Andrei Bedelean wrote to All <=-
dude bbses are soo cool like its been decades cince bbses started and there are still online bbses thats soo Coool!!!!
dude bbses are soo cool like its been decades cince bbses started and there are still online bbses thats soo Coool!!!!
I think it's safe to assume that sysops are typically those who don't get the hint that it's time to go home when the party's over. :)
dude bbses are soo cool like its been decades cince bbses started and there are still online bbses thats soo Coool!!!!
dude bbses are soo cool like its been decades cince bbses started and there still online bbses thats soo Coool!!!!
Re: I just installed syncterm I NOW LIKE BBSES!! :)i just got started im from romania so i think you will be getting my messages at night for me and note im a child all this old tech just seems so cool i kinda wanna buy a portable cd player just so i dont use my phone
By: Andrei Bedelean to All on Mon Aug 17 2026 02:51 am
these days I sometimes miss what it was like to have a computer in the early 90s (or even late 80s)
dude bbses are soo cool like its been decades cince bbses started and there are still online bbses thats soo Coool!!!!
I started back in 1994 with my first BBS running on OS/2 using Lora BBS; then the Internet arrived in 1997, and maintaining two phone lines was too expensive. I shut it down, but a few months ago, the spark was reignited. Within a few weeks, I resurrected the old BBS, which now runs on a VPS with Debian 12 and Synchronet.
I still have an Atari 800XL system set up here on my desk... with a lot of the newest devices attached to it... like a parallel drive on a CF card for huge amounts of storage. The CPU along with the floppy drives are heavly modified.
And my primary BBS (Boot Factory) is an Atari 8 bit system (BBS:Express Pro) from 1988, but it runs under emulation on a PC. I'm not going to subject my precious old Atari hardware to 24/7 usage... (My other BBS is a Synchronet BBS running on the same PC).
How does BBS compare to the old days now?
How does BBS compare to the old days now?
But that luxury of speed has killed the anticipation: the remote message board loading line by line kept the magic of digital encounters intact, where every message left or read carried the weight of a true letter, like an island out of time, far from the noise of the modern web.
You can still experience that. Just turn the baud rate down on your terminal program. On SyncTerm, it's ALT-cursor down.
Yep. :) Also, I have some nostalgia about old computers these days.. Even though back in the day, we were always looking forward to the next things, these days I sometimes miss what it was like to have a computer in the early 90s (or even late 80s) - Home computers were relatively new, so it seemed really cool to have one and see what they could do; also, they weren't
The BBS software these days is significantly better, too!
While back then every single kilobyte was a conquest punctuated by endless waits, marked by the beeps and hisses of a 14.4 or 28.8 kbps modem, today we connect with a single tap and unlimited bandwidth. But that luxury of speed has killed the anticipation: the remote message board loading line by line kept the magic of digital encounters intact, where every message left or rea
:) Sometimes I think it would be cool to have a space with some older computers (maybe if I'm able to buy a house again), although for me I also wonder if I'd actually use them very often..
While back then every single kilobyte was a conquest punctuated by endless waits, marked by the beeps and hisses of a 14.4 or 28.8 kbps modem,
I loaded up an old BBS backup from from 1996, and 1) I have no idea what color scheme I was shooting for and 2) My ANSI skills were non-existent.
Anticipation and delayed gratification was a huge part of BBSing. I remember gang-dialing a half-dozen BBSes and listening to the modem dialing, getting a busy signal, hanging up and trying the next BBS, sometimes over and over again for 30 minutes. When one finally connected and you heard that connect sound playing over a tinny little speaker, you weren't sure which BBS connected until you sat back down in front of the keyboard.
Now, you pick a BBS from your dialing directory and you're in.
While back then every single kilobyte was a conquest punctuated by endless
waits, marked by the beeps and hisses of a 14.4 or 28.8 kbps modem,
Hah... My first BBS ran on a 300 baud modem. I could not afford 1200 baud and I know the 2400 baud modem was invented that year when my BBS first went online... 1984.
