Mon, 14 Sep 1992 18:57:55 +0200
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On Mon, 14 Sep 1992 09:02:16 PDT Richard Childers <[log in to unmask]>
said:
>FTP is an internationally recognized file transport protocol supported
>on a vast array of different operating systems.
Actually NJE has probably been implemented on more systems than FTP, but
I'll let that pass since it is irrelevant. The issue here is not whether
BITNET-only is better than Internet-only, but whether a site with both
types of connectivities has a good business reason for dropping the one.
In this present example, whether the convenience of SENDFILE to/from
major operating systems justifies the costs, not whether one completely
loses the ability to transfer files. If that were the case, the issue
would not even exist.
>If one has a workstation, it takes a window, that's all.
What if one has access to a BITNET system instead - statistically not a
unix machine? The cost-per-Joe-user of a workstation is much higher than
that of a share of a mainframe, which itself is a bit higher than the
cost of a PC (I am talking real cost here, not hardware purchase price).
That is why students, language teachers, librarians et al generally do
not get their own workstation, but a terminal or a PC. While FTP is
running, the terminal is not available for other use - students who would
like to work for their assignment have to stand patiently in line. No way
you will order a package before going to lunch and find it in your
mailbox when you come back. Is this service worth, what, 50 cents per
student with computer access and per year?
Eric
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