#CIS
5 messages in this thread
Not that this has to do with CD-ROMs (altho I just bought the Toshiba 3401B
with a PAS-16 SCSI interface), but anybody wanna recommend an online service
other than CIS? I've been a member of CIS for some 7-8 years now, only
spending less than $100 a year, but I'm about ready to drop my membership. The
TTY terminal interface is grating on the nerves (yes, I've tried CIM for the
IBM–not much improvement), having to rejoin a bunch of forums and sit thru the
interminable "welcome…" messages if I don't visit that forum for a few
months, putting up with "news flashes" such as the one here that is more than a
month out-of-date (with a lenghthy bio of some guy I don't know who was a
conference guest last month), etc. etc. Maybe America ON-Line would be
better… Dave H.
Dave…Well we know what you don't like about CIS but you said nothing about
what you are looking for in an on-line service. I have been on CIS for 10
years (this month) and am (or was) also on Genie, America Online and BIX (run
by BYTE magazine). While their formats are different, they tend to be the same
in their message base and data files. If you think CIS is klunky you should
try running the Internet. Be seeing you.
-Larry
Dave:
First of all, the story behind our NewsFlash is too bizarre, and there is no
rational excuse.
Beyond that, however, I think it's only fair to expect that, if you don't check
in for a while, things are going to change and there will be some new messages
to read. I have not found any of them "interminable" but maybe I've got a
longer fuse. If you have a slower modem, I can see how it might seem to take a
while. On the other hand, if you haven't been impressed by the CIM programs
over the 25 year-old terminal mode, we're really living on different planets.
CIM puts CIS head-and-shoulders above the competition, IMHO; in fact it was
MacCIM that got me back to CIS after a 5-year absence.
If you're interesting in getting/sharing info about electronic publishing and
CDROM, I'd suggest hanging in for a couple of months to see what kinds of new
things are in the wind. If you can't find something to interest you in any of
the other 450-500 Forums and services, you're probably not going to find it in
_any_ online service (including internet).
Let me know if I can direct you more specifically.
Best – Rich Bowers
It really depends on what you need to get you by I guess. I still use the good
ole qmodem 4.2F that I registered(gasp) a few years ago. IBM ANSI emulation.
9600 helps, but usually logon at 2400 or (gasp) slower. Genie is limited,
extremely compared to compuserve. Delphi, bahahahahah, geesh, you think CIS is
slow or cumbersome? BIX is likewise a pain to use in my opinion. If you wanna
save money go for prodigy, has a snazzy interface; useless to anyone who is
very technically oriented. CIS has something like 1.2 million users world
wide. BTW, have you tried one of the newer navigators such as WINCIM or
TapCis? What are you looking for in an online service I might also ask
Dave, may I suggest you try OzCIS? It is completely free, well supported, very
fast and super simple to use — heck, even I know how to use it. It is a superb
navigator and lets you get into (and out of) conferences quickly.
I now consider it to be one of the most valuable programs I have —
which includes some very expensive ($900+) commercial software.
Try it — what can you lose when it is totally free and takes only a little
time to learn. Cheers!