From: tomh@wes.on.ca (Tom Haapanen)
Subject: RFD: comp.binaries.ms-windows moderated
Followup-To: news.groups
Organization: Waterloo Engineering Software
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 13:18:18 GMT

REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION
----------------------

NEWSGROUP
	comp.binaries.ms-windows (moderated)

PURPOSE 
	Distribution of binaries for the Microsoft Windows environment.

RATIONALE
	While it can be argued that a vast majority of Windows software
	could be posted to comp.binaries.ibm.pc, Windows postings in that
	group are relatively infrequent and drowned out by the volume of 
	MS-DOS-based software.  Meanwhile, sales of commercial Windows
	applications are about to exceed sales of MS-DOS applications for
	the first time, so the user base is there for Windows.

	A group dedicated to Windows software allows both users to find
	the type of software they are interested (Windows or MS-DOS) more
	easily, but also allows Usenet sites to be more selective should
	they not wish to carry both types.

	While there is an existing Windows-oriented FTP site (ftp.cica.-
	indiana.edu), a large proportion of net users do not have FTP
	access.  Further, even for those who do have access, it is often
	not easy to find the recent postings at cica, or to determine
	the contents of many anonymous FTP submissions.  A moderated
	binaries group would provide a controlled volume of binaries
	widely accessible to everyone at a reasonable cost.

	Finally, the Windows FAQ postings (which I maintain) are now in
	a binary WinHelp format.  While this radically improves useability,
	it does increase the size of the postings.  It is questionable
	whether the 200K FAQ postings should be regularly appear in the
	Windows discussion groups, but there is currently no appropriate
	newsgroup where it would be easy for Windows users to locate them.

CONTENT
	I propose that following types for postings should be acceptable:
	    - Windows applications (freeware and shareware)
	    - Windows device drivers
	    - Windows development tools and libraries
	    - WinHelp format FAQ postings
	
	The following items should not be accepted for posting:
	    - Copyrighted material
	    - Demos of commercial products
	
	Acceptable target platforms should include Windows 3.x, Windows NT
	(both Intel and RISC platforms), Pen Windows and Windows for Work-
	groups.

NAME
	While comp.binaries.ms-windows fits in with current usage (for
	example, comp.binaries.os2), other possibilities will be considered.

MODERATOR
	No volunteer yet -- please contact tomh@wes.on.ca if you are
	willing and interested in this task.

NEWSGROUP CREATION
	The discussion period will be from October 10, 1992 to October 31,
	1992.  Please post all discussion in news.groups.

	If a consensus is reached and a moderator is found by the end of
	the discussion period, a CFV (Call for Votes) will be posted at
	that time.  The voting period will last for 21 days.
-- 
[ \tom haapanen    "i don't even know what street canada is on" -- al capone ]
[ tomh@wes.on.ca                   "trust the programmer" -- ansi c standard ]
[ waterloo engineering software      "to thine own self be true" -- polonius ]
Newsgroups: news.announce.newgroups,news.groups,soc.culture.pakistan,soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.bangladesh,soc.culture.indian,rec.arts.poems