thomas@mvac23.UUCP (Thomas Lapp) (06/28/89)
Here is the promised summary of the answers I've received about the videotext program from IBM and Sears called Prodigy. If you don't want to read the whole thing (around 210 lines), the just of most of the people who have responded so far was that it has good points and bad points. The good points were that it has graphics, and has a lot of "bells and whistles" to entice novice videotext users. The detractions were that screen painting is fairly slow, since it sends graphics over a 1200 or 2400 bps modem. Also, the news seems to be in the McNews style of USA Today, and doesn't give much depth. The majority of the people responding say that if you get a free copy or trial offer of one or more months free, go ahead and try it. However, most felt that it was not worth the monthly fee for the info that they got over the service. One caveat is that all of the people responding have an alternate source of information (ie. Usenet or other net access), so have something to compare it to. My opinion is that for people who want to use that computer that has been sitting in the corner gathering dust, Prodigy probably will be worthwhile. You can get headline news, and other newpaper services (horoscopes, soap opera info, etc) show up with cute graphics on your very own computer. The startup cost is around $50 for the software (more if you buy a modem to go with it -- modems are reasonably priced), but "introductory deals" of the software as low as $25 and several months free is fairly common. Oh, what did I end up doing? Well, it looked like something that would be fun for a month or two, but not worth the startup cost. So I passed. Thanks to all the people who have responded. If you didn't get in this summary and still want to respond (or your message is still in transit), I'll post another summary if I get more response. Background: Videotext is the name given to programs which display information to people who 'subscribe' to the service. Information Providers are the companies and groups (ie. AP, Reuters) which put information INTO the database, and the users are the ones who pull the information OUT of the database. I'm sure I'll be corrected by my UK friends, but I believe that a service called VideoTex (is this right?) is provided by the BBC. The information is coded in the vertical blanking interval (black horizontal bar) of British TV sets. By using a panel with the TV, one can 'dial up' the desired page which comes around every so often. There are other systems which interface with a TV set and a phone line to provide the information which appears on your TV. Prodigy is like this in that Sears and IBM are providing the database and the Information Providers are making it cheap (by paying to have 'pages' stored in the database). I saw a demo of Prodigy last week and it looks very much like the photos I have seen of the British VideoTex screens. And now the summary of responses to 27 June 89... +++++++++++++++++++++ Adam Porter writes: There's a hilarious review of Prodigy in a recent PC Magazine. I hear it's a real joke. ++++++++++++++++++++++ Chia-Chi Chao writes: If you received a free trial offer, try it out yourself to see if you like it. I got a free starter kit and one month usage, but I definitely will not continue the membership if I have to pay any money for it. I have also heard other people saying that it's "superficial". Anyway, I don't really like it, especially that they charge $10 a month for it. ++++++++++++++++++++++ Brian Wilson writes: I received the same notice that you are talking about. I ordered the package and it arrived in 5 days via 2'nd day air. [I'm not sure if Brian received the same offer I did, since I didn't specify the details in my posting - tl] I have used Prodigy for a week now and found it to be fun. I must have ordered about 20 free catalogs and software demo disks. There are always advertisements on the bottom of the screen. I have also posted a few question to one of the news groups and received numerous replies within a day. Over all since it's only 9.80 a month I would recommend it. If you don't like it it's hardly any risk. +++++++++++++++++++++++ Hasnain Khan writes: I think you can go a head and try it, for a month and see how you like it. It has a wide variety of topics, (of course most of it will be junk to different people, i.e. new recipes blah blah) Good points: At $9.95 and unlimited access it is reasonable, especially since you will spend more by dialing into Compuserve for an hour. It gives you stock quotes without having to look it up in WSJ (but doesn't provide much service like tracking over a period of time) Bad points: It is SLOW