T3 State of the List Address (long)

[Greg Merritt <gregm@umich.edu>]

Hi Volks,


	we've been going strong for a bit over a year now--this list
debuted at the beginning of October, 1996.  I wanted to say a few words
about where things are & where they're headed, and give you all some
follow-up info that many of you have been waiting for since the summer.


	The immediate news is, well, no news.  As some of you may recall,
the kind folks @vanagon offered to let us share their listserve software &
web server space (they have a fast NT server w/ a fast connection to the
'net), but they were looking at just shy of $1,000 from us in start-up
costs ($500 contribution for current real expenses & $435 for the listserve
license), plus some periodic figure for maintenance/upgrades (possibly
about $100-$200/year).


	I do believe that these reflect actual costs; however, I just don't
see that the value is there for us.  Many of these services can be
purchased from IPP companies for considerably less.  I realize that this is
similar to a buying/renting issue, but "buying" into the vanagon server
wouldn't pay off for a good four or five years, at least!  Will e-mail &
web protocols change before then?  Who knows.


	Meanwhile, I'm no longer a student at UM.  Again, as far as this
list is concerned, this is not really news.  As an alumnus, I'm using UM as
my personal provider; my accounts (e-mail, web, this mailing list) won't be
changing any time soon.


	Some of you may have noticed that the Type III web pages have gone
largely unchanged for a while.  Look for them to come to life again shortly
(as in a few months).  I put them on pause during the summer when I was
holding down three jobs simultaneously(!), and continued to let them idle
as I got up to speed at the new "real" job.  Not to mention that my Zip
drive--which I use for web stuff--just bit the dust, and I don't have
regular access to a scanner now that I'm no longer on campus.


	So!  What next?  A scanner of my own is in the future.  I've got
too many T3 pictures nad a bit too much T3 info/literature just sitting
around here; it's all got to be shared.  I'm also shopping around for a new
presence provider for the T3 web pages--one with a shorther URL, cheaper
disk space than UM, and unlimited perl cgi scripts allowed.  I've been
doing *lots* of script stuff for work; I'm *itching* to add similar slick
features to the T3 site!  I also have this entire list archived since its
inception; I would like to add "best of type-3" threads to the web site.
(You folks are soooo smart!:)


	Depending on which provider I end up with, there may or may not be
a move of this mailing list.  I know there has been discussion of how &
what to do regarding this issue in the past.  If good (i.e., cheap, easy &
efficient) possibilities open up, you all will be the first to know.


	O.k.; enough pontificating.  Back to your regularly scheduled
programming...

-Greg
'69 & '71 Squarebacks
'63 Beetle