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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Patrick McAuley</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>PTM
Consulting
Tel: (519) 827-9396<BR>20 Magnolia
Lane
Fax: (519) 827-0956<BR>Guelph, ON N1G
4X7 <A
href="mailto:patrick.mcauley@sympatico.ca">patrick.mcauley@sympatico.ca</A><BR></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A href="mailto:rismurli@cobfac.boisestate.edu"
title=rismurli@cobfac.boisestate.edu>Murli Nagasundaram</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU"
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, June 13, 2000 6:16
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Switching services</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>All,<BR><BR>I have been using the commercial facility
egroups.com to run a couple of<BR>lists on a test basis, and am quite
impressed with it. I'd like your<BR>opinion on whether we should switch
to it from our present listserv. I am<BR>considering the switch because
of some recurring problems and limitations<BR>of the present system that I am
seeing both from feedback from Listmembers<BR>and from my inability to respond
adequately to requests.<BR><BR>Egroups has the following
advantages:<BR><BR>1. It's free.<BR>2. It automatically archives
messages which can be retrieved from the<BR>website without first dislocating
your shoulder.<BR>3. Messages can be viewed both in chronological and
"threaded" form <by<BR>subject line>.<BR>4. The website lets you
store files. You can also list useful web links,<BR>maintain databases
of information and an event calendar (which notifies you<BR>when the event
becomes due).<BR>5. You can run polls (useful esp. when you have poetry
contests, I guess!)<BR>6. It is easy to assign multiple moderators or
owners of the list.<BR>7. You have the option of reading messages only
at the website without<BR>receiving email messages.<BR><BR>Egroups has the
following disadvantage (as far as I know):<BR><BR>1. Every message comes
appended with a little advertisement. It is not<BR>very intrusive
though, and easy to ignore.<BR><BR>Our present listserv is free, and has no
ads. It has none of the other<BR>advantages of egroups. If you
have any thoughts on this subject do air<BR>them. If there are no
objections, I will arrange to switch the list
to<BR>egroups.<BR><BR>Cheers,<BR><BR>Murli<BR>List-DemiDei<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>