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`15 of 16 DOCUMENTS
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`Copyright 1994 Gale Group, Inc.
`All Rights Reserved
`ASAP
`Copyright 1994 ZDNet
`Computer Shopper
`
`January 1, 1994
`
`SECTION: Pg. p672(2) Vol. V14 No. N1 ISSN: 0886-0556
`
`ACC-NO: 14621986
`
`LENGTH: 2164 words
`
`HEADLINE: Treading the boards.;
`Online Networking Exchange and BBS Convention 1993 report;
`Column
`
`BYLINE: Fowler, Dennis
`
`BODY:
`
`ABSTRACT
`Sysops, vendors, Bulletin Board System (BBS) users and journalists mill about the stately Broadmoor Hotel in
`Colorado Springs, CO, Aug 25-29, 1993, while attending the second annual Online Networking Exchange and BBS
`Convention (ONE BBSCON) there. Over 140 speakers hold forth at least 130 sessions, while in excess of 100 vendors,
`including BBS software makers Galacticomm, Synchronet and Mustang and modem manufacturers Zoom, Boca and
`U.S. Robotics, display their wares. ConcernedBBS service providers form the National Online Media Assn (NOMA) to
`combat heartless State sales-tax collectors and fend off the local telephone, cable TV and even power companies that
`threaten to steal their action under Pres Clinton's proposed national data superhighway. Remote Imaging Protocol (RIP)
`implementations promise to bring graphical user interfaces (GUI) to the BBS world, while the Top Ten US BBSs win
`awards.
`Report from the second annual Online Networking Exchange and BBS Convention.
`It's likely that prior to the last weekend in August '93, a short golf shot was the only kind of "chip" ever seriously
`discussed at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado. But from August 25-29, this elegant resort was host
`to the Online Networking Exchange and BBS Convention (ONE BBSCON), and its halls were noisily filled with
`strolling sysops, BBS users, journalists, and communications vendors hawking their wares.
`Among the attending cyberspace luminaries was Ward Christiansen, whostarted it all with the first BBS so many
`years ago in Chicago. Jim Warren, founding editor of Dr. Dobbs Journal and founder of InfoWorld, was the keynote
`speaker. Well-known columnist and author John Dvorak was on hand to present the Dvorak/Zoom Awards for Excel-
`lence in Telecommunications. It was a magnificent do, and credit for the event goes primarily to Jack Rickard of
`Boardwatch and Phil Becker of eSoft (TBBS), who are the prime motivators of ONE Inc., the conference sponsor.
`More than 130 sessions were held, featuring over 140 speakers. The topics ranged from introductions of new soft-
`ware, such as the latest version of Telefinder BBS for the Mac, to general topics like BBSing for profit and what makes
`for a good BBS (my contribution). Since the sessions were spread through meeting rooms in five buildings at abouta
`EMC/VMware v. PersonalWeb
`IPR2013-00083
`EMCVMW 1044
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`Treading the boards.; Online Networking Exchange and BBS Convention 1993 report; Column Computer Shopper
`January 1, 1994
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`6,000-foot altitude, a lot of propeller-heads gave their cardiovascular systems a healthy workout trotting from one ses-
`sion to another.
`Besides the sessions, the show featured more than 100 vendors with their wares on display in two exhibition halls.
`Along with major BBS software publishers such as eSoft (TBBS), Galacticomm (The Major BBS),Mustang Software
`(Qmodem Pro and WildCat), Searchlight, and Synchronet were hardware vendors Boca, Hayes, U.S. Robotics, Zoom,
`and ZyXel,among others. IBM's Team OS/2 was handing out free copies of OS/2 2.1 to sysops to demonstrate how it
`could run Synchronet's new 32-bit OS/2 BBS. And the nice folks at the Practical Peripherals booth even loaned me one
`of their excellent pocket modems, so I was able to keep in touch with Computer Shopper via CompuServe.
`Cyberspace Under Attack: NOMA to the rescue?
`One of the most important developments emerging from this year's ONEBBSCON was the creation of a steering
`committee to establish the National Online Media Association (NOMA). It is not the first time such a trade organization
`has been proposed, but this year, the process seems to show signs of succeeding.
`An organization like NOMA doesn't come a minute too soon. The BBS industry is facing a variety of serious issues
`and challenges. Not onlyis explosive growth drawing attention to cyberspace, but technical, legal, political, and fiscal
`aspects of doing business in cyberspace are looming like Godzilla's children.
