🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <MCGLK.91Apr16161248@bailey.cpac.washington.edu> mcglk@cpac.washington.edu (Ken McGlothlen) writes:

>It *is* a straitjacket.  Everything you said is true.  And more---the
>"bargains" they claim, the "convenience" they claim . . . all are just
>completely stupid claims.  If you have to subscribe to a service of this sort,
>use CompuServe or GEnie or something---stay away from Prodigy.
>				---Ken McGlothlen

Com'on now.  Prodigy ain't all that bad...

Prodigy is not aimed at the Usenet audience, nor is it aimed at the technical
audience.  It is simply a home service and as such it's ok.

However, having said that, my household canceled Prodigy, too.  We tried the
one month free trial and send turned it down (They have since offerred me
another free month).

Advantages:
With VGA, display is nice.  Luxurious even, compared to text displays.
Does a lot of stuff while you reading.  So ads don't really suck up connect
time and cause significant delays.
Good integration of host-local software.
News sections always looked current.
Movie reviews allowed participant voting.  This is nice feedback.
Nice stories/graphics for kids.

Disadvantages:
It took several days to first connect before we figured out that these guys
stop answering their phone at midnight.  If you were logged in, all of a sudden
you're not.
Software reviews are of primary interest. Their software review section
included PCTOOLS version 5.  I use version 6 and I've seen 7 discussed here
on Usenet.
Their Bulletin Boards cannot compare to Usenet.  If you read Usenet, prodigy's
BB is a good joke.
They censor.  While Usenet has it's share of jerks, I reserve the right to be
that jerk should the urge come (no flames please).  You want censorship,
see Jesse Helms or Prodigy.
They have no software libraries.  CompuServe does.
They have no forums where companies like Microsoft, HP, Central Point, can
talk to its users.  CompuServe does.
There was never an intelligent response to any of my email to them. Always,
"We'll pass that suggestion on..."   Yeah, right...
Their "stores" sell nothing special.  It's the ideal place to sell hard-to-get
items, but that idea hasn't yet occured to them.
etc etc etc

Oh, in case Prodigy's attorneys are reading... These opinions are mine, they
are not my employer's.


-- 
Joe Wasik, Pac*Bell, 2600 Camino Ramon, Rm 4E750V, San Ramon, CA (415)823-2422
email: jcwasik@clib.PacBell.COM or [...]!pacbell!clib!jcwasik
"I didn't do it.  Nobody saw me do it.  You can't prove anything"