davidli@simvax.labmed.umn.edu (09/05/90)
In article <1990Sep5.101244.7077@rodan.acs.syr.edu>, ggreenbe@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Gerald Greenberg) writes: > I guess I don't see why none of these services (i.e. CIS, > Delphi, or Genie) has offered the users the option to choose > one option or the other, i.e. join the new system, or stay on > the old way. It seems to me that would make everyone happy. > --Gerry My reading of the GEnie offer is that you -do- have a choice. If you prefer to pay for connect time to the services offered at the relatively low fee, you are most welcome to do so. Likewise with Delphi. Their 20/20 plan appears to be quite nice for those of us who were paying lots of $ for connect time, and on-line charges for those who don't use the system that often is reflected in that structure. The idea is to have a -steady- source of income, regardless of whether that income might sometimes be lower than peak usage in the past. You can plan budgets with a steady income; you can plan nothing if you get paid by the hour and are 'employed' on a relatively intermittent schedule. (Which is what the current system was like for the on-line services). -- David Paschall-Zimbel davidli@simvax.labmed.umn.edu
ggreenbe@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Gerald Greenberg) (09/06/90)
In article <1990Sep5.094541.1@simvax.labmed.umn.edu> davidli@simvax.labmed.umn.edu writes: >In article <1990Sep5.101244.7077@rodan.acs.syr.edu>, ggreenbe@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Gerald Greenberg) writes: > >> I guess I don't see why none of these services (i.e. CIS, >> Delphi, or Genie) has offered the users the option to choose >> one option or the other, i.e. join the new system, or stay on >> the old way. It seems to me that would make everyone happy. >> --Gerry > >My reading of the GEnie offer is that you -do- have a choice. If you prefer >to pay for connect time to the services offered at the relatively low fee, you >are most welcome to do so. > >Likewise with Delphi. Their 20/20 plan appears to be quite nice for those of >us who were paying lots of $ for connect time, and on-line charges for those >who don't use the system that often is reflected in that structure. > >The idea is to have a -steady- source of income, regardless of whether that >income might sometimes be lower than peak usage in the past. You can plan >budgets with a steady income; you can plan nothing if you get paid by the hour >and are 'employed' on a relatively intermittent schedule. (Which is what the >current system was like for the on-line services). >David Paschall-Zimbel davidli@simvax.labmed.umn.edu I'm sorry to say this, David, but your information is not correct. Your posting gave me pause to think that maybe I was incorrect in thinking that one HAD to join one of these "pay per month" plans...so I called both Delphi and Genie today. As I said...you are wrong...no one will be allowed to continue their memebership as it has been for so long...you must join and pay each month! Delphi has two different plans: $20 for 20 of connect time each month, or approximately $6 per month which gives you one free hour each month and then each additional hour is also about $6 (this is a reduction from their current connect charge). Also, after hearing some people on this net explain that maybe one would save $$ in the long run, I was beginning to think that MIGHT be true...until, that is, I read Dave Ritchie's post (#17464) which states that NO personal computer RT would be included in the monthly fee. This is probably 98% of my connect time, if not more. I usually go to the AtariRT or the GadgetsRT, and that is about it. When I called Genie the other day, a representative told me that all BBSs would be included in the monthly charge. When I asked if this included computer BBSs, he went on to explain that within computer BBSs there are software libraries and regular BBSs...and that while the libraries would not be free, the BBSs would be------------------------WRONG. Dave Ritchie is correct, I called Genie back today, and this rep confirmed that NO part of any personal computer BBS would be part of the charge. So, I am grateful to the discussion and discussants on this net so far...but it looks more and more like there is no real reason to stay, just to subsidize the other users. This leads me back to my suggestion (repeated at the beginning of this message): if the new plans are going to be such a benefit to the users, why not let the users choose which plan is best for them (even if they should choose the "not so good" plan of paying only for what you use). --Gerry
Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com (09/06/90)
David Paschall-Zimbel writes: >My reading of the GEnie offer is that you -do- have a choice. If you prefer >to pay for connect time to the services offered at the relatively low fee, y >are most welcome to do so. This is incorrect. The announcement on GEnie says that you have until the end of September to join. If you don't agree to be billed the minimum of $4.95/month by then, your account will be closed, and you will no longer be allowed to access GEnie at all. You MUST pay them $4.95 monthly, PLUS the regular $6.00/hr for machine specific Roundtables, like the ST Roundtable. Delphi on the other hand gives you a choice of being billed per hour with no monthly minimum, or paying $20 a month for 20 hours of connect time. BobR
