Hello Michiel.

30 Apr 06 00:46, you wrote to Ward Dossche:

 MV> Hello Ward.

 MV> 29 Apr 06 12:58, you wrote to Alex Shakhaylo:

 WD>> From my point of view people stayed/went away because of the
 WD>> technical competence required to make Fidonet work versus the
 WD>> plug-and-play built-in stuff that you got when buying a PC the
 WD>> last 10-15 years which required none of the associated
 WD>> complexity.

 MV> The technical barrier could explain lack of new blood, but it can
 MV> hardly explain people from leaving. *They* already have taken the
 MV> hurdle. Besides the main reason for the decline of FidoNet IMNSHO is
 MV> *users* finding greener pastures. For usres the technical hurdle isn't
 MV> all that big.



 MV> Michiel

 MV> --- GoldED+/W32-MSVC 1.1.5-b20060315


        I think you both have a point. There is more technical knowledge
required to install/configure/maintain a working BBS/mailer. A requirement
that may turn away those looking for a simple no knowledge PNP type of thing.
If I were just starting to look at BBS's and Fidonet I might say 'Nah, too
much work'. Even those with the nessesary knowledge might say 'Is the
benefit gotten
worth the time and work required'? The internet offers so much more than
BBS's could ever hope to. A fact that I think has caused nearly all who may
have looked at BBS's and maybe Fidonet style netwoks to say 'Nah'. The same
I think can be said for the number of POTS vs ION systems around today.
People go with
what is easier, faster, and cheaper.


Jeff

--- FMail/Win32 1.60