I loved the feeling like I belonged to a secret society; most people had no idea what computers could do or had even used one, so having one and dialing into a network full of like minded people felt like falling down a rabbit hole.
My stuff is in my attached garage but it would still be nice to have more space. I will probably retire this year or next and that will open up half of my computer workspace.
I loved the feeling like I belonged to a secret society; most people had no idea what computers could do or had even used one...
:) Sometimes I think it would be cool to have a space with some older computers (maybe if I'm able to buy a house again), although for me I also wonder if I'd actually use them very often..
Hah... My first BBS ran on a 300 baud modem.
These days, I've heard there are a lot of people who simply use a smartphone or maybe a tablet and don't have a desktop or laptop computer anymore, which seems odd to me.. With the stuff I do, I couldn't imagine not having a desktop or laptop.
I think the thing I'd be concerned about with a garage is that a garage usually isn't weather sealed, so I'd wonder about computer equipment rusting faster or getting other damage from being stored in a garage long-term.
When I was a kid, I didn't really realize many people didn't have or use computers.. My dad always had a computer at home, and there were computers at school, although those were only in the library. So I feel like I basically grew up with computers. But later, I realized that not too many people were using computers, and it was a bit of a rabbit hole, as you say.. And in the mid 90s, as the internet got popular, I noticed a lot more people were buying computers, and there were a lot of people who didn't necessarily know much about computers who were using them now.
These days, I've heard there are a lot of people who simply use a smartphone or maybe a tablet and don't have a desktop or laptop computer anymore, which seems odd to me.. With the stuff I do, I couldn't imagine not having a desktop or laptop.
These days, I've heard there are a lot of people who simply use a
smartphone or maybe a tablet and don't have a desktop or laptop computer
I grok. I started out with a desktop and I'll end that way. Phones are fine for certain things, but there are times when you need a full-blown PC (which could be a tablet) to get the proper UX, IMO. Unfortunetly, desktop sales have been going down for some years in favor of mobile devices. And while things like COVID and AI have had a large effect on availability and price of certain components, I think we'd still end up here anyway due to lack of interest in traditional PCs.
While back then every single kilobyte was a conquest punctuated by endless waits, marked by the beeps and hisses of a 14.4 or 28.8 kbps
modem,
today we connect with a single tap and unlimited bandwidth. But that luxury of speed has killed the anticipation: the remote message board
loading line by line kept the magic of digital encounters intact, where every message left or read carried the weight of a true letter, like
an
island out of time, far from the noise of the modern web.
Im messaging from romania i think i may be the only one still using bbses lol
Reading your words makes me laugh; I remember that sometimes, if I got a busy signal, I could dial 197, and a voice would ask me to key in
the
phone number (the BBS's number)--which would effectively disrupt the connection and cause
it to drop.
These days, I've heard there are a lot of people who simply use a smartphone or maybe a tablet and don't have a desktop or laptop computer
anymore, which seems odd to me.. With the stuff I do, I couldn't imagine not having a desktop or laptop.
Hah... My first BBS ran on a 300 baud modem. I could not afford 1200 baud and I know the 2400 baud modem was invented that year when my BBS first went online... 1984.
When I was a kid, I didn't really realize many people didn't have or use computers.. My dad always had a computer at home, and there were compute > N> at school, although those were only in the library. So I feel like I
basically grew up with computers. But later, I realized that not too man > N> people were using computers, and it was a bit of a rabbit hole, as you sa > N> And in the mid 90s, as the internet got popular, I noticed a lot more peo > N> were buying computers, and there were a lot of people who didn't necessar > N> know much about computers who were using them now.
Back in the days of dial-up, I knew some people who didn't use their compute > to get online. If they had/used a modem at all, it was to FAX documents.
Later, when I moved where I am now almost 30 years ago, I didn't know anyone > who used home computers to get online until Internet (via means other than
dial-up) became a thing. Then everyone had one, until...
These days, I've heard there are a lot of people who simply use a smartph > N> or maybe a tablet and don't have a desktop or laptop computer anymore, wh > N> seems odd to me.. With the stuff I do, I couldn't imagine not having a
desktop or laptop.
