>>I think most museums who use ASTC's services could work out a similar >>collaboration [with a university] to get Internet access if they need it. > >> So, explain again what the advantage of ASTC being on Compuserve. > >I am not an ASTC rep so I do not speak for them, but as I understand it, the >goal is to reach the majority of ASTC members who are _not_ connected in any >way. It is largely an audience question. Ultimately, we all want full >Internet access, but commercial services offer many of us "on ramps" which >will help us get to full access. > >A commercial service offers: > >1) a single 800 number for enrollment, software, and support >2) graphical software for multiple platforms to access the service > with a single, consisten user interface >3) technical assistance provided by the service >4) 30 days or a number of hours of free enrollment to "try before you buy" >5) technical support for the organization setting up the forum >6) local dial in numbers in almost every part of the country > even areas away from big cities (like ours) >7) all of this in one comprehensive package > >For the brand new user this is a very attractive package. There are ways to >get most of these things for some users by using Internet services, but the >myriad options for service providers, software pacakges, and dial in options >plus the necessity of then supporting those many options from ASTC >headquarters makes it a much more complex packge simply to _explain_ to >brand new users. For that audience, Compuserve offers a good compromise. > >Those with good, cheap, fast, easy, Internet connections are in the >minority. I certainly have not been as lucky in getting access. We are not >near a big ciy with a cheap SLIP or PPP server so we pay $14/hour for long >distance charges to get that access >SNIP >>I am looking at a CompuServe rate chart and these are the charges @ 9600 >>baud: $8.95/ month for some very basic services, plus $16.00 per hour (plus >>whatever phone charges incurred) to take part in a forum, which is classed as >>an extended service, as are most CompuServe offerings in my booklet. Regards, Robert Robert O. Dahl Interpretive Designer 8421 N. Via Tioga Tucson, AZ 85704 Ph:(602) 797-4752 internetaddress:[log in to unmask] AOL: [log in to unmask]