Xref: utzoo comp.misc:11334 comp.org.eff.talk:1359 alt.censorship:1171 Path: utzoo!utgpu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!caen!kuhub.cc.ukans.edu!zeus.unomaha.edu!jsaker From: jsaker@zeus.unomaha.edu (Jamie Saker) Newsgroups: comp.misc,comp.org.eff.talk,alt.censorship Subject: Prodigy Special Offer hits my mailbox... Message-ID: <7569.27addc02@zeus.unomaha.edu> Date: 5 Feb 91 04:11:13 GMT Lines: 236 This afternoon, I received an "entertaining" form letter in my U.S. Mailbox from Fred Larson, Vice President of Prodigy Services Company. Because of the discussions in various newsgroups about PRODIGY, I thought I'd post the letter and hear what others have to say about it. I'd be especially interested in hearing PRODIGY user's and ex-user's comments. I'm considering taking up their offer, just to see what kind of service and software they have set up... (what's that they say about know thy enemy? :-) ) Naturally, I have absolutely NO connection with PRODIGY, IBM or Sears. --------letter begins------------------------------------------------------ ___________________________________________________________________________ This is your invitation to join over a half-million computer users who have discovered how PRODIGY(R) Service Membership lets them do things in a whole new way - easily and conveniently. Best of all, you can enjoy full Membership priviledges for 30 days and, if you don't think it's as exciting as we say, you don't have to pay a thing for that month's membership fee! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Computer User: In this letter, I'm going to tell you about something truly amazing. To get an idea of how incredible the PRODIGY service is, imagine this: The year is 1948. You've just purchased a TV set, a huge console with a little screen. While you're watching "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts," you go through your mail. You find a letter describing something called Cable TV. "Over 100 channels," says the letter. "A network for every interest." "Beautiful color reception." "Yes," you think as you squint at the fuzzy black and white image on your new set, "This Cable TV sounds wonderful. And it's about as likely that we'll put a man on the moon." Well, what I'm about to describe will make your computer seem like a 1948 Philco TV set. But that's where my analogy ends, because the PRODIGY service is not something that's coming way off in the future. It's here now, and toward the end of this letter, I'll even tell you how you can try it without risk. First, you get connected... --------------------------- Getting started on the PRODIGY service is even easier than hooking up to Cable TV. You simply "hook up" your computer, via a phone line and modem, to our network. It's easy to do. And once you do, you'll find you're connected to hundreds of features that can enhance your enjoyment of the things that interest you most. Let's say, for instance, that ----------------------------- you're interested in personal finance... ---------------------------------------- There are thousands of PRODIGY Service Members who are a lot like you. You'll find them on our Money Talk Bulletin Board, where you can exchange tips, ideas and viewpoints online. You'll also find advice about taxes, real estate, personal investments and more, from sources such as Julian Block, Robert Bruss, Brendan Boyd and "Changing Times" magazine. So much for _talking_ about making money. The PRODIGY service also lets you do something about it. If you're an investor, you'll use the PRODIGY service to get stock quotes provided by Dow Jones News/ Retrieval almost as fast as your broker can. You can even track your entire stock portfolio (up to 30 securities) automatically. There's also a feature that gives you instant access to updated stories about specific companies. And with our online discount brokerage service, you can place buy and sell orders long after your broker has gone home. With all of these features, your investment decisions will be informed --- and timely. But whether or not you're an active investor, you'll love our online banking.* (*Bank fees may apply). Pay bills automatically (without writing checks), see account balances when you want, transfer funds and more. It's a terrific convenience. Now let's say you're interested in travel... --------------------------------------------- The PRODIGY service has a Travel Bulletin Board where Members (and our online travel experts) exchange ideas. You can get a great tip here, whether you're going to the Far East or the Midwest, travelling alone or with your family. The Mobil Travel Guide(TM) helps you choose what sights to see all across America. And you can get special Members-only deals on tour packages and cruises. When you know where you're going, you can book your own flights, hotels, and rental cars with EAASY SABRE and find the lowest available domestic and international airfares. And before you leave, check the Accu-Weather(R) forecasts for more than 325 cities, foreign and domestic. ...or just about anything else. ------------------------------- Like sports? The PRODIGY service can give you scores even _while_games_ _are_in_progress_, with information from SportsTicker. And try your hand at our trivia quizzes and contests. (Last year, a Member won a trip to the Super Bowl(TM) ) Entertainment? You'll find reviews on music, videos, movies and books, including a column by Gene Siskel. On our Arts Club Bulletin Board, you can "talk" to Members on just about any topic from Mailer to Mahler to MGM to MTV. If you're going out, the Zagat Restaurant Survey will provide descriptions of eateries by type