...this. I know a lot of people that only have a PC or laptop at work. So > they've gone back to having no home computers because they have their phones > and (maybe) tablets.
What was the name of your 1984 BBS?
I think the thing I'd be concerned about with a garage is that a garage usually isn't weather sealed, so I'd wonder about computer equipment rusting
As well you should. Garages get hot in the Summer, freezing cold in the Winter and there's always some waater laying around somewhere. Not to
Outlaw wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-
One of the BBSes I paid to subscribe to (the Graphics Connection) I
had just paid another year subscription and they shut down lol, they
had several lines.
Mortar wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-
Course, the downside was those same people like to poke fun at those
who did, and if you were a kid or teen, you were in for some hard
times.
Bf2k+ wrote to Nightfox <=-
But do I use it a lot? Not really now but I have about a thousand
Atari floppies here that I am slowly converting to images so I play
with it from time to time... probably more when I retire.
Bf2k+ wrote to Massy73 <=-
Hah... My first BBS ran on a 300 baud modem. I could not afford 1200
baud and I know the 2400 baud modem was invented that year when my BBS first went online... 1984.
These days, I've heard there are a lot of people who simply use a smartphone or maybe a tablet and don't have a desktop or laptop computer anymore, which seems odd to me.. With the stuff I do, I couldn't
imagine not having a desktop or laptop.
...this. I know a lot of people that only have a PC or laptop at work. So, they've gone back to having no home computers because they have their phones and (maybe) tablets.
doing research on a smartphone is painful. or any real work for that matter.
i have a few friends now that are ex-computer-users that have cablemodem at their houses but only use it for their TVs and smartphones. i don't think i could handle that.
fusion wrote to Nightfox <=-
i have a few friends now that are ex-computer-users that have
cablemodem at their houses but only use it for their TVs and
smartphones. i don't think i could handle that.
I work from home and started thinking about working from cafes to get a change of scenery. every occasional once in a while it's nice, but glossy laptop screens and overhead lighting reflections drive me crazy, and I bought a 34" ultraside monitor for home. If I want some distraction, I'll play one of those YouTube "cafe ambience" videos in the background.
dude bbses are soo cool like its been decades cince bbses started and there are still online bbses thats soo Coool!!!!
Dmxrob wrote to Andrei Bedelean <=-
In many ways, with the growing hatred amongst all people towards Facebook/Meta, AI, tech in general I am surprised we aren't seeing more
of a resurgence of BBS systems. I think people have finally had enough
of being told what tech they WILL use to enrich to the tech bros. Sure took long enough.
Andrei Bedelean wrote to All <=-
dude bbses are soo cool like its been decades cince bbses
started and there are still online bbses thats soo Coool!!!!
I think it's safe to assume that sysops are typically those who don't
get the hint that it's time to go home when the party's over. :)
... Do nothing for as long as possibleThe party is never over, it just moves on.
--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
Synchronet .: realitycheckbbs.org :: scientia potentia est :.
Re: I just installed syncterm I NOW LIKE BBSES!! :)
By: Andrei Bedelean to All on Mon Aug 17 2026 02:51 am
dude bbses are soo cool like its been decades cince bbses started
and there are still online bbses thats soo Coool!!!!
You should have been around during the golden era -- the 1980s into
the very late 1990s. What a memory, and what a time! Rushing home
from school to try to get on your local boards before everyone else
and the constant busy signals until the wee hours of the morning.
In many ways, with the growing hatred amongst all people towards Facebook/Meta, AI, tech in general I am surprised we aren't seeing
more of a resurgence of BBS systems. I think people have finally had
enough of being told what tech they WILL use to enrich to the tech
bros. Sure took long enough.
nelgin wrote to Dmxrob <=-
In many ways, with the growing hatred amongst all people towards Facebook/Meta, AI, tech in general I am surprised we aren't seeing
more of a resurgence of BBS systems. I think people have finally had
enough of being told what tech they WILL use to enrich to the tech
bros. Sure took long enough.
A lot of my new callers say they're trying bulletin boards to get away from places like Facebook so I get it.
