BKGAMASB.RVW   951104
 
"Growing and Maintaining a Successful BBS", Alan D. Bryant, 1995,
0-201-48380-7, U$39.95/C$55.00
%A   Alan D. Bryant adb@bryant.com
%C   1 Jacob Way, Reading, MA   01867-9984
%D   1995
%G   0-201-48380-7
%I   Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.
%O   U$39.95/C$55.00 416-447-5101 fax: 416-443-0948 Fax: 617-944-7273
%O   800-822-6339 617-944-3700 markj@aw.com bkexpress@aw.com
%P   325
%T   "Growing and Maintaining a Successful BBS"
 
This volume (following an earlier beginner's guide) is obviously aimed at
sysops who have been operating a board for some time.  Therefore the material,
probably legitimately, assumes a greater level of technical sophistication, and
a desire to move into a commercial, or at least self-supporting, operation.
 
The business advice is practical and important.  For small business operators
it is probably unsurprising, covering the value of listening to your customers,
business plans, positioning and marketing.  Three chapters look at the addition
of Internet service on a BBS.
 
In the technical area, Bryant again provides some very interesting and
potentially useful material.  He may, however, have confused two possible
markets.  For those interested in commercializing systems, much of the
technical side of the book is too esoteric.  The keeners and hobbyists who want
to get into the details of routers and domain name servers are not likely to be
thrilled by the thought of marketing strategies.  Amateurs who are interested
in code tables probably have them, so I suspect that the real market for the
book lies in the business areas.  The book could, therefore, use more
explanation, and fewer network topology diagrams.
 
Overall, a useful guide for the experienced sysop seeking new levels of
operation and service.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1995   BKGAMASB.RVW   951104

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DECUS Canada Communications, Desktop, Education and Security group newsletters
Editor and/or reviewer        ROBERTS@decus.ca         rslade@vanisl.decus.ca
DECUS Symposium '96, Vancouver, BC, Feb 26-Mar 1, 1996, contact: rulag@decus.ca