<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1264" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=dahechler@charter.net = href="mailto:dahechler@charter.net">Hechler Family</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=rrg@unlv.nevada.edu href="mailto:rrg@unlv.nevada.edu">Rob Goodale</A> ; <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: = <<FLASH>> Pianotechs forum is ON THE AIR!!</DIV></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT size=2></FONT> <DIV><BR><STRONG>> Anyone that signs up for this is just asking for = trouble. So far the sake of checking it out, here is what I found to be     > rude, and just > plain irritating.<BR>><BR>> On the evil register:<BR>> - Since I have = an established email address which is on all my business cards, I'm not = switching email addresses. (strike 1)<BR><FONT = color=#0000ff></FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>This has nothing to do with your = current e-mail address.  As part of the service Yahoo gives you a second free address.  You can use it or not, it's only a bonus benefit.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>> - For "recalling your password", they want your birth = date. That's invasion of your privacy plain and simple.  (strike = 2)<BR><FONT color=#0000ff>That information is required in the event that you = forget your pass word.  In such cases they will ask for your birth date and a = code word, (i.e. pet's name, favorite ice cream, etc).  Then your pass = word will be e-mailed to you at your normal e-mail address.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>> - And why do I need to "customize Yahoo" in this = manner. I did not try it but I'm sure you have to answer with something - even  = > though it made be made up (strike 3)<BR><FONT color=#0000ff>See above</FONT>.</STRONG></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV><BR><STRONG>> On the pianotech forum page:<BR>> - You have to = put up with an advertising box (talk about wasting bandwidth) (strike = 4)<BR><FONT color=#0000ff>That's why it's free.  The advertisement is = typically small, out of the way, and easy to ignore.  Why are people = so concerned about "wasting band width"?  Is it some sort of natural resource = like trees or oil that we will run out of?</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>> - You have to put up with "<FONT face=arial>Yahoo! = Sponsored Links" </FONT>(talk about wasting bandwidth) </STRONG><FONT face=arial><STRONG>(strike 5)<BR><FONT color=#0000ff>See above.</FONT></STRONG></FONT></DIV><FONT face=arial> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT><BR><STRONG>> After 3 strikes, I was done = - not for me !<BR><FONT color=#0000ff>It's free and it's = optional</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>> - I can not force myself to sign up for something that = is not needed.</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff><STRONG>The forum was created as an = alternative and provides services currently not available on pianotech such as allowing participants to post unlimited quantities of pictures in albums, spontaneous chat, (including voice), directly connected to the = forum, exchanging files, creating poles, and so = on.   As to whether or not it is needed that will be of the opinions of = those who choose to use it.</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff><STRONG>I would hope that eventually we could = develop an entirely independent domain not tied to a service like Yahoo but = right now this is what we have to work with.  This is largely in the = experimental stage right now.  It will either become a major success that will = be the topic of discussion during lunch at PTG conventions, or it will die and = fade away.  It's success is dependent on the enthusiasm of the = group.  It is not intended to REPLACE pianotech.  It is an alternative to = it.  You can be on pianotech, this new forum, both, or = neither.</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff><STRONG>Rob Goodale, = RPT</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff><STRONG>Las Vegas, NV</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2><FONT = size=1></FONT></FONT> </DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>