[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: BBS packages/replies
In <Bxt8MF.2K5@darkside.osrhe.uoknor.edu> dsdd@okcforum.osrhe.uoknor.edu
(Roy Barrett) writes:
>Morgan, ttyth, Proline costs $250, and I really don't see the point of it. Why
>don't you explain to me why it's so great.. ;) (I think it was $250)
It's $259.95. Normally, I avoid answering questions like this because I can't
do my product justice without gushing about it, and when you gush about
your own product, people don't really believe you (which is sad, because
I only tell the truth).
So, what I will do is post the ProLine System Information file which is
written in a matter-of-fact tone, no heavy sales pitch. Plus, I'll follow
up with a few letters I've received from ProLine users and owners over the
years. Their words do it great justice. My apologies to the net for
what surely will be a lengthy article. Feel free to hit your cancel key
if you've read enough.
You might also want to read some reviews that were written about
ProLine. The most recent is this December's inCider/A+ which rates
ProLine as "top notch" and gives it a full five-star rating. The now
discontinued II Sysops magazine ran a lengthy review in their final
issue (II Sysops chose to run ProLine as their support BBS, which is a
testament in itself). Apple2000 (a UK-based Apple II and Macintosh
publication with world-wide distribution) included an exceptionally
glowing review last year.
Over the years, various companies have selected ProLine as the BBS they
would run for customer support (with its Internet accessibility, it only
makes sense): Applied Engineering, Beagle Bros, Roger Wagner Publishing,
Resource-Central, Carolina Systems, Quality Computers, and others I've
probably forgotten. Many user groups embrace ProLine as well, including
the Boston Computer Society and Washington Apple Pi. Businesses and
user groups require professional and reliable software, because they're
providing a service. A system that is buggy, crashes, or requires lots
of attention to keep it running is totally unacceptable.
Now, with that preface, here's the ProLine System Information file that
describes ProLine's features and abilities. Following this are some
excellent letters and messages I've received that really give ProLine
the credit it deserves, in words that I can't say myself.
_____________________________________________________________________________
P R O L I N E
_____________________________________________________________________________
Communications Network Software
for the Apple II Computer
Copyright (C) 1984-1992 Morgan Davis Group
All Rights Reserved
What Is ProLine?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The ProLine BBS is a networked electronic-mail and conferencing
system. It is the most sophisticated BBS ever created for the
Apple computer. Fashioned after a UNIX system, it provides the most
flexible implementation available for networked mail, news, public
conferencing, file exchange, and private electronic mail. But, don't
let the word "UNIX" scare you away. ProLine's sophistication puts a
friendly face on a powerful system. It is well-suited for the first-
time sysop operator, yet the experienced operator never outgrows it.
ProLine is infinitely expandable and personally customizable. Adding
a new command or feature is trivial, and well-documented. With automatic
task scheduling, your system is maintained with no intervention
required. Installing ProLine is a painless 30 minute session. Once it
is set up, your Apple IIe or IIGS can become a portal of information.
At the heart of every ProLine system is ModemWorks, a
communications toolbox for creating modem-based applications. The
powerful features and long-standing reliability of ModemWorks provides
ProLine with a solid foundation, easy to understand, effortless to
maintain and customize.
Networking
~~~~~~~~~~
Whether your world consists of club members, classrooms, or
continents, ProLine brings people together. No longer must your BBS
serve only a handful of callers in your neighborhood. Networking, the
hallmark of modern bulletin board systems, is ProLine's finest
feature. It gives you the ability to send messages, programs, and any
other kind of file to users on computers across town or around the
world. Each day, megabytes of information are routinely exchanged
throughout the ProLine network using a transfer system that ensures
files are received perfectly.
ProLines can talk to more than just themselves. With electronic
"gateways", ProLine exchanges mail with other hosts, such as UNIX
computers. This opens up an entire world of information sources, giving
ProLine users the ability to access a host of networks known
collectively as the "Internet". The Internet is host to online
discussions (called newsgroups) on an amazingly diverse range of
subjects--thousands of groups in all. Through the Internet, ProLine can
even exchange mail with commercial information services such as
America Online, AppleLink, BIX, CompuServe and MCI Mail.
Becoming part of the ProLine network is optional, but there are
many advantages to being networked. Software can be distributed
directly over the network. You have instant access to Apple
Computer, Inc., developer technical support, Claris Corporation, APDA
(Apple Programmers and Developers Association), third party software and
hardware companies, user groups, and full customer support for your
ProLine software.
Network access is free; there is no charge for using the Internet.