`For example, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts recently decided thatthe Channel One BBS owes uncollected
`sales taxes and interest on memberships dating back to 1990. Sysops Brian Miller and Tess Heder estimate the bill
`could come to $150,000, enough to ruin them.
`Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., the politicians are contemplating the establishment of a national data superhigh-
`way. Local telephone operating companies are gaining the right to distribute data along with the telephone services they
`already supply. Cable companies and even power companies lurk on the sidelines, each craving a piece of the action.
`All these developments could have a direct impact on the BBS industry in terms of access rights and competition.
`So NOMA has its job cut out for it: to provide a single, strong voice to represent the BBS industry. If sysops around
`the country lend their strength to the effort, NOMA could make a difference. The immediate goals drawn up for NOMA
`at ONE BBSCON are, among other things, to assist in the creation and promotion of industry standards, membership
`services, and industry marketing; to provide education; and to provide the industry with a political voice, both nationally
`and locally.
`Chairing the steering committee is Phill Liggett of Solutions Inc. (LIGGETT@delphi.com). Since the steering
`committee is to report by November 30, 1993, I would hope that NOMA is an accomplished fact by thetime this column
`sees print.
`More information about NOMA can be found on the Internet. Messages can be sent to natbbs@echonyc.com, and
`an Internet mailing list is available to all those interested. Just subscribe to natbbs-request@echonyc.com A conference
`area is also being made available on the Delphinational information service.
`Hardware Wars
`On a less political note, the modem price wars raged on at ONE BBSCON. Zoom was offering a show special,
`taking sysop orders for a "V.fast-class" modem for a show-stopping price of $99. The unit is based ona Rockwell chip
`set that will incorporate the V.fast features thus far established by the International Telecommunications Un-
`ion--Telecommunications Standards Section (ITU-TSS, formerly the CCITT).
`Since Zoom's unit is avowedly based on the interim ITU-TSS specifications, it is not a proprietary standard. At 24
`Kbps, V.fast-class offers a significant boost over the V.terbo 19.2-Kbps standard being offered by some other modem
`makers. (V.fast-class will also ship in 19.2- and 28.8- Kbps versions.)
`Other manufacturers, notably Hayes, will also be offering V.fast-class modems, but Zoom's offer was the lowest I
`saw for any modem at theshow. Elsewhere, V.32bis modems were being offered in the $120 to $150 range by vendors
`like Boca.
`Graphics Standards Duke It Out
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`Treading the boards.; Online Networking Exchange and BBS Convention 1993 report; Column Computer Shopper
`January 1, 1994
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`On the software front, salvos were exchanged by the various graphicsstandards groups. Remote Imaging Protocol
`(RIP) support was much in evidence, including a strong representation from its developers, Telegrafix Communications
`Inc., and its implementers, such as The Major BBS, PC Board, Searchlight, Synchronet, TBBS, and Wildcat.
`Not to be forgotten is ResNova with its NovaLink BBS software, whichsupports RIP. ResNova offers both Mac
`and RIPped DOS versions of NovaTerm.
`Along the same lines, Durand Communications, a RIP supporter, was showing impressive image-compression
`software and one of the best file-transfer interfaces I have ever seen. In effect, it puts what looks like an enhanced Mi-
`crosoft Windows File Manager in your hands, providing drag-and-drop file manipulation through the modem. Mean-
`while, Durand claims its lossy image-compression protocol is up to 60 percent more effective than JPEG.
`Retired Army Colonel Dave Hughes was there, of course, bearing the North American Preservation Level Protocol
`Syntax (NAPLPS) standard before him, with Shawn Rhoads of Turboard at his right hand.
`Other GUI players in attendance included Seth Hamilton with his RoboBoard package, and Maury Markowitz of
`SoftArc showing First Class forthe Mac, which can also be accessed using the firm's relatively new Windows terminal
`software.
`In practical terms, while RIP is showing the greatest vendor strength, NAPLPS is not about to roll over and fade
`away. It seems that the advent of RIP following 1992's ONE BBSCON finally goaded the NAPLPS forces into pro-
`ducing some worthy tools for that standard, including terminal software and conversion programs.
`NAPLPS soldier Rhoads of Turboard demonstrated a GIF-to-NAPLPS conversion program that is a real whiz.
`Rhoads' Turboard BBS, by the way, supports not only NAPLPS but ANSI and RIP graphics, revealing an admirably
`ecumenical spirit.
`While all the above standards are proprietary packages requiring dedicated terminal software, they should not be
`dismissed. Such setups can offer distinct advantages for sysops running private boards serving highly targeted audienc-
`es.
