Hi Don,

Least we forget there was another on line service which did have it's days, CompuServe.

It's still there and the Casino Chip/Tokens BB counterpart is still there. However, in another Forum - TELECARDS. I am still the acting Section Leader there but there's nothing to lead. About 2-4 collectors left that are active.

It really didn't see it's good day's because the chip collectors just weren't there in the numbers that were on Prodigy.

Another thing is people don't respond well to changing thing or doing something else as well. That's why people have stayed with Prodigy, and Greg's board see so many more messages than Chequers. Also, somewhat why people are willing to pay for E-Bay listings instead of using Rene's new site that is currently fee free. (Somewhat, in that E-Bay has so many buyers for sellers right now due to it's popluarity and advertising)

I for one always complained about the Prodigy "CLASSIC" software and still do. It's the main reason I left. I couldn't see spending the money on software that was so archaic, an limited.

I am still with CompuServe and don't really plan to leave it. I've just recently dropped my account to $9.95 per month for 5 free hours which is quite ample for me since I almost do everything now using my @home cable service. I can even access CompuServe via my cable modem service and CompuServe now has the forums on the internet(but you still have to be a member) so you don't even have to use the CompuServe software to go into the Forums(BB) areas. Also you can use any internet browser you want with CompuServe's software.

CompuServe did have an almost great 2 years with the Silver Strike collectors. But almost everyone left due to cost of having to use two services.

It looks to me that sooner or later everyone will be using one internet service provider that allows the use of "Microsoft Internet Explorer" or "Netscape" browsers. Prodigy "Classic" doesn't allow use of these browsers.

And there's the other BIG on line service "AOL(America On-Line). I was only on line there for about a month and couldn't find anything so I left. That was too many years ago to remember. I am sure that with the passing years things should have changed. You or anyone else have any information regarding chipping there?

There are also other On Line services but I don't think that they did very well as the BIG three, Prodigy, CompuServe and AOL.

Unfortunately, with the ever increasing WWW, I too feel that all the collecting on the BIG three will be fond memories of the past.