Possibilities - News About TBBS 2.2

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NEWS ABOUT TBBS 2.2
-------------------

*** From March 1991 Possibilities Newsletter ***
*** Copyright 1991 by eSoft, Inc.  All Rights Reserved ***

News About TBBS 2.2
by Phil Becker

Last month I promised that I would let you in on more of what you can expect 
with TBBS 2.2.  As I indicated last issue, some of the largest features are 
the inclusion of the ZMODEM protocol, an increased capacity to 64 lines, and 
online multi-lingual capability.  The rumor mill has had a lot to say about 
what may be in TBBS 2.2 as well.  I have received many questions of the form
"does this mean ..." since that issue, so let me clarify things a bit.

A bit of background...

It has always been my goal to have TBBS provide the maximum capability 
possible with off-the-shelf hardware and software.  To understand what I do 
with TBBS (and when I do it) it is critical to realize that I am always 
striving to produce an easily reproducable system with no single source 
hardware components.  I also seek low complexity solutions because these 
have high reliability and are easy to use.

Many things may be accomplished in a laboratory by highly trained technical 
people.  TBBS is about harnessing a certain set of computing capabilities 
and making it usable by average computer users.  I feel that this really 
results in a larger revolution in the end, since it releases the creativity 
and problem solving capacity of a very large number of people.  I guess you 
could say that I feel that it isn't the existence of a technology that 
matters, but its accessibility and usability.

TBBS began as a single line system in 1980 because that is all that standard 
microcomputer hardware could support at that time.  However, I always felt 
that if this technology was useful that a single telephone line would never 
be sufficient.  TBBS revolutionized multi-line BBS software by making it 
easy to install and use.  Because you don't need to know about the tricky 
problems of multi-user file access and arbitration, you are free to directly 
focus on your application.  TBBS 2.2 will continue with and expand upon this 
tradition of making more capability even easier to use.

Multi-Lingual Capability...

TBBS 2.2 will load all of its text and command strings from external files.  
This means that all of these strings may be translated to other languages or 
custom- ized in any way you wish.  Command strings are included because the 
letters may well change based on the language in use (examine the word "Yes" 
in several languages as an example).  In addition, TBBS 2.2 will allow you 
to set up several language files at once if you wish to run a truly multi-
lingual online system.

If multiple languages are installed, the first thing the system will do is 
to prompt each caller with a menu to select a language.  This allows 
different languages to be used on a line-by-line and user-by-user basis.  It 
will even be possible to have users online simultaneously using different 
languages.   If there are multiple languages, all "canned" file names (e.g. 
SIGNON1, SIGNON2, etc.) will have their extensions conditioned by the 
language in use, so that you can provide a version of each file in each 
language and TBBS will always display the file in the correct language.

TBBS 2.2 will NOT be multi-lingual at the SYSOP level.  All system 
construction and maintenance editors will still assume the English language.  
For all callers to a system, however, the system can be in any language (or 
group of languages) the SYSOP desires.  A new editor (EDLANG) is part of 
TBBS 2.2 and allows customizing the language files.

Even those who want only English will be pleased that they can now easily 
customize any TBBS internal text string.  No more patching text strings with 
Debug, and no more length restrictions on these strings.

Expanded Line Capacity...

TBBS 2.2 will support up to 64 lines.  This is now possible because of the 
increased speed and memory capacity of computers.  While there are computers 
available today with 14 slots -- so that you can put eight 8-port Digiboards 
in them -- I expect four 16-port Digiboards to be the normal 64 line setup 
because that will fit in a normal 8 slot computer.

A 64 user system will take a maximum of 8mb of memory if all option modules 
are used.  It actually will take a maximum of 7.4mb so an 8mb computer will 
handle it nicely.  If you plan for 64 2400 bps lines, then a 25Mhz 80386 
will perform nicely.  If you want 9600 bps modems you will need a 486 
computer to achieve that performance from all 64 lines simultaneously.

One side benefit of the 64 line capacity of TBBS 2.2, is that in order to 
accomplish it TBBS has to run much more efficiently.  That means that at any 
line count TBBS 2.2 will be "snappier" that TBBS 2.1 is.  In beta testing 
this is already noticeable by a system's users.

Message System...

While TBBS 2.2 will still have a maximum of 63 message boards, it will now 
allow up to 60,000 messages.  This is twice the capacity of TBBS 2.1.  In 
addition, there will be a new form of message area which is a true topic 
based conference.  If you have ever used a UNIX conferencing system you will 
recognize this structure (BIX is commercial version of such a system).  It 
allows many exciting new message system organizations based on topics.

