response 26 of 86:

Nov 15 08:23 UTC 1994

Never heard of that UnivTowers thingie - tha's not too publlic
I think.
  
However, visible access in the University community (sted Towers)
will attract more people.  
  
Granted, the original idea was Grex-only. That may still be the
best idea. AS I was thinking through the arguemnts, though,
there would have to be a considerable bit of support PR on-site
in order to justify a single-destination terminal.

response 28 of 86:

Nov 15 12:53 UTC 1994

I'll ask some M-net folks to check in on this discussion.
I've always heard of the U-Towers setup as "terminals" and
I know at some point keeping access to these "open" was part
of the deal Mike Meyers had with Merit.

response 30 of 86:

Nov 16 04:01 UTC 1994

well, typing away from one of these much-ballyhooed-yet-highly-
overrated terminals here at U-T, I can say that, yes, they're
"open" in that one does not need Merit authorization in order to
connect to other hosts from the "Which Host?" prompt. They're
also definitely nothing other than terminals: no disk drives, 
monochrome monitors. The only ones that work are the CIT-101e's;
the Ontels are anybody's guess. Most of the users are U-M students
(as are the residents; funny how that works...) and use the terminals
to check their e-mail. I tend to use them for Grexing. When Linda
Clippert (of M-Net fame, I hear) came to the building to find the
modems I'd mentioned earlier, she logged onto M-Net from these
terminals (in fact, the one I'm at. How's that for trivia?).

Lobby doors are locked 24 hours a day. 

response 32 of 86:

Nov 16 14:53 UTC 1994

"Much-ballyhooed-yet-highly-overrated-terminals"...  Carson, I mentioned
they existed as I thought M-net's experience in keeping them up and
functional might somehow be helpful in a discussion of Grex opening
up remote access terminals.  Also, there was a feeling being touted
that Grex was going to be pulling off some coup here and in all fairness
to M-net it should be mentioned that they were doing something similar
way back in the computer middle-ages, mid-eighties.

Now, take a chill-pill and call me in the morning when we've installed
remote 486s in that cafe. ;-)

By the way, I think this type of outreach is a wonderful idea.  It will
suck up a whole lot of volunteer time but the concept is exciting.

response 34 of 86:

Nov 16 17:46 UTC 1994

hmm... the "overrated" comment was referring to U-T advertising
"24-hour computer access" or something like that. It's in the
window, but I'm not there right now. No offense meant, chelsea.

response 36 of 86:

Nov 17 19:02 UTC 1994

It was TS who originally proposed the "Coffeehouse" connection, even
though I posted the Item. I've discussed this project further with TS, and
found that I had misunderstood (or not asked the right questions) what TS
was originally proposing. This is that he, as a small business, intends to
make the contacts with the "coffeehouse" managers, and also provide all
the equipment. They will pay him for this, as well as for maintaining the
equipment. The site could then be a "public outlet" for information about
Grex and, of course, access to grex. TS is asking about our (Grex's)
interest in providing the publicity material. We could prepare the
material as we wish. It would be a good way to display some publicity
about Grex (not edited by The Observer). 

response 38 of 86:

Nov 18 20:24 UTC 1994

um, don't look now, but an open terminal at Southfield Public Library is
how I found you guys and gals in the first place. I suggest that if you
go through with this, something i encourage, that you install that
"hyperhelp" system quick!

response 40 of 86:

Nov 18 23:51 UTC 1994

Ture enough.

I'm going to start up on a protoype of a hypertext help page
this weekend.  When it's ready for public perusal, I'll make
it available to all.

response 42 of 86:

Nov 19 01:27 UTC 1994

So people feel it's ok for TS to be making money off of this Grex connection?

        Pattie

response 44 of 86:

Nov 19 03:44 UTC 1994

STeve is correct. I misunderstood TS's original suggestion. He is doing
this on his own, with no formal connection to Grex, and is inviting Grex
to make use of the opportunity for some publicity. The mention of money
does not affect this relation - any income to Grex would be a freely given
donation by TS to Grex, just as anyone else can donate money (and...please
do!). Please note that *anyone* can set up a terminal almost anywhere
(that someone will let them), and offer connection to any bbs, and charge
for it or not, as they wish or can. TS is to be thanked for the offer to
let Grex provide publicity materials at the same site. I presume he would
make the same offer to any bbs that asked. 

response 46 of 86:

Nov 19 11:36 UTC 1994

At this point it would be prudent from Grex to simply be a choice
among many that the terminal user makes and all of the "business" should
be between tsty and the shop owners.  I would hate to see Grex get
in the position of being at all liable for any abuse or misuse of the
equipment.  Grex doesn't carry any insurance.  Nadda.  So we should
be pretty careful in this area until we can afford to get coverage.

Also, business deals can sour pretty quickly and we certainly don't
want to be in the middle of a deal going bad for whatever reason.

I hope this works out for TS but, at this stage, I'd hate to see 
Grex involved even to the extent of endorsing the project to 
potential business owners.

response 48 of 86:

Nov 20 20:15 UTC 1994

I would presume/hope that a spot "on campus" would provide
a clientele that is +somewhat+ familiar with the basics of
computers - much more so than, say, (name withheld to avoid
implicating a geography without a high percentage of college
students-with-comuters).
  
Aside from that, with just a terminal, they couldn't download
except to the screen. They could, however, include a file in
email to themselves elsewhere .....
  
UM is pushing Pine and Pico for mail and editors and we are
certainly stable enough in that arena. And, we have stability
witht he conferences (which is primarily +why+ we want to get
more users, I think). 
  
Grex isn't a "download board" and even though we type    bbs   to
get to the conferences, I never refer to Grex as a "bbs." I 
always say "Grex is a conferencing system, with dozens of
conferences to join and discuss things."