Xref: utzoo comp.misc:11385 comp.org.eff.talk:1410 alt.censorship:1204
Path: utzoo!utgpu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!texsun!letni!mic!montagar!fallout!wisniewski
From: wisniewski@fallout.uucp
Newsgroups: comp.misc,comp.org.eff.talk,alt.censorship
Subject: Re: Prodigy Special Offer hits my mailbox...
Message-ID: <1494@fallout.uucp>
Date: 6 Feb 91 21:09:30 GMT
References: <7569.27addc02@zeus.unomaha.edu> <1991Feb5.230021.8317@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> <1991Feb6.035111.9270@Think.COM>
Organization: DECUS DFWLug BBS - Dallas, TX
Lines: 56

>>	not a whole lotta reason anyone who can get 'here' (usenet/internet)
>>would be interested.
> 
> Hmm.  Where's the Usenet/Internet encyclopedia (no -- the ability to ask
> questions of zillions of experts is not the same thing).  Is there an
> online store, stock quote service, airline guide, etc., on Usenet/Internet?
> 
> I don't have a Prodigy account because I don't personally happen to need
> those things at the moment, but I can appreciate their value.
> --
> Barry Margolin, Thinking Machines Corp.
> 
> barmar@think.com


Barry, 

I have purchased many books with advanced indexes that make up my
personal library.  It's cost exceedes over $700 and it doesn't go
out of date because referance books that I buy are very consistant
and added to as newer books come my way.
(How often does history change after two versions anyways?)

As to online stores, stock quotes, and airline guides:

I use local merchants so if something is wrong with my purchase, I
have a human being to go back an see.  I pay a little more, but 
the service is much more than any ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS could
give me.

Ditto on the Stock Broker...

Ditto on the Travel agent and a free, comprehensive airline schedule 
I receive when I travel.

Prodigy is just an excuse to use computers and make life's general
tasks more complex than they need to be.

As to Email, BBS style communications, and electronic networking,
these are provided to most of the general public looking for such
access via public or semi public access at minimal costs in most 
major cities.  I don't believe that Prodigy has any inbound or 
outbound gateway services.. it's an Island. 


Service is worth what you pay for it and what you get back from it.

I'll take my almost free UUCP access, my local merchant infrastructure,
and my books (on CDrom and paper) against any $12.95 per month
subscription service that touts to give me same thing.

Games, public domain software, even Dr Demento, Don't be fooled by
cheap imitations, the internet is the real thing...

John Wisniewski
wisniewski@fallout.uucp