E-mail address for John Dvorak?
Melvin Klassen
In a recent column, I discussed E-mail, and recommended MCI over such
public systems as the world-wide Internet -- an affiliation of networks.
While Internet is free, I had qualms about its use as an E-mail provider
for business people in particular. I was deluged with E-mail from happy
Internet users. Some were just rants from fanatics, but a couple notes
are worth reading.
... notes from Derek Milewski (about the reliability problems with centralized
computers at MCI and CIS, and stating "Internet is more than just E-mail",
i.e., referencing his GOPHER at 'poniecki.Berkeley.EDU') and from Sal Gambino
(about local software/hardware failures which Internet isolates from the
majority) have been deleted by me, except for Derek's quote from a previous
column by Dvorak: [Internet mail is] "very unreliable, and not recommended
for E-mail, except when no alternatives are available". ...
The point well-taken is that sending large documents over the Internet
is cost-effective.
But sending a large document point-to-point (directly from one user
to another) with a 14.4 bps modem is easier and more secure.
Sending large documents to odd international locations where point-to-point
is impractical is where Internet shines.
Unfortunately, since the Internet is a collection of systems, any of which
can be broached by snoops, the security of Internet is suspect, requiring
such documents to be encrypted.
And there is no central authority to complain to if mail is lost.
As the Internet continues to grow, I suspect problems that are supposedly
being resolved will actually get worse. Still, if you can get on Internet,
then you have free E-mail.
Note, though, that getting on Internet is complex and burdensome compared
to other E-mail services. I stand by my recommendation of MCI Mail for the
business user, and either Compuserve, GEnie, or Prodigy for the casual user.
30.
Whew! Is he off-base, or what?
Finally, my question: anybody got his E-mail address?
--
New state motto: "be careful, or be roadkill". | Melvin Klassen <KLASSEN@UVVM>
Mohammad Razi Khan
>In his syndicated column, named "Ask Dvorak", John Dvorak wrote:
> In a recent column, I discussed E-mail, and recommended MCI over such
> public systems as the world-wide Internet -- an affiliation of networks.
> While Internet is free, I had qualms about its use as an E-mail provider
> for business people in particular. I was deluged with E-mail from happy
> Internet users. Some were just rants from fanatics, but a couple notes
> are worth reading.
> ... notes from Derek Milewski (about the reliability problems with centralized
> computers at MCI and CIS, and stating "Internet is more than just E-mail",
> i.e., referencing his GOPHER at 'poniecki.Berkeley.EDU') and from Sal Gambino
> (about local software/hardware failures which Internet isolates from the
> majority) have been deleted by me, except for Derek's quote from a previous
> column by Dvorak: [Internet mail is] "very unreliable, and not recommended
> for E-mail, except when no alternatives are available". ...
Is this guy for real? I think. he has been writing columns too long.
> The point well-taken is that sending large documents over the Internet
> is cost-effective.
> But sending a large document point-to-point (directly from one user
> to another) with a 14.4 bps modem is easier and more secure.
> Sending large documents to odd international locations where point-to-point
> is impractical is where Internet shines.
> Unfortunately, since the Internet is a collection of systems, any of which
> can be broached by snoops, the security of Internet is suspect, requiring
> such documents to be encrypted.
> And there is no central authority to complain to if mail is lost.
> As the Internet continues to grow, I suspect problems that are supposedly
> being resolved will actually get worse. Still, if you can get on Internet,
> then you have free E-mail.
> Note, though, that getting on Internet is complex and burdensome compared
> to other E-mail services. I stand by my recommendation of MCI Mail for the
> business user, and either Compuserve, GEnie, or Prodigy for the casual user.
Complex and burdensome? I wonder where this idea came from, Internet is
everywhere, easy to access.
(except for possibly rural areas)
> 30.
>Whew! Is he off-base, or what?
>Finally, my question: anybody got his E-mail address?
Yah.. lets find out if he does. Then we can send him our 'opinions'
of his article.
>--
>New state motto: "be careful, or be roadkill". | Melvin Klassen <KLASSEN@UVVM>
--
Mohammad R. Khan / khan...@nova.gmi.edu
After July '93, please send mail to mk...@nyx.cs.du.edu
David Scott
> Whew! Is he off-base, or what?
My feeling is that people who are just looking for email service should
stay off the Internet. To me, it's crankiness just adds to its charm and
reminds me that a large part of the effort is supplied by volunteers.
So, leave Dvorak alone. In the long run, he's doing us a favour.
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David Scott dsc...@botexte.login.qc.ca
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