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Grex > Coop6 > #83: UM-goMlink to start charging: We need to expand: We need more paying members | |
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| Author |
Message |
| 25 new of 142 responses total. |
rcurl
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response 75 of 142:
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Jan 23 16:40 UTC 1995 |
Ha Ha. Like you have access to fish in the lakes and streams.
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danr
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response 76 of 142:
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Jan 24 22:08 UTC 1995 |
Tim would not be eligible to run for the board as he is no longer
a member.
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bjt
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response 77 of 142:
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Jan 24 23:37 UTC 1995 |
Please list some dial in phone numbers to Grexso, if we decide th LD charges
are not to extreme, we can dial in after merit and NAS starts charging.
Thanks. Hope this does not end the association of those of us relying
on Michnet!
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scg
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response 78 of 142:
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Jan 25 02:19 UTC 1995 |
Grex's dialin number is (313) 761-3000.
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carson
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response 79 of 142:
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Jan 25 22:56 UTC 1995 |
which will connect you to the first available line. you only have to
remember one number! isn't that nice?
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peacefrg
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response 80 of 142:
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Jan 26 00:39 UTC 1995 |
I'm sorry guys, I've read through this whole entry a couple of times
and I still dont understand what's happening.
Could somebody just sum it up in a few words. Are we losing access?
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aruba
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response 81 of 142:
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Jan 26 02:19 UTC 1995 |
Re #77: You can get a complete list of Grex's phone numbers by entering
!phones
at any picospan prompt.
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rcurl
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response 82 of 142:
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Jan 26 05:48 UTC 1995 |
Re #80: we are slowly losing free access means. The only way to lose
access, of course, is for grex to disappear, which is not planned. There
are numerous things you may need to pay for, to obtain access: a computer
and accessories; a telephone or computer account, or network server
access; a place to put your hardware; software; food and drink;
time;...you name it. So, what do you mean by "lose access"?
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popcorn
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response 83 of 142:
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Jan 26 05:50 UTC 1995 |
The point is that many people around Michigan get to Grex via Michnet.
The rumor mill has been saying for several months that Michnet is going
to shut down access for non-paying members Really Soon Now. Evidently
the most recent rumor (possibly a true one) is that Michnet access might
shut down in February.
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rcurl
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response 84 of 142:
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Jan 26 06:28 UTC 1995 |
I understand that, but I'm suggesting that isn't as important as some
are making it seem, as access will still be readily obtained, but
perhaps with a cost that is *still* only a small fraction of the cost
of everything else they need in order to use access. It reminds me of
the people that will pay anything to get something for free.
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kt8k
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response 85 of 142:
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Jan 26 06:34 UTC 1995 |
I guess I (and maybe others) feel differently about paying a "one time"
charge for our equipment etc. as compared with a subscription or
on-line time charge. The latter can get out of hand all too easily.
(see the item on Ameritech's system earlier in this Agora? Yikes!)
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rcurl
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response 86 of 142:
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Jan 26 07:16 UTC 1995 |
That was just a bad choice. There are more economical ways. I understand
what you mean Tim, by feeling differently about capital investment and
running charges. That's why *assiduously avoid* calculating the
steady depreciation costs of the computer equipment and software that
I purchase.
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chi1taxi
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response 87 of 142:
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Jan 26 12:17 UTC 1995 |
I just price out internet providers for work: the best was America On Line.
$9.95/month including 5 hours on line time. Additional hours $2.95 each.
10 hours free in the first 30 days. Software free. They will have telnet
& WWW 3/31/95. AOL phone is 800-827-6364, at first option press 1, second
option press 3, and you'll get a salesman. But then I've just sold you, so
you can listen to the options for the one for you to order a membership
application sent to you.
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steve
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response 88 of 142:
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Jan 26 17:36 UTC 1995 |
(Bill, check out IC-Net: for $30/mo you get 30 hours of slip/ppp
access, with additional hours at $2/hr. I think thats better than AOL).
Check with IC-Net for actual details.)
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pegasus
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response 89 of 142:
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Jan 26 17:50 UTC 1995 |
Bill,
If you join AOL, please stop by our forum (keyword CONNECT) and say hi!
