First of all - not all of us are on both networks, and frankly, I personally don't see any real advantage to belonging to the INTERNET, considering the usage levels and activities at our node. I 'pinged' (my own version of the UNIX ping) IUBVM and found it to be behind another IUB node, IUBGOLD whose link was down. Perhaps Mr. Papakhian should look at his own institution for part of his mail delay problems. I frequently have sub-minute response to/from addresses in North America, and the access time to Europe isn't much less. We will probably be registering an in-house domain soon to allow for expansion of our institution's facilities, but having studied (no, I have no direct INTERNET experience) both network designs, I definitely prefer BITNET's NJE over its counterpart. And why should the networks be 'competing', both offer unique services, that each institution must balance prior to committing to one/other/both. +---------------------------------------------+-------------------------------+ | Russell N. Hathhorn | Bitnet: SYSMAINT@PCCVM | | VM Systems Progammer/Analyst | Compu$erve: 76636,1036 | | Portland Community College | Voice: (503) 244-6111 x 4705 | | 12000 S. W. 49th Avenue | Fax: (503) 324-7010 | | Portland, Oregon 97219-0990 | " Just say NO to OCO " | +---------------------------------------------+-------------------------------+ | "The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms | | is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."| | -- Thomas Jefferson | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+