bill@persci.UUCP (03/21/85)
I have seen a lot of news lately about SIMTEL20, which apparently has a LOT of public domain CP/M software available. Unfortunately, my company is not on the ARPANET, so I am unable to call up the system. The question is: How can I get access to this software? The bulletin boards in my local calling area (Seattle) that have any amount of Public Domain software are subscription only. I don't have the money for a lot of long- distance calls to 'open' boards. I am extremely reluctant to pay the 'nominal' fees for access to these local boards for two reasons: I don't know what's on them beforehand, and NONE of them offer any guarantees as to accessibility. Example: An acquaintance of mine paid a fee to get a full year's access to one of Seattle's biggest boards. After he had access to the board for several months, the SYSOP of that board decided that he didn't want any more 300 baud users on the system, and apparently posted a note to that effect. My acquaintance has since had the unpleasant experience of being hung up everytime he gets on the board. He has since quit trying. The SYSOP will not return the (pro-rated) fee, and my acquaintance has decided to let the matter drop, because the amount is so small compared to the costs of court (but he remains quite bitter). I am not willing to be defrauded like this person. -- Bill Swan (..uw-beaver!tikal!persci!bill) ...and some days the dragon wins!!
W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARPA (Keith Petersen) (03/23/85)
Bill, there is no way for Usenet people to access SIMTEL20. I can send a few files to you via netmail but there is a limit to the size of file that some mailers will accept. Have you looked over the latest RCPM list to see if there might be other systems in your area? If you don't have RCPM-059.LST, I'll send you a copy. Re your friend who suddenly found himself unable to access the RCPM system at 300 baud: his unpleasant experience was caused by the fact that some RCPMs are so overloaded with users that the people who run the systems were FORCED to change to 1200 baud only, just so everyone could use the system. I don't call this a fraud, I see it as the only way they can make it possible for ALL users to access it. Naturally your friend should have been given a pro-rated refund if he was unwilling to purchase a 1200 baud modem. Did he put his request in writing and send it by mail? --Keith <W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARPA> Usenet: ...!decvax!brl-bmd!w8sdz or ...!unc!brl-bmd!w8sdz or ...!seismo!brl-tgr!w8sdz