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The Internet Versus The BBS
(Or, Why It Pays To Seek Out Your Options!)
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The Internet / Web |
A Typical BBS |
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Years of experience for the technology to
serve general public computing |
5 (at most) |
Approx. 20 |
|
Requires payment for access |
Almost always |
Sometimes |
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Possible to maintain steady data transfer
speed |
Very unlikely; depends on phone lines, other
users, etc. |
Usually; only affected by phone lines |
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Fellow audience |
Most of modernized societies around the world |
Local-to-you computer users |
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Able to bring together local users to share
ideas, info, etc. |
Yes |
Yes |
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Utilizes ability to bring local users
together |
No |
Yes |
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Offers multi-user online games |
Yes |
Yes |
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Offers extensive library of shareware and
freeware software |
Yes |
Yes |
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Easy to set up home computer as a host
(available 24 hours a day) |
No |
Yes |
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Requires expensive equipment to set up host
system |
Yes |
No |
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Offers access to the rapidly- deteriorating
Usenet newsgroups |
Yes |
Sometimes |
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Offers global e-mail service |
Yes |
Usually |
There are many ways that a local BBS community and the Internet overlap – but
there are also other ways that the local BBS community offers an experience that
cannot be (or simply is not) provided by the Internet.
The next time you’re feeling
bored as you wait for yet another poorly-designed Web page to appear in your
browser, consider taking a look at your local BBS community!
Ask at your local computer retailer for information on BBS’s
in your local dialing area. If they don’t know what a BBS is, or can’t give you
any help finding one, consider giving your business to a store that is more
informed about the computing industry!
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