Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!van-bc!ubc-cs!fs1!jthornto
From: jthornto@ee.ubc.ca (Johan Thornton)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: RFD: comp.sys.handhelds.hp48
Message-ID: <1657@fs1.ee.ubc.ca>
Date: 17 May 91 07:27:56 GMT
References: <7498@rex.cs.tulane.edu> <4839@ryn.mro4.dec.com>
Sender: root@fs1.ee.ubc.ca
Organization: University of BC, Electrical Engineering
Lines: 39

I think we're getting close to a final decision....

I think a point has to be made of who exactly the hp48 hackers are.
We are professionals who use the hp48 mainly for its built in
mathematical functions--it is without a doubt the most powerful portable
math tool.  However, we find it "interesting" that we can play tetris
on this machine, and make a tv remote control, and program it in machine
code.

If this was all we wanted to do, we could buy a Gameboy, a remote control,
and a VIC-20--all for less than we paid for our 48.

This is what makes the hp48 (and to a lesser degree, the 28) special.  By
a large margin, the 48 will have the most software posted for it for the
foreseeable future.  This is the proposal that I feel would best work:
 
 - comp.sys.palmtops
 - comp.sys.handhelds
 - a moderated hp48 and hp28 program group

A few points:

The most important split is between the (mostly HP) calculators and the
DOS palmtops.  The BOSS and similar devices would feel more at home
in the palmtops group.  This split would definitely minimize cross-postings.

Handhelds will remain as it is now.  That way, no readers are lost, and
comp.sys.palmtops could be mentioned in the FAQ.

The moderated program newsgroup should be neither comp.binaries.hp nor
comp.sources.hp.  It should be a combination of both, since both ASCable
binaries and source code programs an fragments will be posted.  The
group should also carry 28 programs.  HP48-centrists will be happy to know
that the HP28 volume will be minimal.

Just my 0.02 CC$ worth...
-- 
Johan Thornton
(but my friends call me jthornto@ee.ubc.ca)