Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 14, 1995 TAG: 9503140091
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: IAN SPELLING
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Go on line. No matter what the hour, you're almost certain to find a partner for a cyberspace debate about the show's merits.
``The best part about Trekkers being on line is the ability to exchange ideas with people you'd never meet otherwise,'' says Bill Mason, co-moderator of America Online's ``Trek'' trivia areas and bulletin board (also known as a newsgroup) since 1991.
``Someone compared having Trekkers on line to being one huge `Trek' convention. That's the first comparison that's ever really made sense to me,'' Mason adds.
Of course, there's much more for Trekkers to do on line than chat. There are trivia games, ``Trek'' guests, sound clips, video clips, photos and schedules of upcoming episodes and conventions.
A phone line and a computer are all it takes to beam aboard the on-line bandwagon. There are several options, including the Internet, the World Wide Web (WWW), and pay services such as CompuServe, America Online, GEnie, Delphi and Prodigy. They're all used voraciously for inter-Trekker communication.
``The Internet is the best way to go, and it's the most active,'' says Jean Krevor, a production associate at Starlog magazine.
``To get it you'll need access to an Internet server, such as Netcom, or special software, so it's really for people who know what they're talking about - in terms of `Trek' and of using their computers.''
Free-flowing dialogue on the Internet often gets silly or rude. For those who prefer a more directed discussion, there are moderated areas.
One such location is the closed newsgroup rec.arts.startrek.info on Usenet, a bulletin board linking thousands of newsgroups. There, moderator Jim Griffith ensures that only relevant conversation is ``posted.''
``Readers of `Trek' newsgroups know about episodes and movies long before they're aired,'' says Griffith via e-mail. ``Usenet has become the source for `Trek' information because of the speed with which the information is distributed.
``The minus is there's no guarantee of accuracy,'' Griffith says. ``Further, anyone with a two-bit opinion can and does post it. As a result, Usenet discussions are consistently more critical of `Trek' series than public opinion suggests is warranted.
``Paramount won't go near Usenet because of the negative tone. That's really too bad for all concerned.''
Paramount, however, has created an Internet ``page'' (http://voyager.paramount.com) on the WWW, the most technologically sophisticated of the Internet options.
On the Paramount site, Trekkers with the necessary software can download ``Voyager'' footage and sound, as well as bios of the characters and actors. They can also study the Voyager's technology and buy licensed memorabilia.
For on-line neophytes, the pay services are ideal. In reality, most offer pretty much the same ``Trek'' product, so test each service to find the one that best suits your ``Trek'' and non-``Trek'' needs.
These services give potential customers a free one-month trial. Take advantage of the offers while checking ongoing service costs (about $10 monthly) and the hourly connect-time rate (most begin at $3.00 after a certain time allotment).
Following are toll-free numbers for the major pay services. Note: Most provide an Internet ``gateway,'' and have (or are adding) access to the WWW.
America Online (800-827-6364); CompuServe (800-848-8199); Delphi (800-695-4005); GEnie (800-638-9636); Prodigy (800-PRODIGY) -0-|
TREK SPECS
``Next Gen'' episodes 49-52, ``Ensigns of Command,'' ``Evolution,'' ``The Survivors'' and ``Who Watches the Watchers?'' will be available from Paramount Home Video on March 21, each at $14.95. ... Coming in mid-March: ``TV Guide's'' collector's edition of ``Star Trek: Four Generations of Stars, Stories, and Strange New Worlds.'' The $3.95 issue features interviews, a Camille Paglia essay, Al Hirschfeld caricatures, reprinted ``Trek''- oriented ``TV Guide'' articles, a ``Voyager'' poster, and terrific candid photos (new and old). ... Leonard Nimoy is working on a new autobiography, due from Pocket Books this fall.
CON CALENDAR March 24-26
Vulkon at the Orlando Hilton North in Orlando, Fla., featuring Robert O'Reilly. (Call 305-434-6060.)
Creation at the Civic Auditorium in San Jose, Calif., featuring Jonathan Frakes and Michael Dorn. March 25 only. (Call 818-409-0960.)
Creation at the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne, Ind., featuring Nichelle Nichols. March 26 only. (Call 818-409-0960.)
by CNB