CompuServe Messages

One long term solution is for users to avoid programs that to not support saving their data in at least one non-proprietary format. For example, its ok for a wordprocessor or DTP package to use a proprietary format for it's data storage as long as I can save or print to a plain ASCII file. That way my data is not held hostage and software company does not have to steal another's propietary format to give the user data freedom.