 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
By Jim Trageser
A while back, I asked sysops who had switched from a BBS to a Web site to write in with their reasons for doing so. We got some interesting responses to that – and also the realization that many sysops are not making that move; instead, they're adding a Web site to their BBS and running both (see May 16 review of The Pisces Network).
Here are some of their thoughts:
Jeff Kratka, sysop of Wheel Werks (760/729-2884; http://www.wheelwerks.org) , writes: "I have been running a BBS in the North County for about three years and have had a Web site set up for about a year and a half. I do admit that my amount of daily calls has declined some, but things seem to be starting to pick up again. ... I think the Web and the local BBSs are starting to work together better than people think. I have had people who have connected to my Web site later call my BBS and have stayed good callers. ... I am pretty sure that the local BBS will stay around for awhile (I hope; I enjoy doing it), but will work with the Internet."
Another longtime sysop, Pinguino (like Cher, she has only one name), who now runs Penguin Palace (http://www.penguinpalace.com), wrote: "I've been modeming since I was 10, and have run Dimensional Vortex BBS and the Drawing Board BBS. ... A year ago, I added a Web design division to my publishing company and it's a lot more interesting than boards. I've always done VGA, which is practical for the Web and not for WWIV or Oblivion [BBS programs]. Pages have more color and coordination, and the material lasts longer. You can have more visitors' without dealing with lamers, yet keep interactivity with CGI scripting. ... BBSs are very limiting, and the number of good users who stay true to the board has also been cut down. ... I'm moving, though, and when I get stuff together I'm putting up a new board based on my comics. Why am I going to bother running a board? Why not. They'll probably last a few more years and are still more convenient locally than anything the 'Net can offer (besides files).
Rob Spahitz, host of the Star Wars trading cards home page and trivia game (http://members.aol.com/RSpahitz/starwars/starwars.htm), wrote of the decline of BBSs, that "this is somewhat the same as what happened when TV was introduced. People thought the radio was a goner! There was a mass migration because people could now actually see what they were hearing before. ... Of course, there's still a place for radio, and there'll probably still be a place for BBSs. ... Eventually, the BBSs will find their niche or perish; after all, radio is certainly not the same as it was 40 years ago.
Right after we reviewed the SDSU Web site back in January, the school upgraded the site significantly – and SDSU Communications Director Rick Moore wanted to encourage folks to stop back and visit again. The biggest improvement for visitors to SDSU is a customized clickable campus map option that lets you print out a map showing you how to find a specific site on campus – helpful if you're attending a lecture or concert and aren't familiar with the school.