`
`RIP got one other notable boost at the show. A Dvorak/Zoom Telecommunications Award went to Telegrafix for
`its Outstanding Advanced BBS Graphics Standard. This, of course, is RIP.
`Among the other Dvorak/ Zoom award recipients were Dennis Hayes (Lifetime Achievement Award), Aquila BBS
`(Outstanding BBS Organization, Features and Design), CompuServe (Outstanding Online Information Service), Data
`Port Network Information System (Outstanding BBS Gateway toMultiple Information Services), and Internet (Out-
`standing International Connectivity).
`Motorola Codex received the Outstanding Hardware Contribution award for V.fast Technology. John Markoff of
`The New York Times got the Dvorak/Zoom award for Outstanding Reporting in Telecommunications. J. Owen Greeson
`was recognized for Outstanding Ongoing Software Contributions, and Tim Stryker, founder of Galacticomm and the
`Superdemocracy movement, received a special award.
`BBSCON's 10 Best BBSs
`On the beauty-contest side, the Boardwatch Top Ten BBS awards were presented.
`First place went to one of my personal favorites, Dan Linton's Software Creations in Clinton, Mass. [(508)
`368-7139]. This is probably one of the best online sources of shareware games in existence. Software Creations is the
`support/distribution point for Apogee, Boxer Software, Epic MegaGames, Gamer's Edge, HomeBrew, Id Software, Im-
`agiSoft, and many others. Linton has one heck of a system here, and the only problem I've ever had with it is getting
`online because it is so popular.
`Exec PC [(414) 789-4210] garnered second place, only 43 votes back. This is one of the oldest and probably the
`largest public BBS in the country. Bob Mahoney claims his creation receives one million calls every seven months. It's
`simply huge.
`Third place went to a dark horse, deltaComm BBS [(919) 481-9399], the support BBS for deltaComm Develop-
`ment Inc., publishers of the Telixcommunications program. While deltaComm is a support board, sysop Jeff Woods
`says the BBS wants to expand to a full-fledged online service.
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`Treading the boards.; Online Networking Exchange and BBS Convention 1993 report; Column Computer Shopper
`January 1, 1994
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`Fourth place went to PC Ohio [(216) 381-3320], another major Midwestboard. Riding herd over it has become
`Norm Henke's full-time job. With over 15Gb of files, plus connections to Internet and 21 other E-mail networks, that's
`understandable. PC Ohio is one I've been meaning to get to Real Soon Now.
`The Gay and Lesbian Information Bureau (GLIB) [(703) 578-4542] captured fifth place. Jon Larimore runs this
`TBBS board as a non-profit information and communications resource. It primarily serves the gay, lesbian, and bisexual
`community, but anyone over 18 is welcome to participate. All that is required for free membership here is to show fi-
`nancial support of or membership in any non-profit community organization. Contributions to the board's "parent cor-
`poration," the CommunityEducational Services Foundation, also qualifies callers.
`Sixth place went to Westside [(213) 933-4050], the large Los Angeleschat system run by Dave Harrison and com-
`pany.
`Steve Fox wrote the ROS BBS software on which the seventh-place board, Albuquerque ROS [(505) 299-5974],
`runs. This board is refreshing for its total lack of "adult" materials. It's a 14-line system with over 60,000 files. While
`mainly a files board, it also has active chat and games areas. It is free, but a $30 subscription does enhance privileges.
`In eighth place was Odyssey [(818) 358-6968]. This is billed as "thelargest adult-based entertainment service in
`North America and quitepossibly the world."
`Joseph Balshone, whom I first met at last year's ONE BBSCON, earned a well-deserved ninth place for Wizard's
`Gate BBS [(614) 224-1635]. This is a board I deeply regret not having reviewed yet. It is free. There is no validation, no
`verification, and you get 90 minutes on your first call. Balshone won't even accept donations. It, too, runs on unusual
`software, SH Systems BBS Software, written by Steve Harke. Itoffers some unique features to which I'm going to de-
`vote some attention in a full review. Watch this space.
`Tenth place went to another adult BBS, Ron McElvy's Pleasure Dome BBS [(804) 490-5878].
`Once the noise had abated and the last of the nerds had departed, the Broadmoor settled into its usual staid gentility.
`The golfers no longer had to endure elevator dialogues laced with talk of "V.fast" and"bits per second." Once again, a
`"door" became just an opening into another room.
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`LOAD-DATE: March 12, 2008
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