Switching services

[Murli Nagasundaram]

All,

I have been using the commercial facility egroups.com to run a couple of
lists on a test basis, and am quite impressed with it.  I'd like your
opinion on whether we should switch to it from our present listserv.  I am
considering the switch because of some recurring problems and limitations
of the present system that I am seeing both from feedback from Listmembers
and from my inability to respond adequately to requests.

Egroups has the following advantages:

1.  It's free.
2.  It automatically archives messages which can be retrieved from the
website without first dislocating your shoulder.
3.  Messages can be viewed both in chronological and "threaded" form <by
subject line>.
4.  The website lets you store files.  You can also list useful web links,
maintain databases of information and an event calendar (which notifies you
when the event becomes due).
5.  You can run polls (useful esp. when you have poetry contests, I guess!)
6.  It is easy to assign multiple moderators or owners of the list.
7.  You have the option of reading messages only at the website without
receiving email messages.

Egroups has the following disadvantage (as far as I know):

1.  Every message comes appended with a little advertisement.  It is not
very intrusive though, and easy to ignore.

Our present listserv is free, and has no ads.  It has none of the other
advantages of egroups.  If you have any thoughts on this subject do air
them.  If there are no objections, I will arrange to switch the list to
egroups.

Cheers,

Murli
List-DemiDei