Hello Folks,                                                            8/18/92

I just recently attended a national convention on BBSs called BBSCON.  It was 
held in Denver and there were several events related to OS/2. 

IBM presented a session on using OS/2 as a BBS platform.  It was presented by
Dave Whittle---IBM OS/2 Evangelist.  Dave was introduced by Dvorak who
reiterated his comments from his keynote address.

Dave's presentation was pretty general since he is not involved in the
technical aspects of running the IBM NSC BBS.  He did present how important
BBSs had become when OS/2 was in beta testing.  He stated a significant amount
of the input into the product features and design came via comments and
criticisms on various BBSs.  IBM appears "sold" on the value of BBSs.  

Now to John Dvorak.  He presented the keynote address on the 
opening day of this 4 day convention.  By his third or forth sentence he 
mentioned OS/2.  He stated that he used it regularly and almost exclusively at 
this point.  He hailed it as "A harbinger of a platform change".  

He continues to state that the minimum memory he feels is resonable is 16 meg. 
He also continues to harp on the need for a fan for the 486 chip.  He hinted
that he feels there may be some hardware glitches with the 486 that show up
with OS/2 unless the chip is kept cool.  Since the fan he says that OS/2 has
been very stable and robust.

He said he said he is tired of people complaining about 
install problems cause he has had his teenage son install it several times 
without difficulty.  He encouraged everyone to get into OS/2 and get away from 
DOS.    OS/2, he said, is just plain FUN to use and explore.

He also stated that there were "Microsoft Munchkins" roaming BBSs and 
flaming on OS/2 messages.  He said they come on very strong and then disappear 
shortly thereafter.  

He said there was more to the Zachmann saga than just MSFT applying pressure
but he did not give specifics except to say he felt it was unfortunate to have
become so public.  

Other OS/2 related observation .....  

There was not one vendor of OS/2 BBS software present of the 6 or so OS/2 
packages available...a missed opportunity.  

Highspeed modems and 16550 UARTs were frequently mentioned but not necessarily 
in relation to OS/2.  

Curiously, Procomm received an award for writing their app for WINDOWS.  The 
recipient broke the crowd up by noting....."Gee, I guess all you have to do to
get an achievement award is write a com program for WINDOWS".  <The mention of 
WINDOWS almost always precipitated a groan from the sysops.> 

Generally, the sysops were looking for DOS based applications for running their 
BBSs.  OS/2 was not really mentioned much but seemed to be taken seriously by 
many of the attendees....but their focus was clearly on DOS at this point.  

I offer these comments from memory for the most part.  My appologies for an 
errors or ommisions.  Conference proceedings are available on tape for those so
inclined.

Ben Bowers     OS/2 Source BBS
                         215-948-4089