-=> Quoting Rod Speed to John Tserkezis <=-

Hello Rod,

 PE>> Plan for new network
 PE>> --------------------
 
 JT> You can point or node off fido without paying your uplink.

 RS> Yes, but the practical reality is that nodes normally do have
 RS> an extra line, and so there is that real cost for that. In
 RS> this particular case its the same cost as his ISP, $10/month.
 
 Ok, I see, with internet (mail) you don't really *need* another line, but
with fido, it sorta makes things easier, so that's how people do it most of
the time...

 JT> Just because fido nodes are likely to get another
 JT> line in doesn't always come into the equation,

 RS> It does actually on that free question. Real nodes arent normally
 RS> free. So when the ISP costs the same amount, there isnt any cost
 RS> difference. 

 Yes but only when the ISP costs about the same/similar to another line.
Some are paying a lot more than that.

 RS> I've never thought that BBSs with net access really make a whole lot
 RS> of sense either, might as well just use an ISP instead of a hybrid.
 
 It makes sense for the users.  That was how I was getting my internet mail
for ages.  BBS call, with QWK offline mail packing.  A lot more neat and
efficient than "here's a big text file" with real internet.
 That and I didn't have to muck around with more software.  My current comms
program and mail reader worked just fine for internet AND fido mail.

 JT> The point being, given equal footing,
 JT> fido costs nothing extra, internet does.

 RS> In theory. In practice a fido node normally costs an extra line,
 RS> and that can be the same cost as an account with an ISP.

 I understand that bit, but *you* aren't getting any more than I am as far as
mail goes, and you don't have another line...  As a matter of fact, I can
mark myself as non-CM, and tell my points to call only overnight, that way I
can have fido without the second line.

 Some do it that way too.  Yes, not many, and some time management is needed
for polling and for incoming calls, but it *is* an option, as it saves you
around $140/pa (plus $173 setup).

 RS> So in a
 RS> practical sense the cost is the same for mail access. And then you
 RS> have to question the value of doing other than the standard net route.

 Again, you don't *have* to be a node, a point like yourself works just fine.
I also never liked the "text only" mail transfers, yes v42bis
compresses it,
but a proper archiver is better, as well as an advantage if you are time
charged on access.

John Tserkezis, Sydney, Oz. Fidonet: 3:712/610  Internet: jt{at}suburbia.com.au

... If all else fails... Throw another megavolt across it!
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