CompuServe Messages

Lanny, I concur in your sentiments about CIS versus Internet. The internet is big, and looks disorganized at first. After I began to learn my way around, it seemed rather foolish that I paid to download various programs from CIS libraries, when the programs are freely FTPable from many servers around the world. Some of the value of CIS is the ease and organization it brings to the neophyte, which I still am. So CIS still has me, for a while. There is also a familiarity factor at CIS, which is diluted on the newsgroups and mailing lists because of their size. In some instances, the cost to speak on CIS seems to make the conversation more valuable. The upcoming price reduction on CIS is just in time. CIS prices are outrageous! They are out of line with other comparable services, and they are rediculous for accessing internet newsgroups, mailing lists, etc. I am getting 90 hours of PPP connection at 28.8k for $20 a month. On top of that, I get all the unix shell connection I want. (This isn't even the best deal in town, but the provider is the longest in business, which was worth another couple of dollars each month.) Although I like this new provider, I am sure that others are getting better terms elsewhere in the country. The new price structure will probably keep me on line here for a while. Some of the basic services (like Consumers Reports, US News and World Report, etc.,) are worth a few dollars each month for the rest of the family. For my part, I have unsubscribed all my mailing lists at CIS, and resubscribed at my new address, where I don't have to gag when I get a big message from the 'net. Nathan