🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1CE00001.lagbd6@tbomb.ice.com> time@ice.com (Tim Endres)  
writes:
> Why one would need these services when they have access to the  
Internet
> perplexes me. I have not logged into CompuServe since 1985, and  
hope
> I never do again. Of course, I would never touch Prodigy. Compared
> to the Internet, both of these seem unnecessarily large expenses.
> 

I don't use any of the commercial services myself, but know a
number of people (including my wife) who do. Many of these 
folks have access to internet.  Why do they use the commercial
services (which aren't that expensive, by the way. GEnie is 
$5/month)?

First off, signal to noise ration is higher. There are fewer flames,
fewer totally inane posts, fewer recurring arguments
(the SF groups don't discuss "was Heinlein a fascist" every six
weeks or so).

Second, the mix of people.  There are often people they want
to converse with there.  Look at it this way: if you have
your choice of going to a free party, with a couple of interesting
people but mostly folks droning on and on about the same old thing,
or paying $5 to go to a party full of lots of people you like,
talking about lots of interesting things, which would you go to?

Third, many of the commercial services have better technical
support groups. Many software companies, for example, are
available on Compuserv to discuss problems with their products.


--
Jim Mann            
Stratus Computer   jmann@vineland.pubs.stratus.com