Xref: utzoo alt.bbs:189 comp.sys.ibm.pc:20739 Path: utzoo!hoptoad!amdcad!ames!mailrus!ncar!tank!ads4 From: ads4@tank.uchicago.edu (adam david sah) Newsgroups: alt.bbs,comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: BBS Software Summary: NOT PcBoard- why we should go elsewhere Message-ID: <618@tank.uchicago.edu> Date: 1 Nov 88 20:06:22 GMT References: <956@galaxy> Reply-To: ads4@tank.uchicago.edu.UUCP (adam david sah) Distribution: usa Organization: University of Chicago Lines: 34 I am a SysOp of a NON-PcBoard bbs and I have found it to be very rewarding, indeed. No, there are NOT a zillion Searchlight software bbs's in the country, but the number is growing- but that is NOT the point. The point is that I (and others) are willing to abandon a "standard" that we reject on the basis that it is NOT a very good one. Look at PCB: 1. It is slower than a drunk snail. Spitfire, Searchlight, and numerous other systems allow DRAMATIC speed increases (my users can get in and out in 5 minutes and do EVERYTHING...) 2. The user interface is laughable. "Z" for "Zippy directory scan. RIGHT! That makes PERFECT sense. 3. The file transfer system is not truly separated from the message bases, which is a matter of personal preference (but it means that you can have a whole separate set of commands to work with...) The fact is that PCB is NOT perfect- and MUCH more importantly, there are BETTER systems. Personally, I do not object to PCB, but I DO object to the notion that it is "standard" and therefore the best. Or the fact that it does something one way and therefore everyone should do that... How about some "crazy" ideas that PCB never considers... - USERS posting bulletins??? - Bulletins set up in a Scan mode (where you can get the header before you get the message... - TRUE TRUE TRUE flow control. Hit the spacebar anywhere and that message (ANY ANY ANY message) will be stopped dead in its tracks... - buffered information output so that the cpu can process msgs and wait for you to hit your next key... and there is much much more... PLEASE PLEASE no public flames for this article. I'm not interested in starting some cross-country war. If you're going to reply publicly, please let's keep it civil, and also- if you're not familiar with some of the alternatives to PCB (and I'm not talking about pseudo-alternatives, like Wildcat!), try calling some Spitfire, Searchlight, Opus, RBBS, Nochange, etc systems. Most are NOT better than PCB- I know that, but there are some systems that have some very nice things that PCB never even considers. Vested Interest Dept. Before I get really flamed for this, I had better forewarn you that a) I'm a SysOp of a non-PCBoard and paid money and devoted a lot of time to this system. b) I'm an authorizewd dealer of Searchlight software (the above non-PcBoard system) So, please take anything of mine that seems to fall under "personal opinion" as just that... Thanks for listening -A.Sah'88 SysOp, The Art of Science BBs (312)752-6104 24 hours 7 days 300-2400 baud with MNP level 5 where available and 60 megs online. Ibm and Mac friendly.