Flipping through the MAJORBBS Spring 1994 Newsletter is a fascinating trip through dozens of third party suppliers and software companies, all supporting just one BBS system, at the peak of BBSing reddit / bbs ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mixedliquor · 2020-02-15 23:01 MBBS was a really neat platform. Fascinating to see how much development there was, considering Strykers passing and it’s impending obsolescence was right around the corner. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- wndrbr3d · 2020-02-15 23:16 The focus on RIP is hysterical. I remember as late as 1996 still not using RIP because it was so clunky. Ninja Edit: I will not be supporting RIP in MBBSEmu for this reason 😜 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- jdavidramsey · 2020-02-16 00:43 I ran my BBS from 1993-97 and never really used RIP. I once accidentally left the default Wildcat RIP screens on as an option, and the first time I noticed someone using the board with RIP, I sent an apology message to them. I was embarrassed, considering how much work I'd put into the ANSI-based appearance, yet this user got the stock Wildcat screens. The only way that was possible was that RIP was so unpopular with users in my calling area that it was a non-issue. Throughout the whole dial-up BBS era, I only remember one board with custom RIP, running on Searchlight. And even then, I got the feeling from the way the SysOp talked that I was one of only a handful of users who ever used RIP on his BBS. Still, the way the BBS software developers pushed it made you feel guilty for not making an effort, no matter how few people used RIP- capable terminals. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- jdavidramsey · 2020-02-16 00:51 Tim Stryker didn't pass away until 1996, but you're right. Even at that later time, the developers were still busy trying to do something about the dying market. I think 1996 was the beginning of the Worldgroup era. But Spring 1994 is like "Peak BBS," even if BBSes were already doomed. To people in the hobby (or business) at the time, that probably felt like one of the most exciting points in the history of BBSing. There was just so much activity that year! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mixedliquor · 2020-02-16 01:00 I agree with Peak BBS. I got my first PC in 93/94 and I got to experience this firsthand. My first ISP was a MajorBBS/Worldgroup system in ‘95. My first date came from a MajorBBS which wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the multi line chat addon (and my mother not forcing me to go to school all the time). Hell, I participated in meetups from that BBS and made some awesome connections. Looking back, it’s kind of neat how MajorBBS impacted my formative years. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- jdavidramsey · 2020-02-16 01:31 We only ever had one MajorBBS in our area. Our area was sort of weird, being dominated by RemoteAccess and Wildcat boards. Other systems that seem really popular in general were rare in the area, too. For instance, I also only remember one each of PCBoard and WWIV in my whole experience. My first ISP wasn't associated with a BBS, but it was started by one of the calling area's most active BBSers. He was a freshman college student when he went to a few local business figures and convinced them to be the financial backers for his ISP. It was the first in the area, and was always the most successful, all the way to the point that they sold to Earthlink in the late 1990s. I remember the guy posting about it on BBSes in the run up to launch, and even breaking into chat with him on my BBS, chatting on the subject. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- spentmiles · 2020-02-16 03:01 Remember those little mom and pop software shops that just had shelves and shelves of disks for sale? I think most of them were just free ware or little utilities. Those stores probably lasted a hot second. Ah and places like Babbage's at the mall. Memories. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- recourse7 · 2020-02-16 18:26 What board was it? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mixedliquor · 2020-02-16 18:42 The Data Channel in South Florida. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A_Downboat_Is_A_Sub · 2020-02-17 17:29 PCBoard wasn't popular in our area, but there were a ton of WWIV boards, probably half were warez related ones. I think the ease of setup was a big factor, I could even set it up easily, and did. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A_Downboat_Is_A_Sub · 2020-02-17 17:34 Going to computer shows in 92-94 and seeing all those mom and pops set up there was like the Wild Wild West of computing. Going table to table to check memory prices, digging through boxes of disks like I was flipping through records, checking out new stuff, it was a blast. By 1996 the big computer manufacturers, and chain stores were eating mom & pop's lunch when it came to all but the hobbyists.