SLOW SLOW, this is partially because it is sending you graphics. My own conspiracy theory is that they are deliberately making it as slow as possible so that you can spend more time to enjoy reading the "commercial" that show up on each page. Each page doesn't contain much info. Also there is no Upload/Download capability. Its message bases are at best primitive (and SLOW). ++++++++++++++++++++ Jim Marks writes: I've just started using Prodigy, so I don't have too much experience on it. It's pretty user-friendly (a little TOO much for my taste), so it's good for those who aren't experienced with computers. It's completely menu-oriented, with the exception of what they call "Jump" words. It's strictly on-line information. There's nothing to download, and you generally can't even print out the screens you are viewing. Therefore, you're stuck with reading while online. You have to use their software (supplied) to access the system, and it's incompatible with most TSR's, such as Sidekick. [I wasn't aware that the software wouldn't run with TSRs. Not good. - tl] In addition, I consider the system somewhat slow as compared to CompuServe. On the other hand, at least you aren't charged for connect time. This is advantageous, as you don't keep your eye on the clock while you're on. [I consider the fact that there are no connect time charges as a good advantage which outweighs the fact that the system is slow. - tl] Hope this is useful information, ++++++++++++++++++++++ Kathleen Creighton writes: Do you get one month free? If so, go ahead and take a look at it but don't expect much, *especially* if you appreciate the ability to discuss lots of different topics on Usenet. There's very little on Prodigy that's worthwhile. ++++++++++++++++++++++ Ed Akerman writes: I did use my introductory offer and while the graphics ARE nice the speed is SLOOOWWW :=( Maybe I'm spoiled by usenet and CompuServe in that they are reasonably fast but no graphics. Also I didn't like the advertisements that appeare(sp) on the screen. All in all, IF I wasn't involved with other services and I didn't know any better I would have liked it. IMO I think that they are trying to get at the home computer user who is just starting out or who dosn't use his/her machine for much more that a game machine. ++++++++++++++++++++++ Peter M Swartz writes: I meant to respond earlier, but haven't had the chance. I was able to get a free copy of Prodigy and have been using it for the last month. [... some sensitive information deleted ...] Prodigy is a new gambit in the marketing for IBM and Sears; prodigy is a forum for advertisers!!. The bottom 1/4 of the screen is always an ad for something or other. One gets used to it and "tunes" it out. The service offers similar features to Compuserve, Dow Jones, etc, but it is geared to the "non-technical." Most of the discussions, articles, etc are very superficial. The Associated Press news wire doesn't compare to Dow Jones, but it does have some timely articles. The movie reviews are only ok The only parts that I really use are Dow Jones Quotes, weather, airline schedules, and maybe the AP newswire. The whole concept of prodigy is very unique!!!! They send EGA GRAPHICS ACROSS THE MODEM!! The screens are painted with graphics, colors, etc. Even the text is done in graphics! The reason why the service does no have a connect TIME change is that they are charging a fee for advertising; every time the screen changes (ie every time you change pages in an article, choose a differnt menu item, etc) you get a new ad on the bottom of the screen. In summary, if you can get the software free of change, try it for a month or so (The first month is free ?). If not, don't spend the $40 on the kit. It is too user friendly, and I think that I will tire of it soon. [...] also, prodigy is only available in certain areas.. where are you located 'cause I have the list of locations. ++++++++++++++++++ Tom Betz writes: I went for the free trial offer. I called it for about a week... and then wiped it from my HD. It's an advertising medium, not a service. As a mail system, it's horrible. As a news service, it's deficient - shallow and redundant. I can turn on WINS and have deeper reporting in 22 minutes. If you buy a lot of airline tickets, it could pay off, I guess... but for me, it ain't worth $120 a year. Too little, too late. ++++++++++++++++++ *********** End of Summary ********** - tom ============================================================================== uucp: ...!udel!mvac23!thomas ! Internet: mvac23!thomas@udel.edu Location: Newark, DE, USA ! or mvac23%thomas@udel.edu ==============================================================================