
Q: How do you feel when people try to compare Synchronet, a relative newcomer
   to the BBS world, to old warhorses such as PCBoard and MajorBBS?

A: Being that MajorBBS is not multinode, that is often an awkward comparison.
The PCBoard/Synchronet comparison is more realistic and productive. In general,
there are a boat-load of things that multinode BBSs can do that multiuser
BBSs (TBBS, MajorBBS, DLX, etc) cannot and vice versa. This is because of a
basic design strategy from the out-set.

It is a fact, that the largest PC-based BBSs on planet Earth (large in
incoming lines) run multinode, not multiuser BBS packages. With multiuser
packages, you are limited to what one CPU and I/O system can handle. With
multinode packages, the maximum number of nodes (spread across numerous CPUs)
is much greater and potentially faster and more reliable. The argument that
multiuser BBSs can run more lines on one machine is moot when the number of
lines you want to run exceeds that which one machine can handle. This is a
limitation, not a feature. Not to mention the fact that multiuser BBSs cannot
run any external programs (doors, transfer protocols, compression programs,
etc.) on the same CPU. Their solution is another CPU with a serial link to
the BBS, thus nullifying their "single CPU" theory.

I think comparing the competition's multinode BBS packages to Synchronet can
be productive and insightful into the needs and wants of the sysops and users
alike. It's unrealistic to expect any one BBS program to incorporate the
usability and features of every other BBS program in existance. We believe in
progress rather than perfection.


Q: A great selling point of Synchronet is it's affordability. Are there
   any plans for an increase in price in the foreseeable future?

A: The non-DOS versions will not be available in a $99 version and a node
license cost has not been determined for these versions either. We are
estimating the upgrade cost from the DOS to the OS/2 version at $50.

We want to keep the initial DOS product at $99, but it may not be a 2-node
version forever. We may be introducing a 1 node version at the $99 price and
raising the 2-node price. This should not effect existing Synchronet owners.


Q: With the exception of SyncUUCP (NetXpress), there have been relatively
   few major third party add-ons for Synchronet. Do you see this as a
   problem, or just the result of Synchronet's lack of media exposure and
   newcomer status.

A: NetXpress (AKA SyncUUCP) is one of the few commercial add-ons for Synchronet,
and the biggest third-party support of SMB to date. But there are practically
hundreds of shareware/public domain add-ons for Synchronet as well. Many
duplicate the efforts of other programs in existance or aren't in as great
demand as NetXpress. It has been reported that AlexiMail (FidoNet echomail
program) for SMB is currently in beta testing. InterEcho (FidoNet echomail
program) has announced planned support for SMB as well, but no development
or beta testing reported to date. The author of AlexiMail, Chad Nelson can
be netmailed via FidoNet at 1:109/536 and InterMail/InterEcho sales can
be netmailed via FidoNet at 1:369/102.

Programmers and development companies usually respond to the requests of their
customers/users. Being that Synchronet sysops are out-numbered out there,
many developers choose to quell the requests of their "other" customers and
thus SMB support moves further down the line. The more vocal Synchronet
sysops are to third party developers about supporting SMB, the quicker the
support will be implemented. I personally suggest, that ever Synchronet sysop
download a copy of SMB_111.ZIP and upload to all your favorite third-party
developers that don't currently support SMB. Then follow up with questions
about their development plans for SMB. Some will say "Yes, we'll do it" just
to quiet some buggy users, so periodically check with the developer on their
progress.

Recently SyncEdit was released, a full-screen ANSI editor for Synchronet.
The programmer appears anxious to enhance the product and answer the needs
of Synchronet sysops and users. I, personally, still use Qedit locally.
A demo version of SyncEdit can be downloaded from Vertrauen.

Also, ZChat, a multinode chat door, was released with direct Synchronet
support. This product looks like it may very well be an immediate answer for
those looking for a more "MajorBBS" style of multinode chat and profiling. A
demo version of ZChat can be downloaded from Vertrauen.



Q: A native OS/2 version of Synchronet is scheduled for release in the near
   future. Will Digital Dynamics offer a discount to current Synchronet for
   DOS users if they wish to switch over? If so, has an amount been
   determined?


A: Yes, approximately $50.


Q: If and when Microsoft releases their much ballihooed Windows95, will
   Digital Dynamics create a native Synchronet for that OS as well?


A: Win-32 executables will run under Windows NT and Windows 95 and we do plan
on supporting this platform.