The only expense you incur is your normal telephone bill.
Features
~~~~~~~~
Each user of ProLine has a personal filing area in which to store
files. Users can set the security level for their areas in order to
allow sharing of files with other system members.
Users have the option of interfacing with ProLine through a friendly
menu, or by using an extremely powerful command-line interface.
ProLine includes terminal emulation and a variety of user-definable
terminal settings. Over 20 standard terminals can be thoroughly
emulated on the host and remote ends (including ANSI, VT-220, VT-102,
VT-100 and others). This makes ProLine available to users of all types
of computers, and allows total control from a remote location.
Full accounting is maintained. The system operator can adjust the
total minutes allotted per month to each user, number of inactive days
before automatic or manual removal, and an optional per-minute charge
for each member of the system. Users can get up-to-the-minute accounting
reports, and the operator can review detailed statistics about system
usage at any time, complete with bar charts.
Mail
~~~~
Each ProLine member has a personal mailbox. The size and number of
letters in a mailbox is limited only by the amount of free disk space.
ProLine allows users to send "carbon copies" and "blind carbon copies"
of a letter to multiple recipients, as well as forward private messages
to others. Users can move messages from the mailbox to files, and can
send files from disk to another account, locally or remotely. Binary
files can be mailed to users of the local system, or to distant ProLine
systems through the network.
The ProLine mail system includes these and many other features:
o User-defined variables for shortcut typing
o Automatically generates return paths when answering network mail
o Attaches a personal "signature" file to the end of each message
o Distribution lists
o A smart router that supports Internet domains and smart-hosts
o Full Usenet news batching, unbatching and redistribution
Conferencing
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Conference System is the heart of ProLine. Members discuss
topics of interest in organized public or private forums, called
conferences. Within each conference are subtopics that further organize
conferences into related areas. Users may join only the conferences and
topics that interest them.
Conferences are governed by sysop-appointed moderators, in charge
of maintaining their areas to keep things running smoothly. Moderators
can create public, private and read-only topics allowing selective
access to topics by system members.
Upon entering the Conference System, the user is presented with a
summary of new messages in the topic areas subscribed to. Each new
message can be shown by simply pressing RETURN. The conference system
takes the user from one conference to the next in order to read the all
new messages. Although the Conference System is designed to encourage
participation, it allows users to bulk-capture new messages for
those who call long distance or are on time schedules.
Users can enter new messages (the size limited only by disk space)
or contributed to ongoing discussions. When a message is added to a
full topic area, the Conference System automatically purges the oldest
message. This makes running a large conferencing system completely
self-maintaining. When messages are added to a networked conference,
copies are sent to remote systems through the network, so that
discussions can be freely exchanged with computer enthusiasts outside of
the local community.
Data Library
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The ProLine Data Library provides powerful features with a logical
and friendly interface not found on any other system. Opening the Data
Library is just like walking into a real library. Items are organized
by sections, making it easy to search for files you're interested in
based on title, filename, or keyword. You can even list new items
posted since your last visit.
Uploads can be cross-referenced with more than one section,
eliminating the need to post copies of a file to multiple areas in the
library. The file is linked to a descriptive "card catalog" entry,
describing the file. To ensure that only legal and virus-free programs
are kept, new uploads are placed "on hold", inaccessible to callers,
until verified by the librarian.
With a powerful full-screen library maintenance program, the Data
Library can be customized to the librarian's needs and requirements.
Online Editors
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many areas of ProLine use the system's full-screen or line-oriented
text editors to make changes or corrections to letters and messages.
The editors can work with documents containing over 25,000 characters.
They feature search and replace, wordprocessor-like word wrap,
word-delete, line-cancel, insert and overstrike modes, cut and paste,
and other powerful editing capabilities.
The editors also allow you to edit any text file in your area,
append a file from your area into the editor's buffer, insert and delete
lines, and undo mistakes. These editors are used by all areas of the
system, locally and remotely, so users need only learn one set of
editing commands.
Command Shell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Users have the choice of two worlds in which to interact with
ProLine. In one, the system appears to be an easy to use BBS with a menu
system for entering commands. Under that pleasant exterior, however, is
an exceptionally powerful environment. This environment is designed
after the UNIX C-Shell.
The C-Shell supports shell variables, command aliases, and
executable shell scripts. C-Shell scripts use IF-THEN-ELSE logic to
control command execution, access command line arguments, and can be
used in conjunction with other utilities to create impressive customized
shell applications. Users can write their own scripts to personalize or
automate their online sessions.
