BBS in a Box 4

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Text File | 1988-12-29 | 10.9 KB | 209 lines | [TEXT/MACA]

N E W P R O D U C T A N N O U N C E M E N T ! ! ! ----------------------------------------------------- 12/27/88 This is to announce the impending release of Red Ryder Host version 2.0. The software, user manual, and testing have all been completed, and we will begin shipping this product just as soon as the user manuals come back from the printer (approx. 1 week). The suggested retail price of this product is $135, and it will be available to new customers at that price upon its release directly from The FreeSoft Company. We anticipate dealer packaging and availability in the 2nd quarter of 1988. Version 2.0 represents over a year of new development from version 1.4a. A full list of the new features would be exhaustive, but here are a few of the most significant: + Supports desk accessories + Supports and runs in the background under MultiFinder. + Up to 255 message base categories, with sysop definable message length for each category of up to 400 lines. + Support for network mail applications. One such application that will be available from Michael Connick coinciding with the release of Red Ryder Host 2.0 will enable sysops to participate in the international FidoNet network. More details about this application will be released here soon. + Message reading capabilities now include full support of subject threads. + File transfer listings now include number of downloads, date/time of last download, and an expanded 10-line description. + A new form of Survey File which allows you to tally selections, making it possible to have Survey Files used for such things as voting and quizzing. + Survey File commands added for displaying Text Files in a variety of ways and for formatting the Responses file for importation to a database or spreadsheet application. + New "Quote Of The Day" with sysop definable quotes. + Support of 1K-block XMODEM for file transfers. + Support for up to 19,200 baud modems. + User time limits may now be enforced over a number of hours. + Time spent chatting to the sysop or uploading files may now be credited to a caller's time limit. + A "three minute warning" is displayed before a caller's time limit expires. + Sysop may now decline to accept 300 baud calls. + Added support for two new automatic Text File displays. NEWUSER.MSG is optionally displayed to a new user the first time they log on, and LOGOFF.MSG is optionally displayed each time a user logs off. + Gateway commands added to allow access to downloading for only those users that maintain a certain upload to download ratio. + Ability to keep track of the cumulative number of calls the system has logged in. + For reading or scanning messages, user may now additionally read messages starting with the highest message number last read. + Ability to search for messages based on subject content. + 24 restriction flags added to each user record, menu command, and message category to further delineate who can access what. It is now possible to give different access levels to two users with the same clearance levels based on the settings of these flags. + New menu commands added that allow downloading while listing files, with the listing continuing after the download. + A faster way of alerting users that they have received messages since their last call has been implemented. If they haven't, they don't have to endure the delay for searching. + Added a proprietary file transfer protocol for use with high-speed and/or error correcting modems. This protocol will be fully exploited in version 11 of Red Ryder (this isn't an announcement of that product, so don't ask). + A brand new fully illustrated (and printed!) user manual. Existing Red Ryder Host sysops will also be pleased to hear that there are conversion utilities for all of your existing data files - nothing has to be ditched or redone in order to move from version 1.4a to 2.0! U P D A T E I N F O R M A T I O N ----------------------------------- Red Ryder Host has been distributed in a number of ways. First, for a brief period, an early version was given away as a premium to those who purchased Red Ryder. Then, on March 1, 1987, a much improved version was released alone as a commercial product. After much consideration, I have decided to offer updating discounts to those who: A) Purchased the commercial version of Red Ryder Host. B) Purchased Red Ryder during (not before or after) the premium offer. This period began with version 8.0 of Red Ryder and expired on March 1, 1987 during the tenure of version 9.4. Both of these groups have one thing in common - they have a Red Ryder Host master disk (possibly two). Although I did make Red Ryder Host available for downloading from The FreeSoft RoundTable to those who had purchased Red Ryder prior to version 8.0, I did this without any committment to providing future updates, and the obstacles to providing updates to this group haven proven insurmountable. I honestly feel bad about this, but on the other hand, something for nothing can't last forever. For those who fall into this category, I apologize for not being able to extend a discount and hope you'll understand. The discount is 75% off of the suggested retail price. Here is what you must do in order to qualify for the discount. 