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From: mvp@hsv3.uucp (Mike Van Pelt)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Genie Star*Services
Message-ID: <14630@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 13 Nov 90 03:23:13 GMT
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Reply-To: Mike Van Pelt <mvp@hsv3.uucp>
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 815, Message 4 of 8


In article <14575@accuvax.nwu.edu> JAJZ801@calstate.bitnet writes:

>   Since Prodigy has come up recently in the Digest, does anybody have
>any experience with the new Genie Star*Services - a $4.95/mo flat rate
>competitor to Prodigy. Offers a subset of regular Genie services
>(email specifically excluded as yet, I believe). Besides being cheaper

Email is specifically *IN*cluded.  For your flat $4.95/mo, you have
unlimited Email, and unlimited use of the things on Star*Services,
which includes most of the "chat" type Roundtables.  What is excluded
is mostly (1) file X/Y/Zmodem upload/download, (2) Realtime
Conferencing (Like Compu$erve's "CB Simulator") and (3) all of the
computer-related Roundtables.

There's nothing different you have to do to access the non-flat-rate
services.  Just remember that when you enter one of those sections,
the clock starts ticking.

>I'm considering recommending it because of the speed considerations:
>none of the graphics that slows down Prodigy and would like to hear
>about actual comparisons.

There isn't any comparison.  It is vastly faster, as it's ASCII, not
some graphics protocol.  You can use your favorite terminal program.
The commands might be confusing to a computer novice, but GEnie has a
"Smart front-end" called "Aladdin" which takes care of all that for
Email and Roundtable BBS'ing.

Configuring Aladdin would probably be confusing for a computer novice,
but using it is very simple.  Start up Aladdin, hit "1" for pass one,
and go out to dinner while it calls in and retrieves your email and
all new messages on your roundtables, then hangs up.  When you return,
read and reply offline with a "mini-wordstar" type editor, then hit
"2" for pass two, and go watch the Simpsons while your messages are
sent.  Very nice.  I mostly use just the Star*Services, but Aladdin
would be even more of a win if you're using the $6/hour services.

Aladdin is free, except for the cost to download it via Zmodem or
whatever, and there is no restriction on handing it out to others, so
it may be available on your local BBS.  You need version 1.30 for the
new Genie command structure.

I just hope the flat rate isn't a "bait-and-switch" ... Even if it is,
and they go back to $6/hour, I think that with Aladdin it will be
cheaper than Prodigy, no matter what your Email usage is.

A disadvantage is that you can't use it between 7AM and 6PM, or they
sock you for $18/hour.


Mike Van Pelt               
Headland Technology/Video 7 
 ...ames!vsi1!v7fs1!mvp