Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpcc05!hpcc01!drudman
From: drudman@hpcc01.HP.COM (Drew Rudman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: ACOS (WAS: Re: MD-BASIC (was:Re: Apple ][ BBS Software))
Message-ID: <1520028@hpcc01.HP.COM>
Date: 3 Jun 91 21:56:40 GMT
References: <1991May31.040452.29892@agate.berkeley.edu>
Organization: HP Corp Computing & Services
Lines: 92


>"Time is money."
>"I thought you said opium was money."
>"Money is money!"
>"Then what was time, again?"

From Volunteers - great movie.

Anyways, back to the subject at hand.  No one is claiming that either system
is the end-all communications package for the Apple II.  Each has strong
points as well as weak points.  As I see it:

GBBS/ACOS/MACOS/METAL

Benefits:

Text-file based source code for easy modification.  You can jump up and
 down all day long and tell me how great and easy Applesloth is to program
 in but no one is buying it.
Minimum system requirements.  GBBS will run an an Apple II+ with two 360K
 drives - try that with Pro-Line.
Networking is available.  Call Infinities Edge for information regarding
 networking segments for GBBS - (415) 820-9401.
ProTerm emulation for full Apple IIE and GS character/sound support.  I don't
 know if this is available on Pro-Line, but for anyone who has called UoP
 or Treasure Island in the Bay Area, CA - command line oriented BBS just will
 not do.

Drawbacks:

New language.  Questionable whether this is a drawback or not.  ACOS is a
 BASIC derivative with some added (and a few missing) commands.
No array support.  One of the missing commands.  This has been remedied in
 MACOS and METAL, two extensions to the original ACOS command language.
GBBS sucks out of the box.  I will never claim that GBBS (this is the actual
 program segments that a user sees and uses when he calls the BBS) is a
 robust BBS.  The message base is OK, but you seriously need to modify it
 to make it outstanding.  The thing is, ACOS (this is the operating
 system/language that GBBS runs on top of) makes it very easy to make
 outstanding modifications.
Lousy Support.  I'm sorry, but Lance and L&L Productions have gotten a
 nasty reputation for being incredibly slow when responding to complaints.
 
Cost:

When I bought GBBS two years ago (version 1.3j) it cost me $125.  I don't
 know exactly how much the current version is, but I suspect it is not much
 more. The system requires nothing more (even Prodos, which is included on
 the distribution diskettes.)

PRO-LINE

Benefits: (disclaimer - I have not used the system extensively, this list
                        is from the conversation that has occured so far.)

Nice out of the box.  Pro-Line provides very nice networking capabilities,
 message bases, and other standard BBS items, with very little modification.
Built in networking.  Good installed network base.  Supports internet feeds
 right out of the box.
Written in Applesoft.  Some novice users may only know Applesoft.  This may
 or may not be a benefit (to me, it is really not one.)
Excellent support via Morgan Davis.  Morgan Davis is a very well respected
 member of the Apple II community.  His products are well made and well
 supported.

Drawbacks:

Minimum of a Hard Drived II system to run.  Requires 5 megs of storage just
 for the BBS and its data (not to mention any file xfers you may want to
 have.)
GS necessary to use MD-BASIC for efficient editing of source code.  MD-BASIC
 is a seperate product that converts Applesoft code into a more editable
 form.
Relies on external products (Amperworks, etc.)
Apple IIe users must use Applesoft to modify.  This (from my point of view as
 an experienced programmer) is the worst thing about Pro-Line.  I listed this
 in both benefits and drawbacks because depending on the kind of computer
 user you are, this may be a good or bad thing.  To me it is all BAD.

Cost:

I believe it has been mentioned that Pro-Line could cost as low as $95 and
 as high as $195.  This is just for the BBS package.  MD-BASIC (for easy
 editing) and other add-ons cost more.

So, take your pick.  They both seem to have good things going for them, as
well as bad things you'll have to deal with.

[ Call...              9600bps/60meg ][ Drew Rudman                          ]
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