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The Pursuit of Happiness |
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(Or, Why It Pays To Seek Out Your Options!)
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The Internet / Web |
A Typical BBS |
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| Years of experience for the technology to serve general public computing |
5 (at most) |
Approx. 20 |
| Requires payment for access |
Almost always |
Sometimes |
| Possible to maintain steady data transfer speed | Very unlikely; depends on phone lines, other users, etc. | Usually; only affected by phone lines |
| Fellow audience | Most of modernized societies around the world | Local-to-you computer users |
| Able to bring together local users to share ideas, info, etc. |
Yes |
Yes |
| Utilizes ability to bring local users together |
No |
Yes |
| Offers multi-user online games |
Yes |
Yes |
| Offers extensive library of shareware and freeware software |
Yes |
Yes |
| Easy to set up home computer as a host (available 24 hours a day) |
No |
Yes |
| Requires expensive equipment to set up host system |
Yes |
No |
| Offers access to the rapidly- deteriorating Usenet newsgroups |
Yes |
Sometimes |
| Offers global e-mail service |
Yes |
Usually |
There are many ways that a local BBS community and the Internet overlap – but there are also other ways that the local BBS community offers an experience that cannot be (or simply is not) provided by the Internet.
The next time you’re feeling bored as you wait for yet another poorly-designed Web page to appear in your browser, consider taking a look at your local BBS community!
Ask at your local computer retailer for information on BBS’s in your local dialing area. If they don’t know what a BBS is, or can’t give you any help finding one, consider giving your business to a store that is more informed about the computing industry!
You are visitor number
pursuing their happiness!