Paris OnLine '95 Ends Today

Net Show Gets 5500 Visitors, All Anxious to be Wired

Right now I'd better give all you readers a warning - if you've read this far, you are readers and not netzie browsers - um, warning : for those of you who destest this sort of thing - us Internet yahoos looking at our navels, read no further. Zap over to alt.true.lies.sex or hit the URL to the Virtual.Mall.

Okay, for the four or five of you still tuned into this page, here's the exclusive to Paris Pages Report on the Online '95 show, ending today in Paris La Defense.

While Norman Barth is cooling his heels in some Pacific beach café in San Diego CA waiting for this report on account of the strike the other day (see 'Strike'), I think we should have a contest to think up a better name for La Defense. There are these signs around, "Defense de Fumer," or "Defense de Stationnement," so the name of this invented place, Paris-La Defense, means, like, hey, 'Don't Go There!'

But hundreds of thousands of people have to, every day. There are very high office buildings, very large malls, and an immense concrete desert slightly smaller than the Sahara. There is a lot of glass, steel, aluminum, a little plastic, some stone; but really... a lot of... concrete. The only thing organic at La Defense is (see 'Al Fresco') people.

It needs a new name. Something, jolly, chic, pure fantasy - unlike Paris' Disneyland, which is aptly named - so, here is the call for entries. Contest right here. New Name for La Defense. Win Prizes. If I get more than two entries, I will actually give prizes - something authentic - from, you guessed it, La Defense. The best name will be choosen scientically by pulling a postcard or an email out of a hat. No need to send hats, I have plenty. (``Click'' on the email icon at the bottom of this page to send in your suggestions.)

Now, about the Online '95 show. Sixty-one exhibitors drew 5500 curious visitors from 9 am Wednesday to 4 pm today.

Announced launch of Apple's eworld in France now pushed back to late in year; draws interest anyway.

Your reporter went twice, so that means 5499 different visitors. The most significant news, especially for readers in the Paris area, was the outbreak - at last! - of a provider price war. Most dialup services are sold by monthly subscriptions, that ranged from high to very high. Many providers also had high hourly charges for Internet online connect time. As of yesterday, what used to cost 240 francs a month for limited access times, has dropped to 99 francs for unlimited access. The operators that offer this price for access offer no services without extra charges. That means you bring your own software and knowhow to the party.

Other operators' higher prices usually include hand-holding; online help, and internet software - although they often neglect to print in large letters: "All This Stuff Is Not Free - It Is Shareware." Anyway, if you are a netzie newbie, it might be wise to pay more for a while until you can find your way around for yourself.

Micro price, micro stand: World-Net kiosk at Paris' Online '95 show.

Hourly connect charges on top of the monthly subscription fee are not defensible. Some operators offer a lot of free hours - 10, 30, 50 are common - so it may not be an financial issue if you are seldom online.

Another thing to watch for when selecting a access provider, is the number of modems that they have to handle your dialup traffic. If few, you'll get busy signals. Another thing to consider is the size of the provider's line to the Whole Internet. Big fat numbers are better is all I know about it.

Finally, there is France Telecom. When you dialup your provider, you immediately pay phone costs, by the minute. So, you should try to avoid long-distance calls and you should avoid France Telecom's 'Red' tarif times - which are 8 am to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:00 on weekdays and Saturday mornings from 8 am to 12:30. After 22:30 any day is the lowest rate, through the night to eight in the morning; being 65 percent less than the 'Red' rate, which is 100 percent.

The national manufacturer, Machines Bull, still exists and is alive online.

There are currently 10 providers in the Paris area, so shop around. Reading a book or two about the internet and its nuts and bolts won't hurt either. There are a fair number of titles available in French as well as English at the usual bookstores - including of course, fnac. Try their Web URL : http://www.fnac.fr/

Online '95 seemed to be aimed mainly at professional users. Compuserve and other biggies of their ilk had no presence at the expo.

Return to Richard Erickson's Paris Journal

Updated 04/95