bobvan (12/02/82)
People have responded to my query with two different numbers: a raw count of /usr/lib/news/users, and also a more "accurate" number. This second number is usually derived from modify times on ~/.newsrc or the news manager's "gut feeling." Here are the sites that have reported in so far: site wc users "accurate" ==== ======== ========== tpdcvax 32 15 ittapp 44 ittvax 52 50 decwrl 9 floyd 87 eagle 15 u1100a 6 machaids 18 ariel 34 lime 29 houxe 23 houxg 53 cwruemp 21 burdvax 45 microsof 30 harpo 84 40 zeppo 30 hocda 24 utcsrgv 165 rochester 48 Now for the numbers you've all been waiting for. The average size of /usr/lib/news/users is about 50. The average of the more "accurate" figures is about 28. Multiplying these by 366 sites (from the last map published), we get 18,300 and 10,248 net news readers. ****DISCLAIMER**** I have given the raw data and done the obvious calculations. There is still a TREMENDOUS margin for error. Only 5 percent of the sites have reported in so far. The sites that have reported are probably the most active, so the sample data is skewed. I estimate that these figures are only accurate to within +/- 3 dB, perhaps as poor as +/- 6 dB. The figures are more likely high than low. I understand that some sites (Indian Hill) print netnews and distribute hardcopy. This means that netnews could have a "readership" significantly larger than its "circulation." (People who print these "newspapers": please tell me now many copies you print each day.) I will update my results as new information comes in. Thanks to all who've contributed so far, Bob Van Valzah (...!decvax!ittvax!tpdcvax!bobvan)
jfw (12/03/82)
Not knowing if my direct reply got through, we have 28 netnews readers by WC, 27 in actual fact (one username was duplicated twice in 'users'!).