The shell also provides full directory protection settings for all areas
on the system so that the operator can assign public directories, or mark off
areas that have any combination of read, write, execute, or destroy
permissions for users.
All the popular UNIX commands are supported with over 130 commands in
all, and more always coming. Best of all, the operator can add new commands
from Applesoft programs -- no funny business with compilers or strange
installation software. If you can write a BASIC program in Applesoft, you can
expand your ProLine system as you desire. No assembly language expertise or a
degree in computer science is needed. You can even run existing BASIC programs
with very little modification (even those having complex array and string
handling--a limitation of other bulletin board systems for the Apple II).
The C-Shell also includes these features:
o Each user has a customizable "login" script
o Output redirection to a printer or file
o Scrolling command line history
o Shell nesting
o ...and much more.
Even though ProLine is the most sophisticated BBS for the Apple, these
tools make it easier to operate and maintain than even the simplest
bulletin board systems.
The ProLine Reference Manual
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Such a thorough system warrants comprehensive documentation. This
is why ProLine comes with the ProLine Reference Manual, over 320 pages
in length. The text of the manual is also stored online, and is
available to callers. Each manual section is clearly written and
formatted with exceptional detail. ProLine can display all or any part
of the entire system manual to a dot-matrix printer with underlining and
pagination. Or, the output can be generated in PostScript format for
high-quality printing on a laser printer. Output can even be directed
into files for downloading and printing offline.
Other Features And Support
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ProLine is easy to install, and can be placed into any directory on
your hard disk. It takes only a few minutes.
ProLine can be operated entirely by remote control--you don't actually
have to be at the host computer to maintain it. ProLine even allows the
system operator to enter into Applesoft BASIC for complete control from a
remote terminal.
With networking, you're always in touch with experienced operators,
including Morgan Davis, author of ProLine. If that isn't enough, ProLine
operators contribute their own applications to the network. You won't
find this quality support with any other BBS. By purchasing ProLine,
you invest in a product that becomes increasingly more valuable, and as
a result, more rewarding.
System Requirements
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
o Apple IIe, Apple IIGS, or Mac LC w/IIe Card
o Hard disk
o Clock card (IIe only)
o 800K 3.5" drive
o External modem and
o Super Serial card (or work-alikes), or
o Apple IIGS built-in port
o Or, internal Hayes-compatible modems such as
o Applied Engineering DataLink series
o Epic Technologies series.
o Optional hardware supported:
o High-speed modem
o AppleTalk network
o RAM disk
o Laser printer
o Dot matrix printer
o Joy stick
Ordering Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ProLine comes with:
(1) ProLine Reference Manual
(1) ProLine Tools Disk (800K)
(2) ProLine Data Disks (800K)
(1) Product Registration Card
If you're interested in this powerful product, we strongly urge you
to call our ProLine for a live, out of the box demonstration. Don't
hesitate to contact us if you require more details. Call to place a
C.O.D. or purchase order.
Morgan Davis Group
10079 Nuerto Lane
Rancho San Diego
California 91977-7132
Customer Support: +1 619/670-0563
FAX: +1 619/670-9643
24 Hour ProLine BBS: +1 619/670-5379, 300-9600bps, V.32, V.42bis
(Call to find ProLine systems in your area)
_____________________________________________________________________________
P R O L I N E O R D E R F O R M
_____________________________________________________________________________
Quantity Description Price Total
~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~
________ ProLine $259.95 __________
________ ModemWorks* 89.95 __________
________ MD-BASIC* 89.95 __________
~~~~~~~~~~
Subtotal: __________
Californians add sales tax: __________
Shipping (2-day Priority Mail): __________
($5 in USA & Canada, $15 overseas) ~~~~~~~~~~
Amount Total: __________
Computer:____________________ Modem:______________ Speed:_________
Name:_____________________________________________________________
Address:__________________________________________________________
City:_________________________________ State:______ ZIP:__________
Phone (Day):_______________________ (Eve):________________________
Make check or money order payable to:
Morgan Davis Group
10079 Nuerto Lane
Rancho San Diego
California 91977-7132
* Those inclined to tinker and customize are urged to order the
optional ModemWorks and MD-BASIC packages with complete programming
documentation. ModemWorks is the communications toolbox that drives
ProLine. MD-BASIC, a structured programming environment for developing
Applesoft programs, makes writing ProLine applications a breeze. These
products are optional, but extremely helpful when enhancing or
customizing ProLine.
______________________________________________
These are just a few letters from actual ProLine owners and users I've
received over the years . . .
------------------------------