Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!romp!auschs!awdprime!woan!ron
From: ron@woan (Ronald S. Woan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Prodigy (Was Re: Genie Star*Services flyer)
Keywords: not so bad
Message-ID: <4408@awdprime.UUCP>
Date: 29 Nov 90 23:18:24 GMT
References: <1990Nov26.072636.12369@beach.csulb.edu> <19363@rouge.usl.edu> <5481@orchid5.UUCP>
Sender: news@awdprime.UUCP
Reply-To: woan@peyote.cactus.org
Distribution: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Organization: Austin School of Hardknocks
Lines: 44

In article <5481@orchid5.UUCP>, kraus@motcid (David Kraus) writes:
Dave> First of all, Prodigy access went up to $12.95/month as of 1
Dave> October(?).  I was on a free month right about then, was
Dave> considering keeping it for $9.95, but the increase was enough
Dave> for me to drop for the second time.  It MIGHT be worth
Dave> $10/month, but not $13, especially when I have access to USENET
Dave> and FidoNet conferences.

Actually it is still $9.95/month if you choose to pay for it a year at
a time... Anyway, I too find USENET far more useful, but I don't think
that I am really in their target market; they seem to be aiming at
families and recreational computer users, not us hardcore nuts...

Dave> The discussion groups seemed a bit lame.  More specific info on
Dave> the other nets I have access to.  Keep in mind that the groups
Dave> are HEAVILY moderated (not censored), so that may stifle some of
Dave> the information value, especially re: IBM products and direct
Dave> competitors.

There is a lot of IBM slamming and discussions regarding Northgate and
Gateway products.. IBM has nothing to do with Prodigy's day to day
operations; they just own half of it. Prodigy is an independent
company, just as Rolm and MCI were when they were under partial IBM
ownership. Blatant moderation seems to limited discusions of certain
aspects of Prodigy operation (i.e. email charges), slandering of
individuals, and dirty words...

Dave> As far as I know, the discussions/most everything is at the flat
Dave> rate.  Not sure about Eaasy Sabre, as I didn't sign up for that,
Dave> but I think that's included as well.

Yes everything is under flat rate on Prodigy; the only exception will
be the over 30/month email charges to kick in at a yet to be released
time next year.

Prodigy isn't bad for what it offers and I use it over other services
like Compuserve when I can, i.e. shopping, news, and Easy Sabre, due
to its relative low cost. Anyway, it isn't for everyone, but it does a
relatively good job for its costs...

+-----All Views Expressed Are My Own And Are Not Necessarily Shared By------+
+------------------------------My Employer----------------------------------+
+ Ronald S. Woan       woan@peyote.cactus.org or woan%austin@iinus1.ibm.com +
+ other email addresses             Prodigy: XTCR74A Compuserve: 73530,2537 +