I think the best we could hope for is getting BBS messages toI wonder how hard of a project this would actually be -> getting it on to mastodon I imagine wouldn't
ActivityPub somehow, maybe re-appearing in Mastodon in some form?
Bryn wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-
Re: Re: I just installed syncterm I NOW LIKE BBSES!! :)
By: poindexter FORTRAN to nelgin on Sat Oct 03 2026 08:52:05
I think the best we could hope for is getting BBS messages to
ActivityPub somehow, maybe re-appearing in Mastodon in some form?
I wonder how hard of a project this would actually be -> getting it on
to mastodon I imagine wouldn't be all that difficult, but posting from mastodon would likely be a nightmare to implement.
I wonder how hard of a project this would actually be -> getting it on to
mastodon I imagine wouldn't be all that difficult, but posting from
mastodon would likely be a nightmare to implement.
Are both of you under some kind of delusion as to how many people use Mastadon? Basically the same niche-ness as BBSing. That whole "fediverse" thing is just as obscure as a BBS.
Are both of you under some kind of delusion as to how many people use Mastadon? Basically the same niche-ness asThe most reliable estimate I could pull from mastodon.fediverse.observer/stats is ~900,000 active monthly users. Certainly a few orders of magnitude below mainstream social media, but I don't think that's nearly as niche as the BBS
BBSing. That whole
"fediverse" thing is just as obscure as a BBS.
Mastadon? Basically the same niche-ness as BBSing. That wholeThe most reliable estimate I could pull from mastodon.fediverse.observer/stats is ~900,000 active monthly users. Certainly a few orders of magnitude below mainstream social media, but I don't think that's nearly as niche as the BBS community.
"fediverse" thing is just as obscure as a BBS.
The most reliable estimate I could pull from mastodon.fediverse.observer/stats is ~900,000 active monthly users. Certainly a few orders of magnitude below mainstream social media, but I
don't think that's nearly as niche as the BBS
community.
Bryn wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-
I wonder how hard of a project this would actually be -> getting it on
to mastodon I imagine wouldn't be all that difficult, but posting from mastodon would likely be a nightmare to implement.
Gamgee wrote to Bryn <=-
Are both of you under some kind of delusion as to how many people use Mastadon? Basically the same niche-ness as BBSing. That whole "fediverse" thing is just as obscure as a BBS.
Outlaw wrote to Bryn <=-
Basically we're like a secret society, a secret order, we're what's
left of the pre-Internet. We were the original internet pioneer's.
Basically we're like a secret society, a secret order, we're what's left
of the pre-Internet. We were the original internet pioneer's.
We're the guys who thought that internet thing was just a passing fad. :)
I remember buying my first internet yellow pages and typing them in by hand.
What, is this like the equivalent of having somebody print out as big of an /etc/hosts as anyone's been able to maintain and just typing it into your own machine? Sounds painful.I remember buying my first internet yellow pages and typing them in by hand.Which version did you have? I still have a Ryder's 2nd ed., before the WWW was a thing.
I remember buying my first internet yellow pages and typing them in by
hand.
Which version did you have? I still have a Ryder's 2nd ed., before the WWW was a thing.
What, is this like the equivalent of having somebody print out as big of an /etc/hosts as anyone's been able to maintain and just typing it into your own machine? Sounds painful.
Re: Re: I just installed syncterm I NOW LIKE BBSES!! :)
Basically we're like a secret society, a secret order, we're what's left of the pre-Internet.
We were the original internet pioneer's.
We're the guys who thought that internet thing was just a passing fad.
phigan wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-
"Graphics over the Internet? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. It'll never catch on."
| Sysop: | Morningstarr |
|---|---|
| Location: | Mt. Pleasant Nc |
| Users: | 43 |
| Nodes: | 250 (0 / 250) |
| Uptime: | 194:01:07 |
| Calls: | 602 |
| Calls today: | 602 |
| Files: | 616 |
| U/L today: |
617 files (5,824M bytes) |
| D/L today: |
19,808 files (278G bytes) |
| Messages: | 13,187 |
| Posted today: | 989 |