The TBBS 2.2 conference message board structure implementation will be 
complete.  It will allow subject threads within topic threads and full 
notification and last message read tracking by topic.  The SYSOP will be 
able to create new topics while the system is online and thus can easily 
create new discussions.  It will also be possible to link each topic, or 
group of topics, to a file upload/download area as well.  Standard message 
boards will continue to operate as they now do, a topic message board is a 
new added message board type.

Those who require more than 63 message boards will often be able to use sub-
topics as message boards.  If that is possible (and it will be for things 
such as Net Mail echo conferences) then the number of message areas is 
essentially unlimited (you will run out of the 60,000 message capacity 
before you run out of topic divisions since you can have more than 60,000 
topics).

More use of EMS memory...

TBBS 2.2 will now use LIM 4.0 EMS memory access methods if your computer 
supports them.  This makes page switching an average of twice as fast as 
using the LIM 3.2 methods.  The LIM 3.2 methods are still supported for full 
backwards compatibility.

In addition to switching EMS faster, TBBS 2.2 will also place the message 
index table in EMS memory.  The fact that TBBS 2.1 required this table to be 
placed in 640k conventional memory was a source of "RAM Cram" for some large 
systems.  With TBBS 2.2, even a 64 user system with all of the options and 
maximum messages will fit in a DOS conventional memory "footprint" of  less 
than 350k, ending this problem -- even with a full 60,000 message capacity 
configured.

TBBS 2.2 will also provide a method to "stack" option module code segments 
so that many more option modules can be added without exceeding the 640k 
conventional memory limit.  There will be user configurable option to trade 
640k memory for performance, but TBBS 2.2 will allow an essentially 
unlimited number of option modules if your system supports LIM 4.0 EMS 
memory fully.  (Note: 80386 EMS emulators ALL fully support LIM 4.0).

About Single Line...

Sales of TBBS over the past year indicate that the marketplace wants multi-
line BBS software.  With the release of TBBS 2.2,  eSoft, Inc. will only 
sell multi-line TBBS.  The entry level product (currently TBBS 2.1S) will 
become a two line multi-line system.  The price will remain $299.95.  eSoft, 
Inc. will no longer sell a single line system to new customers.

Current TBBS 2.1S owners will have a choice to upgrade to either a TBBS 2.2S 
or to a TBBS 2.2M[2].  TBBS 2.2M[2] will be the new entry level product and 
will support two users (using COM1 and COM2 serial ports) along with the 
console.  As with all multi-line TBBS, it will not support the TYPE 44 
command.  The upgrade price is the same ($75) to make either choice.  If you 
choose to upgrade to TBBS 2.2S initially, you can later upgrade to TBBS 
2.2M[2] for $30 at any time.

A version 2.1 to 2.2 upgrade for 16 line TBBS will be $150 and for 32 line 
TBBS will be $175.

With the release of TBBS 2.2, the entry level TDBS will also become a 2 line 
system instead of a single line system (again at the same price of $395).  
Anyone who owns TDBS 1.0S at the time of the TBBS 2.2 release will be 
upgraded to TDBS 1.0M[2] for free if they send in their TDBS 1.0S master 
disks along with the TBBS 2.1S disks.  There will be a small charge to 
upgrade TDBS 1.0S to 1.0M[2] separately later.  The same free upgrade will 
be true for TIMS 1.0S owners as well.

New Prices and Upgrades...

All of this means that after TBBS 2.2 is released, the available TBBS 
versions and prices will be:

TBBS 2.2M[2]	 $299.95
TBBS 2.2M[16]	$895.00
TBBS 2.2M[32]	$1,495.00
TBBS 2.2M[64]	$1,995.00

This means that there have been no price increases in TBBS for over seven 
years!  Capacity upgrade trade-ins continue to be the difference in retail 
price.

Note: Anyone who purchases TBBS 2.1 after March 15, 1991 will receive a free 
upgrade to TBBS 2.2 when it becomes available.

When can I order?

Since there is no announced date yet for the release of TBBS 2.2, we are not 
taking any orders for upgrades yet.  It will be announced in this newsletter 
when you can place your upgrade orders.  At this time I still hope that I 
can get TBBS 2.2 ready for release by the end of June or first part of July.  
However, as I said last time, it may have other ideas.  Rest assured that no 
one wants you to be able to buy it any sooner than I do!  But I won't 
release it until it is finished and tested.

- END -
PS0391-4
Rev. 3/91

Copyright (C) 1994 eSoft, Inc., All Rights Reserved.  Permission granted
to distribute this file in its entirety, without modification, to any
interested party.  Any other use requires the written permission of
eSoft, Inc.

IMPORTANT:  The information herein is subject to change without notice.
Please call or write to confirm factual information of importance to you
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