21 Mar
2007
21 Mar
'07
1:03 p.m.
Jay West wrote:
The plan is for me to offer subscriptions to bitsavers
for a fee. The
idea is that you can sign up for a subscription and pick just the
specific directory trees you want, or the entire archive. You are
initially sent a complete copy of all the trees you selected (or full
archive) on the medium of your choice (CD, DVD, HD, etc.). From that
point on - for the subscription fee - you are automatically shipped a
set of updates periodically - say every month? - that keeps your own
personal bitsavers archive up to date.
In the interests of saving the planet by not wasting resources, why not let
the subscribers choose when they want their next update? Just give 'em
10/12/whatever "free updates" and leave it up to them when they want them.
After they're all used up, they need to renew their subscription.
You'll have the subscription database already (and probably a "last dispatch
date", assuming the plan isn't to try and handle every DVD burn and mail-out
within the same 24 hour period!) - it shouldn't be difficult to add a counter
for the number of updates each subscriber's received.
It
also will hopefully reduce the bandwidth on the site for people who
decide they want a full copy.
Do many people ask for full copies (or try downloading the entire site - but
let's not start that discussion again)? Given that the mirrors exist, I'm
surprised people feel the need to have everything; I doubt any person has
every single system for which there's a bitsavers manual :-)
The
overage above the cost of media goes to the care and feeding of the
classiccmp server.
That works :-)
p.s. is there any benefit in having a separate mailing list for "operational"
ideas - not just to do with the classiccmp site, but things like the
discussion over Dave's software repository? I'm sure there are many
subscribers here who only have an interest in the physical vintage hardware /
software / docs, not all the "service" type discussion that often goes on.
Just a thought, anyway.
cheers
Jules