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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tikal!cholula!persci!bill
From: bill@persci.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.unix
Subject: Re: Distributing Large Software Packages [A Constructive Idea]
Message-ID: <140@persci.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 4-Apr-85 10:34:28 EST
Article-I.D.: persci.140
Posted: Thu Apr  4 10:34:28 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 5-Apr-85 04:32:55 EST
References: <205@encore.UUCP>
Organization: Personal Scientific, Woodinville WA
Lines: 25

>I would suggest that no large software be distributed over Usenet, including
>the use of mod.sources. [...] an interesting statistic [...]
>On the average, ATT/Bell Companies make a couple of thousand dollars off each
>1k bytes posted to Usenet (I assume this is an estimate).
>[...] I've decided that the simplest and easiest, along with the cheapest, 
>form of distribution is through a OKSTATE type of mechanism. I think that
>what is needed are 'regional' software distribution sites that act as
>repositories; something like SIMTEL but located all over the U.S. and Europe.
>These repositories could provide distribution in a number of forms : tape or 
>uucp or kermit access. [...] the distribution sites shouldn't be asked to
>share any burden of software distribution - they should just be repositories.
>[...] Chuck Wegrzyn {allegra,decvax,ihnp4,linus,talcott}!encore!wegrzyn

At last, a truly constructive suggestion! I like your idea, Chuck. I know I
would be interested in setting up just such a system. The only question here
is whether I could talk our system 'directors' into it! Please include me in
further discussions.
I am curious about how that figure of ~$2000/kbyte was obtained. Does it assume
that EVERY uucp/news link is a long-distance call? That's not the case in this
area! 
(-: Note the many $k saved by shortening the included letter! Please mail 10% 
of your site's savings to :-)
-- 
Bill Swan (..uw-beaver!tikal!persci!bill)
Live in Seattle! 100000000000 slugs couldn't be wrong!