<grin>
Pattie
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sidhe
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response 90 of 142:
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Jan 26 20:37 UTC 1995 |
Listen, the problem is simple:
Many people who rely on MichNet for free access will no longer
be able to use it. To some, this is no big deal <especially if you are
already paying for a commercial online service, that provides telnet>.
To others of us <and the number, you'll find is quite large>, however,
it means serious trouble. If none of you have noticed, commercial online
services can add up quickly. I, for one, have to support myself and my
wife on a total income of under US$16,000 a year. To do this,
and pay some online service for all the time that I spend on here would
be absolutely infeasible. Hell, I've yet to work out where I'm going
to get US$60 a year, to become a member, and don't laugh! My budget is
truly that tight.
The only option for me is to try and find a local BBS that provides net
access for free <even if they don't know that they do>. Sad but true.
So, while it is an inevitable fact that MichNet is closing its'
freeway, and there isn't anything that you can do to help, really, at
least don't sit there and be smug about it. It hurts, you know?
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robh
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response 91 of 142:
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Jan 26 22:06 UTC 1995 |
I'm not being smug, sidhe. I don't even make as much
as you do per year, and if it weren't for Grex, I probably
couldn't afford anything remotely resembling Internet
access. I'd like to find a way to keep our doors
open to all of the users we currently have. I'd like to see
some discussion of ways we can do that. I, for one, am
flummoxed, unless we decide to join Merit.
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scg
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response 92 of 142:
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Jan 27 02:15 UTC 1995 |
re 88:
If ICNet's only allowing 30 hours of connect time for $30 per
month, and then charging $2 per hour after that, then Merit (I think the price
I've seen quoted is $35 per month for people with no school affiliation)
would be *a lot* cheaper for anybody who spends anywhere neear as much
time on line as I do. Now is one of those times when I feel very glad
that my job comes with merit access.
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peacefrg
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response 93 of 142:
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Jan 27 02:17 UTC 1995 |
Oh okay, I understand now. That would suck if we lost access to the internet.
But since it's only a rumor I'm not worried. There seems to be a new rumor
on the net every week.
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chi1taxi
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response 94 of 142:
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Jan 27 02:49 UTC 1995 |
I'm still going w. AOL. $30./mo. scares me. I'm a local call to Grex, but
it's so unreliable, if I continue w. my plans to develop a business of my
own I'll need a reliable source for e-mail and reading the planning and
transportation news groups. As long as one can *sometimes* get into grex, you
don't need 30 hours of expensive access.
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scg
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response 95 of 142:
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Jan 27 03:57 UTC 1995 |
I'm afraid this may be more than just a rumor. Try typing "help" at
Merit's Which Host? prompt, and you can probably follow their menus to the
official news on the situation. If you're going through an NAS, help will
probably work from the Host: prompt. If it doesn't, type hermes.merit.edu
to get to the "Which Host?" prompt.
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danr
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response 96 of 142:
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Jan 27 12:32 UTC 1995 |
re #94: Before you sign up with AOL, Bill, I suggest that you keep a log
of how much time you actually spend on line. at $3/hour after the first
five hours, it will be easy to rack up bills of more than $30/month.
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chi1taxi
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response 97 of 142:
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Jan 27 12:38 UTC 1995 |
Thanks for the tip, Dan. It looks like our problems on Grex are getting
cleared up now. I guess it comes down to whether it's going to be extremely
difficult to get via phone after Merit shuts us out. Maybe I can get by
logging in during the wee hours, and won't need a second source.
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kentn
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response 98 of 142:
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Jan 27 14:48 UTC 1995 |
Persistence when dialing is a good thing...auto-redial helps a lot.
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sidhe
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response 99 of 142:
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Jan 27 15:07 UTC 1995 |
I apologize, rob.. I wasn't trying to imply YOU were being smug.
Keep in mind that my salary figure suports TWO people, and is
the total household income I have to work with.
Now, as for MichNet.. it's no rumor, they are closing the gates,
and soon. As of february 15th, you will no longer be allowed to telnet
into hermes.merit.edu to go elsewhere, and that is step one in the system
closing its' frre access.
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