From: forrie@morwyn.uucp (Forrie Aldrich)
Subject: comp.sys.3b1, fading away?
Organization: Vision Graphics
              Dover NH
              USA
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 20:41:18 GMT

I read the article posted recently regarding concern that this group might
be fading away, etc. etc., and would like to offer my 00.02 cents...

Unfortunately, yes, we lack the level of support we once had from great
guys like Lenny, Thad, and whomever else... I definately miss the
interaction and contributions they provided.   We still have some very
good people here, and that should not be overlooked.  And regardless
of each person's capability to 'contribute' and 'take' (I kind of resent
that comment), some of us, admittedly myself, are just not as technically
adept as others, and therefore don't really have that much to contribute
in terms of software support etc.  But we can all give what we can, and
appreciate that which is given, through whatever means.  This is
how we must continue our support structure, by helping and supporting
one another.  This newsgroup has noticably deteriorated in comparison to 
activity levels seen previously.  I certainly HOPE it doesn't die out as
badly as projected... we'll all be up the creek without a paddle.

The reality is that the 3b1 is an old machine.  It has been outcast and
replaced by better technology.  Many people who are fortunate enough to
have the funds have moved to bigger and better platforms.  I know that
if I had the money, I would buy a better machine at the drop of a hat. I
love my 3b1, but it's not capable of supporting the types of applications
I wish to utilize, and it's frustrating.  God, I don't know how LONG I've
been trying to get things to work with this Wollongong (bong bong bong)
networking package.  There have been nights where I wanted to toss this
out the window.  You can only get so much from this machine.  And I
don't really see that there will be significant hardware mods to change
this.  Even if there were the appropriate level of support, I don't think
it would be worthwhile in the long run, as much as I would like to see it.
We'd need to set up a lab comparable to Dr. Frankenstein's...
(hey, how about a parallel processing board for this machine? ;)

Talks about porting some flavor/variant of BSD, adding combo boards, et al,
is excellent, and I look forward to hearing more about them.  Also, the
possibility that we would have (however limited, and we certainly haven't
heard anything more about it) access to 3b1 src code will give us more
ability to really 'fix' and customize things.  It's nice to hear about
other 'ideas' and the such... who knows, maybe things will pick up a bit
and we'll have some interesting things to hack up the machine with.

The 3b1 is, however, a good machine for someone who wishes to start learning
and playing with Unix.  This machine may be older, but it is capable.  Heck,
this is my FIRST Unix box!  Up until I purchased this, I had to deal with
MessDOS and access Unix on mainframes occaisonally.  I've had this machine
for years, and I have learned a _lot_ from it.  Despite the prices this
machine first saw (which were outrageous, as AT&T stuff is anyways), it's
now a good low-budget workhorse. 

If I live to see the day where I can get a better machine, I don't know if
I will readily dump my 3b1... it's a part of the family! ;)

Just my .02 ...
-- 
	   -----------	      Forrest Aldrich	      -----------
	   -------     morwyn!forrie@unhtel.unh.edu	  -------
	   ----						     ----
	   --	     VISION GRAPHICS --	Dover, NH - USA	       --
	   ------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: comp.sys.3b1,unix-pc.general