DEP%SLACVM.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu (02/23/86)
The WELL ... "Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link" is such an interesting BBS
that I thought I would pass on my observations about it to readers of
this list. The following is my description from our local electronic
(mainframe) conference, modified somewhat to bring it current.
"For several months now I have had an account on a BBS called the WELL,
which stands for "Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link". Compared to the Source
and Compuserve, this system is an incredible bargain at $8.00/month
plus $2.00/hour connect time. I subscribed after buying a product
called the Operating System Toolbox and reading in the user manual
that I could communicate directly with it's author by logging on to
the WELL and sending mail to his account (well!wendin).
The WELL maintains perhaps two dozen or more conferences in various
topic areas, ranging from spirituality to technical discussions of
the IBM PC. Like the Source and Compuserve, if you can think of it,
you can probably find it on the WELL.
It's usually interesting to see who else is logged on to the system.
I have often seen Stewart Brand, John Dvorak and "Captain Crunch".
Today, in addition to Charles Daney (co-developer of Personall REXX,
and host for the WELL'S IBM PC Conference) I noticed Lucasfilms
and also the SF Examiner. All of this should make for some pretty
interesting discussions.
For SLAC users, with the USENET/BITNET link, it is also possible to
trivially send text files between SLACVM and the WELL. The system,
which is BSD Unix running on a Vax 11/750, also supports Kermit and
XMODEM for binary file transfer.
If you want to set up an account under Visa or MasterCard, all you
have to do is dial (415) 332-6106 and login as NEWUSER. If it doesn't
answer the first time, keep trying.
If you want to use direct billing instead of Mastercard/Visa, you can
use a 'b' at the prompt where it asks you if you want to use
Mastercard of Visa (i.e. use a 'b' instead of 'm' or 'v').
It is also possible to connect to the WELL, which is located in
Sausalito, California, I believe, by means of a packet-switch
connection setup under beta test. It was originally planned to make
this beta test arrangement expire sometime in February; it is still
available as of this writing.
The following is the text of the WELL announcement describing the
packet-switch service:
'The WELL has entered into a beta test agreement with
Pacific Telephone, which will allow WELL users in the Bay Area to
reach us at no phone charge for the next 90 days or so. From
most areas in 408 and from all areas in 415, the procedure is as
follows (we hope to get PacTel to simplify these procedures
soon):
1. With your modem, dial 440-1444.
2. When you get a high-pitched tone, type <cr> . <cr>
--repeat this until you get something that looks like
PPS*NET 495 332 2123
3. Then type the following ten digit number, very carefully,
because you won't be able to see what you're typing:
495 461 1199 (type it with no spaces)
4. Then press <cr> and you'll be at the usual login: prompt.
Let us know how it works ... send mail to mmc to report.'
The following are the names of some of some of the active conferences:
ADS GARDENING PACKET
AI GAY PEACE
APPLE GENERAL PHILOSOPHY
ARCHITECTS GENERAL_TECHNICS PHOTOGRAPHY
ARI HACKERS POINT
ATARI HEADS POLITICS
AVIATION_SPACE HELLONU POTHOLES
BACKSTAGE HELP POWERUSERS
BIZ HOSTS PROGRAMMING
BMUGSIG HUMAN_RESOURCES PSYCHOLOGIST_EDUCATORS
BRIARPATCH IBMPC RCC
CALENDAR IDEAS REMOPS
CLASSIFIEDS INTECH SCIFI
COMMODORE ISLAND SEXUALITY
CORNERPUB JOKES SHAKERS
CORP KAYPRO SPACE
CPM LAPTOP SPIRITUALITY
CRYSTAL LEGAL SPREADSHEETS
CUPERTINO LIBERTY STOCKMARKET
CURIOUS_QUESTIONS LIBRARY SYSOPS
CURRENTS M-NET SYSPROG
CURRENTS_IN_THE_WELL MACINTOSH TEI
DATABASICS MANUAL TELECOMMUNICATING
DESKTOP_PUBLISHING MARKETING TEST
DISABILITY MEDICAL TRAVEL
DRAWING MICROPRO TRS80
EARTHSTEWARDS MORROW UNIX
EATING MOTHERING VIABLE
EDUCATION MOVIE_REVIEWS VIDEODISC
ENVIRONMENT MOW WESC2.0
EXAMINER MUSIC WHOLE_SYSTEMS_POLITICS
FIDO NETWORK WOMEN_IN_TELECOM
FREE_YOU NEWSLETTER WORD_PROCESSING
FUN NOREN WOW
GAMES ONEPERBIZ WRITERS
GARAGE ONTHEAIR"
I have no commercial interest in the WELL, and have offered this
description merely from the point of view of an enthusiastic user.