Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!killer!kcdev!gentry
From: gentry@kcdev.UUCP (Art Gentry)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Public School BBS info
Summary: personal favorite BBS sfwr
Keywords: BBS
Message-ID: <722@kcdev.UUCP>
Date: 26 Apr 89 19:43:25 GMT
References: <11598@s.ms.uky.edu>
Organization: AT&T Kansas City, MO.
Lines: 68

In article <11598@s.ms.uky.edu>, mtbb95@ms.uky.edu (Bob Maras) writes:
> As a teacher with a dedicated phone line and an IBM-PC, I am desirous of info.
> regarding just which software program will best permit me to sysop a 24-hour
> a day BBS.  I am kinda new at this, and would appreciate your help.  I know 
> that software programs exist, but, do not know which way to go with this.

I have run BBS's using both PCBoard (a commercial product) and RBBS (a free-
ware product).  Both have definate advantages and disadvantages, but by far,
PCB is my favorite.

PCBoard
by: Clark Development Co.
    Murray, UT
    (801) 261-1686 (voice)
    (801) 261-8974 (BBS)

negatives (personal views)
  cost: $79.00 for single node version (if I am remembering right)
        119.00 for 3 node version (what I am running)
        progressively higher costs, for additional nodes
        includes 1 year full support and upgrades
        $50.00 support renewal each year after
        demo version available at no cost
  code is locked
        it works "this way" and that's it
  a little criptic for the first time SysOp to setup

positives (again, personal views)
  documentation (supurb!  what more can I say?)
  support (again, excellent!)
  user friendly
  consistant from BBS to BBS (why the code is locked)
  can run a 2 node system on 1 640k PC
  can run upto 99 nodes over most PC networks
  multi lingual support
  excellent sysop utilities (makes your job MUCH easier!)
  releases fully tested prior to release (very few bugs show up in the field)
  could go on and on - but these are the high points

RBBS
by: many
    available via many BBSs

negatives (still personal views)
  too many unrelated people doing coding (lacks continuity and consistancy)
  documentation - fair to poor
  releases eratic and buggy
  memory hog (1 node/1 PC only)
  inconsistant operation from BBS to BBS (sysops are free to hack code)
  user unfriendly
  extreemly criptic for first time sysop to setup

positives ($include, stnddiscl.h)
  free
  code included (hack away guys!)
  completly customizable (not really sure this is a positive)


There are a multitude of other BBS packages out there as well, but these are
the two I have personal sysop experience on.  Ran RBBS for about 2 years and
have been running PCB for the last 6+.

Will be happy to corrospond directly, if further details on either package is
desired.

Art
SysOp - The Bedroom BBS
816-637-4183 = 300/1200/2400 8N1