, they walked the walk — these people knew what they were doing. We chatted for several minutes about the logistics of BUSing — a far cry from my previous experiences of chatting in cyber- space, which usually consisted of "Hey, is anyone here from Dubuque?" and yes, the occasional, "Are you a girl?" (I dunno, let me check... uh, yep.) For this alone, I would highly recom- mend Worlds Chat to anyone interested in BBSs. I have had no problem fi[iding others who share the faith (or the interest). Here is what you need to become your own penguin : • A 486/50 or higher (recommended) IBM-compatible equipped with Windows, at least 8 megs of RAM, and 256 colors (a Macintosh version should be available by the time you read this); • A TCP/IP connection (SLIP or PPP; some commercial online services do not offer this yet); and • A 1 6-bit sound card is recom- mended, but not necessary. The program will play without sound. The version of Worlds Chat I used was purely text-based, which took away from the overall effect. I spent so much time trying to keep up with the various (written) con- versations that I never moved around. At one point, a fellow chat- ter sent me a private message reminding me that it was rather pointless to stand still when ibis was all about 3-D chats. The idea is to face someone as you speak (you cannot see yourself). However, I found it difficult to move around and keep up the conversations. Half the time, I wasn't even sure who I was talking to, much less what (if anyone knows the significance of the floating orien- tal head, please let me know). After a certain point, I found the avatars more distracting than anything else. Worlds Inc. plans to add spoken text capabilities to the later \'ersions of Worlds Chat. To check the company's progress, or to download the latest version, visit the company's World Wide Web site at: http://vvww.worlds.net/. The program is freeware, for now. And while you're there, be sure to sign up to get a copy of the Worlds Fail- software, which will have so much real estate it's shipping on CD-ROM. The fair, which will be conducted entire- ly on the Internet using a Worlds Chat environment, is set to begin at the end of the year. EBB You can reach jacqui Kramer at redtime@oinm.voicenet.com. BBS MAGAZINE ■ ■ THEULnMATE WINDOWS PIATFORM for Online Services MindWire"^' and MindWire NT"' hitniess the power of tlic Internet and client/sen'er teclmology cikin^ tlie ticditionvil Bulletin Board System to the next lc\'el. Now, you am ensue a dynamic, multimalia online service diac rivals the laigp coiTUTiercial systems. MindWre is the most powerflil communications platform available today. 100% customizable menus with DC Interface Builder WWW Access MindWire Accessories ' Mi m X Efi m Ei°D°Ei r~q Supports any ODBC-compliant database A9^ _ Shvtn Lji*m«i at S«n« Redlr St«tui AclrvB 15 BoUii Adcfcau 2 1130 0*1 H« Am Interactive Games Chess Develop your own applications with oitr FREE Efe\'elt ipcrs Guide! r I ' * A-....^-^: ir/...j 1 "^ Business Applications Classified Ads -M. ^■. >-' v^ Business Applications Window Shopper Custom Menus DC InSerfacB Builder Remote Sysop Utility FILB( No other platform offers this much power and scalabihty! • All Windows Client/Server Solution • Scalable Database Solutions • Modem, Network &. Internee Connectivity Included • Open Architecture for Third Party Development using Visual Basic and OLE Objects • FREE client software Tel> (805) 961.8700 MindWire Demo> (805) 951.8702 E-Mail^ sale5@durand.com Web>- http://www.durand.com ' S 1995 DCN. Mmnwtrt tad all apillltalion names are Irsilinilllis Dl DilranH Cmnunlcallont Nclmrli. Inc. "^mmmm^^^-rr-. PCBoaird. Just Hit Anoth "Best OS/2 Based BBS Softw- JlielSS iifis e just did it again! PCBoard holds the record as the most award-winning BBS Software on the market today. " • And we are proud to announce that our OS/2 release has scored in its first season with the 1995 Dvorak award for "Best OS/2 Based BBS Softwarc." Plus ... PCMagazine just honored PCBoard with its prestigious Editors' Choice award for the second time, ipaintaining our position as the only commercial BBS Software package to e^er receive such honors. Try it yourself, \vhether you are a first time user or a Fortune 500 company, PCBoard hits a home run every time! EDITORS' CHOICE (?• August 1995 PCBoard v1 5.21 %. rd is the only commercial BBS sofhvare „ , , to ever win the prestigious PC Magazine Editors' Choice Award PCBoard for DOS PCBoard for OS/2 CAL^NOW FOR YOUR FREE DEMO Copvnghl 1995 ClaA Developmtni Company, Inc. AH Rights Resei.ed. PCBoard « a fes.3ier|() Iraaema-K and PI Standard features include: Fiilo Mailer & Tosser Intermtl QWK Mail Credit Actitiintiiifi Projiramming Lutijiuuge dBtSE III File Access Automated File Maintenance Multiple Lan^miue Support \Optimizedfor DOS, WIN, OS/2 l.Jntetlif'ent Mullipurt Support dil/2 Conun Driver Support PAD'iXJS) Support Local & LAN Litums PCBMailfor Windows FREE D/L Upgrades for a Year FREE Voice Technical Support for a Full Year and BBS Technical Support for life! ^ f Ctaric Development Company, Inc. : r^ 3950 Soofli 700 East, Suite 303, fttotay, Utah 84107-3173 ~ Td 801261.1686 Fw 801.M1-8987 BBS 801061.8976 smail: HleaOtattair.cofn - toch.supportGwItaJr.com 'LC and fCBMail are trademarks of Ctark Developmant Company, Inc