1) We need the Red Ryder Host master disk you received from us. There's no if's, and's, or but's about this. If you don't have the original master disk, you don't qualify for the discount unless you can show us proof (cancelled check, or record of credit card payment) that you purchased the commercial version. If you received the very early premium version, you got two master disks. We need them both. If you received the later premium version or the commercial version, you have one master disk with packed files. 2) Enclose a check for $33.75 in U.S funds. If you are in the United States, postage will be paid for by The FreeSoft Company. If you are in Canada, enclose an extra $5.00 for postage and custom forms handling. If you are in neither the United States or Canada, enclose an extra $10.00 for postage and customs forms handling. Please note - we can accept only United States funds drawn on a United States Bank. If you don't have a U.S. bank account, we can accept either an International Postal Money Order (made out in U.S. funds), or a Visa or MasterCard account number. If you go with the credit card, please enclose the account number, expiration date, and signature authorizing us to charge that account. 3) Address the package to: The FreeSoft Company, 150 Hickory Drive, Beaver Falls, PA 15010. On the lower left hand corner of the package face, write the words: "HOST 2.0 UPDATE REQUEST". 4) We'll get it back to you as quickly as we can, but in the worst case, please allow 4-6 weeks for shipping. Remember that we have not yet received the manuals back from the printer, and won't start shipping until we do. It would be to your advantage, however, to get a place in line by sending your update request as soon as possible. Because of the volume of orders we expect to receive, we must ask that the above 4 steps be followed EXPLICITLY. We won't be able to search through reams of back orders to find yours. I will not be available to discuss problems you have with the updating policy and those that will be won't have the authority to make any exceptions. You either qualify for the discount by the terms above, or you don't. I think this is by far the fairest policy I could come up to benefit the greatest number of people. The people who were involved in the beta test don't need to send anything in. They'll be receiving complimentary copies (and my sincere gratitude) hot off the press. Please make sure Norm Goodger has your proper mailing address. Finally, I'd like to thank everyone for their patience while we hammered out the final glitches and added the last few features. I'm sure you'll find this product exceeds all of your expectations ironed out the final glitches ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tabby - A FidoNet Program for the Macintosh Tabby is a program which will allow Macintosh BBS's to send and receive mail and files over FidoNet networks, and participate in EchoMail Conferences. All this is done over regular telephone lines, allowing communication virtually any where in the country, even the world. FidoNet is a communications protocol which allows personal computers to communicate with each other over ordinary dial-up telephone lines. FidoNet is designed to allow the transfer of mail and attached files between BBS's or individual users. The FidoNet protocol is used by the FidoNet network of over 4,000 personal computers and the AlterNet network of over 400 computers. Tabby is fully compatible with the FidoNet protocol and uses it to perform its communications tasks with other systems on a network. EchoMail is a way of sharing public messages between multiple computers using FidoNet. A group of machines participating in sharing news of a similar topic in EchoMail is referred to as a Conference. When a news article is posted on one machine it is automatically sent out to all the other machines participating in that news conference. Tabby offers complete support for EchoMail conferencing. Hundreds of public EchoMail conferences are now is existance. They range from "ABLED" which deals with issues of the handicapped through "ZYMURGY" which deals with the art of making beer. Currently there are about 10 active public EchoMail conference detailing with Macintosh-related subjects, with more being created every month. These conferences cover such topics as HyperCard, Mac software development, general Mac discussions, and Mac BBS's. There's even an EchoMail conference devoted to Tabby. Additional versions of Tabby are under development, including a standalone "point" system which will allow users who are not running a BBS program to participate in FidoNet. The Red Ryder Host version of Tabby is currently available at an introductory price of $39.95. Tabby can be ordered from: ME Connick and Company PO Box 307 Bradley Beach, NJ 07720 This information will be located in the software library as a file for download. And in Category 1 of the bulletin board. List the topics in Category 1 to locate the topic if you with a TOP command if need be to locate the Announcement topic. Its finally here..../ ----- I forgot to mention: Pennsylvania residents _must_ include 6% sales tax on all orders. Also, please read the following if you received version 8.0 without a Host master disk. Footnote: Category 2, Topic 1 Message 210 Thu Dec 29, 1988 SCOTTW at 15:05 EST I had forgotten about this, but there actually were a few people we sent 8.0 out to that didn't get the Host disk. If you are one of these, give me (Scott Watson) a call at (412)846-2700 between 2pm-5pm EST Mon-Fri and I'll give you a special Update Authorization Number. Because we'll have to do record searchs on these few people, be sure you know when (at least the month/year) when you placed your order. S.W.