davidli@simvax.labmed.umn.edu (09/07/90)
In article <33592@cup.portal.com>, Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com writes: > David Paschall-Zimbel writes: >>My reading of the GEnie offer is that you -do- have a choice. If you prefer >>to pay for connect time to the services offered at the relatively low fee, y >>are most welcome to do so. > > This is incorrect. Well, now that I've seen the GEnie magazine supplement, I must admit that there will be the $4.95 charge. The on-line message was a bit misleading in my opinion (and that's the only thing I'd read...) At the same time, the hobby RT's which one can access for free is pretty impressive (if you're not a computer-freak). I doubt that the majority of people who log on to GEnie have access to USENET, so the science-fiction RT would be pretty popular for non-rec.arts.sf-lovers readers. Likewise, the religion RT is fairly popular among non-talk.misc.religion readers. If you NEVER log onto GEnie for more than an hour a month at 2400 baud, I guess you'd have some reason to complain. But then again, if you're like me, and spend several hours on-line per month, the 'charge' is well worthwhile. > You MUST pay them $4.95 monthly, PLUS the regular $6.00/hr for machine > specific Roundtables, like the ST Roundtable. Of course, that NOW INCLUDES 2400 baud access for $6.00/hr vs $10.00/hr previously. (IE. I now save money after the first hour's download). > > Delphi on the other hand gives you a choice of being billed per hour with no > monthly minimum, or paying $20 a month for 20 hours of connect time. I don't know -- perhaps if everyone were paying the 'true' costs of access to comp.sys.atari.st there wouldn't be such a level of indignation. -- David Paschall-Zimbel davidli@simvax.labmed.umn.edu
Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com (09/09/90)
The point is... if you, like most folks, are only using GEnie to access a machine specific Roundtable, like the Atari RTs, the new changes amount to an extra $4.95 per month that GEnie is going to get from you, in addition to whatever you pay for your hourly downloads... If the only reason you ever call GEnie is to go into the Religion RT, or the Hobby RT, then maybe it's the best thing that ever happened to you. Hmm... 200,000 members times $5... I think I can guess who's making out with these changes... BobR
ggreenbe@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Gerald Greenberg) (09/09/90)
In article <33691@cup.portal.com> Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com writes: >The point is... if you, like most folks, are only using GEnie to access a >machine specific Roundtable, like the Atari RTs, the new changes amount to >an extra $4.95 per month that GEnie is going to get from you, in addition to >whatever you pay for your hourly downloads... In addition...if you miss a month or two, it is that much more they're going to get from you than they would have otherwise. > >Hmm... 200,000 members times $5... I think I can guess who's making out >with these changes... > >BobR Well, I believe this is going to be my last posting on this topic (and the crowd breaks into a standing ovation!)...I've now let Genie and Delphi know that I've quit, why I've quit, and that they might find others who feel the same way. I just got Genie's monthly magazine the other day. In it they say the new service has something for everyone...I guess I'm not a "one", because it certainly doesn't have anything for me. Just one last thing...if you don't like their changes, be sure to let them know (i.e. don't just let your account expire from non-use and your not joining the new system)...maybe they will figure out a way to accommodate everybody and still make enough $$$$ to keep themselves happy. --Gerry
cmm1@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Christopher M Mauritz) (09/09/90)
In article <33691@cup.portal.com> Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com writes: >The point is... if you, like most folks, are only using GEnie to access a >machine specific Roundtable, like the Atari RTs, the new changes amount to >an extra $4.95 per month that GEnie is going to get from you, in addition to >whatever you pay for your hourly downloads... Yeah, that is the position I find myself in. $4.95 seems like a trivial amount, but over the course of the year it means you're basically paying GEnie $60 extra in addition to what you're normally paying for your connect time. What a shame. I've been on GEnie since 1987...oh well... > >If the only reason you ever call GEnie is to go into the Religion RT, or the >Hobby RT, then maybe it's the best thing that ever happened to you. Yeah, but I think this is a rather small percentageof the people don't you think? What a scam.. > >Hmm... 200,000 members times $5... I think I can guess who's making out >with these changes... Yep...GEnie... Gads, I'm going to go into withdrawal now when I lose my usenet access soon...sigh.... > >BobR Cheers, Chris ------------------------------+--------------------------- Chris Mauritz |D{r det finns en |l, finns cmm1@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu |det en plan! (c)All rights reserved. | Send flames to /dev/null | ------------------------------+---------------------------