Switching services

[Patrick McAuley]

I agree there would be advantages to using eGroups, Murli.  It would appear to take care of the "reply" problem that I've been corresponding to you about, since I've been subscribed to other eGroups forums and have never encountered this problem.

There is one additional disadvantage that could prove significant, however, and I suggest you check it out prior to switching.  I have been moderating a couple of small, closed groups on eGroups and with both of these groups, I have had occasion to request assistance from the eGroups support facility.  In every case, I have had ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE from the support people.  

The only way to reach them that I have been able to find is through an email ID that is freely advertised at eGroups, but no one ever answers messages to this ID.  There is also a moderators' eGroups forum and I have tried sending messages there, also with no response.  It may be that these two groups didn't rate their attention because they were small (12 or fewer subscribers) and closed, but I urge you to see if you can get a response from eGroups support before you move us over.

Patrick McAuley

PTM Consulting                   Tel:  (519) 827-9396
20 Magnolia Lane                Fax:  (519) 827-0956
Guelph, ON  N1G 4X7         patrick.mcauley at sympatico.ca

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Murli Nagasundaram 
  To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU 
  Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2000 6:16 PM
  Subject: Switching services


  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

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