From: fred.pacquier@lill.frmug.fr.mugnet.org (Fred Pacquier) Subject: Re: Thoughts on target markets for Linux Date: 16 Oct 1992 19:58:00 GMT
Voici deux messages que j'ai releves dans le Newsgroup "comp.os.linux" et
qui me paraissent pouvoir interesser un public plus large que ceux qui
lisent le habituellement sur Frmug, sur Li'll ou en archives...
Quelqu'un sait-il si le systeme de satellite dont il est question existe
aussi en europe ?
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From: radel@bach.udel.edu (Todd Radel)
Summary: Don't forget BBS operators!
Date: 1 Oct 1992 00:51:39 GMT
Sender: usenet@news.udel.edu
Organization: University of Delaware
Many people have commented lately about how to get "Joe and Jane User"
to switch to Linux. There is one significant target group that could
be easily persuaded to switch over, I think: BBS operators.
Allow me to explain: sysops who wish to use their machines while the
BBS is running in the background currently have to choose between
DESQview/386, Windows 3.1, or OS/2, none of which are very satisfactory
for various reasons. I got the idea a while back that I could move my
entire system over to Linux if only I could get the BBS up and running.
No more DOS!
Unfortunately, no one has yet uploaded binaries (or even patched sources)
for C-News, trn, rfmail, ix/Mbox, or XBBS to any of the FTP sites. I
tried to get some of these working. C-News and trn apparently work
fine, but none of the last three would compile properly. Partly I
think they wanted a few features that haven't yet been implemented
(i.e. the locking() call), and partly I'm simply not that knowledgeable
about porting stuff. Thus, for the time being, I've had to go back to
DOS and Windows until the above-mentioned stuff becomes available.
I'll continue reading c.o.l until I see that someone has a stable,
full-featured, easy-to-set-up BBS system including FIDONET.
What I'm saying is this: if we had a complete, ready-to-run setup
appropriate for BBS operators, I think we could attract them in droves.
Most of them thought OS/2 2.0 was going to cure all their problems,
only to discover that it caused quite a few of its own! (I know.)
What does everyone think? Am I off base or does this make sense?
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From: sdw@meaddata.com (Stephen Williams)
Date: 1 Oct 1992 15:37:54 GMT
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH
(message precedent quote)
I'm working on just that. I'm getting everything working under ISC
3.2R3, but Linux is on my list.
I'm putting together a turn-key system with multi-port, slip/ppp,
email (and all programs), NetNews (INN, with all other programs),
billing, etc.
Note that one of the key features of this system is satellite downlink
of Netnews basically for free (with purchase of receiver/anten.).
The system supports slip/ppp on demand to Internet (Cerfnet is setup
now) for outgoing email/news/etc. as well as interactive links (irc,
gopher, wais, ftp, telnet, etc.).
I have my own domain, lig.net, to support users of this type of system
(not necessarily, but hopefully mine). LIG stands for Local Internet
Gateway, a name I coined to describe a system that is intended to be
called locally by it's users (NO LD phone).
This type of system is ideal for small to medium town bbs's, internal
company news systems, etc. Since LD rates are so prohibitive, LIG's
in different towns do not compete.
These will provide Commercial Email, Netnews, etc. to local users,
with permanent email addresses. (john.brown@dayton.lig.net,
sdw@dayton.lig.net).
I'm almost ready with my first version (on ISC) and am ready to play
with Linux....
Let me know if you're interested. The first satellite channel (KU
band, K2) covers the continental US very well, using an 18" dish.
sdw