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From: kraus@motcid (David Kraus)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: Genie Star*Services flyer
Message-ID: <5481@orchid5.UUCP>
Date: 28 Nov 90 15:08:31 GMT
References: <1990Nov26.072636.12369@beach.csulb.edu> <19363@rouge.usl.edu>
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Distribution: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
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In-reply-to: jvj0852@rouge.usl.edu's message of 26 Nov 90 16:56:18 GMT

In article <19363@rouge.usl.edu>, jvj0852@rouge.usl.edu (Joubert John V) writes:

[re: Genie]
> 	I am currently a subscriber, and I am thinking of dropping. If you are
> a heavy e-mail user, Genie is quite a deal.  However, access to any of the 
> computer group areas are $6 per hour.  I hardly ever use email on GEnie, and
> the end result now is that I pay an extra $4.50 or so on my bill, on top of my
> ever present computer group access prices.  It's not much money, but it is
> enough to tick me off and send me looking at other services, e.g. Prodigy.
> I would rather pay $10 or so a month for a service that let's me play in the 
> computer SIG's without a cost+ charge.  Is this the way it works on Prodigy?
> Can I acess the MS-DOS area at the flat rate?  If so, I think I will
> change.

First of all, Prodigy access went up to $12.95/month as of 1 October(?).  I
was on a free month right about then, was considering keeping it for $9.95,
but the increase was enough for me to drop for the second time.  It MIGHT
be worth $10/month, but not $13, especially when I have access to USENET
and FidoNet conferences.

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

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

> 	Another thing, the games area that you can access on GEnie in the 
> Star Services area is pretty junky.  Single player games, and more on the line
> of, you guessed it, "adventure."  The blast from the past.  The newer and better
> games are cost plus.  The news feeds are pretty good, but nothing I can't

The games on Prodigy are so-so as well.  The whole system is designed
around single-user access, so you have no idea who else is on when you are.
Games are single player, of course, but there's a bit of variety.  And you
do compete against other users, just not head-to-head.

> pick up in a few minutes of CNN, definitely nothing to scream about.  It has
> some financial stuff in Star Services, but it's very basic, yesterday's
> close,

Prodigy news isn't too bad.  I foud it a bit useful, since I usually don't
get home from work in time to really watch the news.  I found myself using
the weather maps a lot, since I don't get a chance to see weather reports
too often either.  (I'm one of the few who doesn't have cable...)  The news
reports are UPI style - short paragraphs of 1 or 2 sentences, good for
quick scanning.  The one thing about it that is nice is the 'hypertextish'
approach they use for traversing keywords and topics in the stories.  Not a
cross-reference to the history of the world, mind you, but you can get
information related in ways you never thought of.

All in all it's not AWFUL, just slowish on the graphics interface,
moderated discussion groups, a news service of marginal quality, etc.  Like
I said, for me it MIGHT have been worth $10/month, but the extra 3 now
isn't worth it.
--
Dave Kraus                                         UUCP: ...!uunet!motcid!kraus
Motorola Cellular Infrastructure Division          FidoNet: 1:115/934.5
Disclaimer: My employer's views and my views may necessarily differ.
Quote:  "PARDON me, am I speaking ENGLISH?" - Zippy