From: alasnik@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Adam Lasnik)
Subject: Re: PRODIGY New and improved STILL SUCKS, HORRIBLE as before
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 04:43:58 GMT

In <1993Jan26.202207.26522@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> msilverm@nyx.cs.du.edu (Mike Silverman) writes:

>The message areas on it suck!
>(who cares - thats what Internet is for!)

I beg to differ.  Read my comments further down.

>Only 30 mail messages a month
>(only for Prodigy communications...everywhere else, use the Net)

Prodigy used to offer unlimited e-mail, but their old administration quelled
this for a number of reasons, mostly bad ones.  I won't deny it... I think the
30-'free' deal sucks.  However, Prodigy has announced plans for a new,
improved, and less expensive off-line mail package within the next three
months.  Also, this new mail system will allow e-mail exchange with the
internet.

>No downloadable software
>(use sumex-aim, or America Online)

This ain't true.  While I think their "custom choice" Ziffnet option is a
rip-off, many people DO use it and enjoy it for software downloading.

>With these negative aspects, why use Prodigy at all?
>Mostly for updated news and sports highlights, and political info.

And what incredible news and politics databases there are!!!  EVERY major
political speech made in the U.S. over the last 6 months.  Daily columns from
famous political pundits.  Immediate Accu-weather forecasts.  NO other service
offers such in-depth news and politics coverage for a flat fee.  Period.

>As for their censorship, sure it's wrong, but they also have the
>right to do it, since they are a prvate company. Anyway, if you
>have access to the Net, why read Prodigy's discussion areas at all?

Regarding their censorship... yes, they do it, but not to the extent you (or
others) imply.  You may not sell goods, use profanity, or sexually harrass
other members on the boards.  ALMOST everything else goes.  Discussions range
from "Prodigy Sucks!" to "Lesbian Orgy Rituals"... I'd hardly suggest that
these titles are the product of a hard-handed censorship policy.

My biggest disagreement with your assertions, however, is with your
implication that the internet is totally better and more exciting than the
Prodigy bulletin boards.  Frankly, I think the internet can't compete with the
diversity of members found on Prodigy's boards.  While the male-to-female
ratio as well as the computer geek-to-nongeek ratio may be skewed on the
Internet, it is NOT so on Prodigy.  Prodigy's boards even occasionally offer
more depth and breadth than internet newsgroups... topics such as Parenting,
Novice computer communications, and teen life boast a much fuller
representation on Prodigy than on any other system I've seen.

You can laugh (or scoff) at the Prodigy graphics, and even sneer at the
commercialization of the network, but it's rather harder to truly dismiss in
an intelligently critical fashion.

As I've said before, I honestly believe that Prodigy is the on-line service of
the future.

Even with the current condition of IBM and Sears <grin>

--ADAM "KEYS" LASNIK from Northwestern University
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.autos.driving