of cuisine, price and location. Staying in? Discover the gems at your video store (and avoid the bombs) by consulting our Movie Guide, with descriptions of over 13,000 films. And _Consumer_Reports_ Ratings can help you find the autio and video equipment best suited to you. You can even order electronic equipment online and get the guarenteed lowest prices on many items. Or choose from a huge selection of CD's, cassettes, and videos. Into computers? Our Computer Club Bulletin Board has animated discussions about hardware, software and online services, including some really hot tips. The online Software Guide can give you input on over 540 programs, so you can spend your money on the software that's right for you. In fact, you can even spend _less_ money, because when you order software on the PRODIGY service, you'll get some great discount prices. Have kids? Your PRODIGY Service Membership includes them, too (at no additional charge). They'll find dozens of features, like an entire encyclopedia (it would cost more than $700 if you bought it in hard cover), online and updated quarterly. There's also the popular geographical adventure game, "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?". The WGBH show, NOVA, has a feature with fascinating science experiments. _Weekly_Reader_(R) lets kids help write short stories. And the SmartKids(SM) Quiz tests their knowledge on everything from astronomy to zoology. Just want to have fun? Let us entertain you. With games, contests, humor and lots more. Some of our Members spend hours just using Electronic Mail and Bulletin Boards. And why not? Membership includes 30 free personal messages to other members per month and you pay _no_access_charges_and_no_timed_usage_charges. More on that in a moment. The PRODIGY service puts great values at ---------------------------------------- your fingertips! ---------------- If you think that big savings and big crowds have to go hand in hand, think again. Think about shopping on the PRODIGY service! Just press some buttons, or click your mouse, and get the _lowest_ _authorized_dealer_prices_ on name brand photographic equipment, tableware and more. Save 20% off retail on men's apparel. Shop from some of the world's best-known catalogs and department stores. Take advantage of special deals for PRODIGY Service Members only. And discover what may just be the world's easiest way to sho for and send gifts. In some areas, you can even do your grocery shopping online. If you think the PRODIGY service sounds incredible, --------------------------------------------------- wait until you see the value. ----------------------------- I mentioned earlier that, unlike other online services, we do not charge for the time you spend on the service. In other words, you can access all the features mentioned in this letter and the enclosed brochure over regular phone lines for as long as you want. And all it costs is _just_$12.95_a_month_* (*Membership includes 30 free messages per month. Additional messages will be billed at only $.25 each.) (plus tax) What's more, that monthly Membership fee is for your whole family, so up to 6 members of your household can enroll on the service and have access to as many of the features as _they_ like. You'll still pay just $12.95 a month! And, for no additional charge, you'll get plenty of additional Member benefits. Like a monthly newsletter. Invitations to free seminars in your area. See the back of the enclosed Membership Card for a complete list of benefits. If everything I've described still sounds too good to believe, we've -------------------------------------------------------------------- got a special offer to let you see for yourself -- without --------------------------------------------------------- risking a penny for Membership! ------------------------------- To fully understand how incredible the PRODIGY service is, and all it can do for you, you've got to see it in action. And I fully understand that, while you may be interested, you may feel you don't have enough information to lay down your money. Okay, don't. Just return the enclosed Order Card. Or call the toll-free number on it. We'll send you a PRODIGY Service Start-up Kit, complete with PRODIGY software, FREE. Then enjoy the service for a month by taking advantage of full Membership priviledges. You've got a month to decide if PRODIGY Service Membership is everything I've said it is. If you agree, find. Just pay your first bill when it comes, and your Membership will continue. But if you don't agree, simply mark the bill "cancel," return it, and your Membership and first month's Membership fee of $12.95 will be cancelled. The Start-up Kit is yours to keep. Furthermore, even if you do continue, you can still cancel whenever you like. _There's_never_an_obligation_or_commitment_ _to_continue_. With nothing to lose, and so much to gain, why not take advantage of our No-Risk Trial Offer today? I look forward to welcome you as a Member. Sincerely, Fred Larson Vice President P.S. The back of the Order Card explains what your computer needs to receive the PRODIGY service. We realize that not all computer owners have a modem, so we have made an arrangement to provide a Hayes(R) Personal Modem 2400 to those who need one for just $149.95 plus tax. See the Order Card for details. ------------------------------END---------------------------------------------- | Jamie Saker jsaker@zeus.unomaha.edu Public Relations Director ||| || C&DC Consultant jsaker@orion.unomaha.edu UNO Student Chapter of the || ||| "Go Hawkeyes!" JSAKER@UNOMA1 (bitnet) Assoc. for Computing Machinery | [Include your standard fool-proof disclaimer here]