PE> Bob, I've calculated that if you get your 90-seconds connection time
PE> to an ISP instead of me, it would cost you an extra 30% on your bill.

You cant really work it out like that because the net mail works
so differently to the more automated approach that fido PKTs take.

PE> ie you currently spend $7.50, you would have to pay an extra
PE> $2.25 (per month) to get internet mail instead (at $3/hour).

The other consideration tho is that Fido is a flat 25c per
day regardless. of volume etc. Or maybe 21.25c in some cases.

PE> Rod, it's probably cheaper for you to get
PE> internet mail now, with your ISPs, no?

That remains to be seen. Fidomail is surprisingly cheap
with a fully automated mail run, even at the volume I get.

PE> Why don't you get internet instead of fidonet now?

Or get both. Thats the most likely.

PE> What's the attraction to fidonet for you anyway?

Its a whole raft of issues. The mail format itself is
pretty grotty with the internet, particularly stuff
that you actually participate in rather than just read.

Even just on the quoter, it would need a massive rework to get the
elegance I currently get with Fido. I do actually do some internet
mail now and find the currently manual tidying up of that a pain.

The net has its own very significant warts too, particularly
massive problems with not getting to see all the stuff in a particular
newsgroup because the volume causes overflows in transit etc. It isnt
even clear to me yet just how the local ISPs perform on that stuff.

And it aint necessarily all or none either, another alt is to
actually get the fido PKTs over the net, like Butler does to the
US etc too. Corse you could also have a permanent connection yourself,
using say APANA and I could just do the mail runs that way too |-)

The pricing schemes are VERY different with the net too, particularly
the way the local ISPs do it with mostly a flat rate per month, with
a number of different price plans, with a charge per hour after that,
but with the highest cost plan having completely unlimited hours.
That plan is a hell of a lot more than my current Fido STD cost tho.

The short story is that there is are massive number of options
without any simple and obvious best way to go. LIkely, like many
who do use fido and the net, I will just keep using both forever.

You can even look at it the other way, take the net use as a given,
then just consider the cost of Fido as an extra for $X per year and
if its worth that expenditure. Currently it looks like it is.
@EOT:

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