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From: streeter@theory.lcs.mit.edu (Kenneth B. Streeter)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: CFD Stuff
Message-ID: <1991Mar5.214426.1614@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu>
Date: 5 Mar 91 21:44:26 GMT
References: <6478@rex.cs.tulane.edu>
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Organization: Laboratory for Computer Science, MIT
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In article <6478@rex.cs.tulane.edu> mandel@vax.anes.tulane.edu (Jeff E Mandel MD MS) writes:

< basically sums up mailings he has received concerning the
  "split" of comp.sys.handhelds >

The fundamental "problem" that exists in this group is the same as in
all ".misc" groups that have a somewhat wide range of specific topics
discussed in them.  For comp.sys.handhelds, the specific topics can be
grouped according to machine types.  Typically what happens in such a
case is that when a significant following for any specific subtopic
develops, that group of people with common interests seek to have
their own subgroup.  (As an example of this, consider rec.music.*)

Comp.sys.handhelds currently has a large volume of HP48 traffic, and
much smaller discussions of a wide variety of other machines.  One
would anticipate that the HP48 users would want to then create a
newsgroup to cater more specifically to their own needs.  With
comp.sys.handhelds, however, something different seems to have
happened.  Instead of desiring to have their own group, as normally
happens, a significant number of HP users want to remain in the
"general" handhelds group.  A feeling that has been voiced is that the
HP users don't want to be made to "leave" the comp.sys.handhelds
group.  This somewhat surprises me, since I would think that if there
is any such thing as "prestige" with newsgroups, it would be to have a
machine-specific newsgroup catering to your specific needs, as opposed
to being just one of the crowd in the comp.sys.handhelds group.

I feel that a split would be beneficial to both the HP-users and the
non-HP users.  First, if a person is interested in both sets of
issues, and wants to read all comp.sys.handhelds postings, he can read
both groups!  If a person wants to read only non-HP postings, he reads
the non-HP group, and if a person only wants to read the HP posts, he
reads the HP-only group.

I also feel that it would make a lot of sense to create a new group
that discusses not JUST the HP48, as the HP48 will inevitably be
superceded by a more powerful machine from HP at sometime in the
future.  (Just as the HP41 and HP28 have...)  However, the types of
users, programming languages, and typical applications for the HP48
are very much like that of the HP28 and HP41.  Furthermore, these
characteristics are different from the Casio/Psion/Sharp/other
handhelds that are discussed here.  I think that the best split would
be one that kept the similar machines (HP41, HP28, HP48, HP48II, etc)
together.  Names for this group have included
comp.sys.handhelds.hpcalcs and comp.sys.handhelds.hp2848. I feel that
comp.sys.handhelds.hpcalcs most accurately describes this group of
machines, and permits for future machines in the HP41-28-48 line.

I think the creation of a new newsgroup to discuss the HP41-28-48 line of
handhelds would be a good idea, regardless of the name.
Comp.sys.handhelds.hpcalcs seems to be a good name for such a group.

Since I have an interest in both the HP and non-HP handhelds, I will
probably end up reading both groups, but I understand the advantages
of having two groups that many non-HP users have already mentioned,
and feel that both communities of users will benefit from the split.
--
Kenneth B. Streeter         | ARPA: streeter@im.lcs.mit.edu
MIT LCS, Room NE43-350      | UUCP: ...!uunet!im.lcs.mit.edu!streeter
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