In the early 1990s, as BBSes turned into businesses, some sysops and developers started making real money.

Could ANSI artists and publishers do the same?

https://breakintochat.com/blog/2026/03/16/business-of-bbsing-ansi-art-and-webcomics-part-4/

Part 4 of my series "ANSI art and webcomics" is here!

#retrocomputing #ansiart #textmode #ansi #bbs #bbsing #computerhistory #history #mastoart #comics #digipres

Fired up the retro computers tonight and did some gaming and BBSing.

#retrocomputing #bbsing

48 years ago today, Ward Christensen and Randy Suess launched CBBS, the world’s first dial-up bulletin board system — and online communities were born.

From one phone line and a modem in 1978 to the BBS revival we’re still running today, the spirit of connection lives on.

This Months Dialed Back in Compute!’s Gazette celebrating these 48 years from Ward and Randy!

A Baudy anniversary to the pioneers who started it all.

#BBSing #CBBS #RetroComputing #SysopLife #compute

Feb. 16, 1978 -- forty eight years ago today -- the first public dial-up bulletin board system or BBS went online.

Wired: "1978: Ward Christensen and Randy Suess launch the first public dialup bulletin board system. The two unleash the kernel of what would eventually spawn the world wide web, countless online messaging systems..."

https://www.wired.com/2010/02/0216cbbs-first-bbs-bulletin-board/

I got my first modem in the summer of 1986, a Prometheus ProModem 1200A (modem on a card) for the Apple II. The first BBS I logged in to was OxGate, an RBBS/RCPM system the phone number of which I still can remember (my earliest BBS software -- firmware-based on that modem card -- had no phone book). I used BBSs avidly until sometime in 1994, when I subscribed to a local ISP's (Widomaker of Williamsburg, VA) dial-up modem-based PPP service that brought TCP/IP to my 486 PC with Windows 3.1. I could then browse the web from home, and that was basically the end of BBSing for me -- for the moment, anyway.

For those interested in experiencing this early form of online community, there are many BBSs online right now, accessible via telnet on systems old and new. I've enjoyed getting back into BBSing this way, especially when using vintage systems to login.

Most any computer can do it, today. Tips on how: https://bytecellar.com/bbsing

#BulletinboardSystem #BBS #BBSing #telnet #dialup #modem #online #terminals #terminalprograms #computinghistory #history #computers #vintagecomputing #retrocomputing #retrocomputers #nostalgia #ATDT #onlineforums #preinternet #internet #communication #RBBS #AppleII #CRT #memories #Wired #tech #technews #technology

"Dialed" into the Mac Studio wirelessly across the room for some IRCing on old hardware, here as the snow falls. ❄️

I had to modify the plist and shell config scripts I'd setup on the Mac since "upgrading" to macOS 26 Tahoe to get this working without gripes in the terminal.

#Mac #macOS #terminal #serialterminal #vintagecomputing #retrocomputing #retrocomputers #computinginthesnow #AppleII #AppleIIe #MacStudio #ProTerm #BBSing #IRCing #BBS #IRC #WiFi232 #login #telnet #WiFimodem #computers #CRT #floppydrive #ByteCellar #BASH #photo #UNIX

NEW! — just went live this week.

The Atari BBS Gateway is a lightweight, fast selector that connects you to multiple Atari BBSes from one address. Just ATDT ataribbs.ddns.net :6502 from any Term Program retro or modern and reach every active Atari BBS

#atari #bbsing #southernamis #retrocomputing #atari8bit

Before apps.Before browsers. Before the web. Modems built communities.

This month’s Dialed Back in Compute!’s Gazette tells the story—and Southern AMIS BBS lets you live it again!

Want more info: www.southernamis.com
Dial in, Connect. Web Telnet Modem FujiNet WiFimodem it’s easier than you think!

#RetroComputing #BBSing #VintageTech #ComputeGazette #Fujinet #Telnet #RetroComputing
#Atari8bit #atari