CAPN SAMPLE ISSUE JUNE 13, 1990-SPORK'S LAST OUTPOST
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                           Telegard vs. Monarch

     Thinking of running an elite BBS?  Like most Elite sysops
chances are you'll end up with Telegard or Monarch/2.  Yes, other
contenders do exist: Tag is a nice telegard clone that adds almost
nothing; Major BBS (Which I run) is superior but will cost you a
minimum of $50.00.  So in the end it comes down to Telegard vs.
Monarch.  Both have oodles of file transfer protocols, full screen
editors, a file point system and superlative ANSI graphics support. 

                         WHAT TELEGARD OFFERS 

     Telegard is based on the old Forum-PC software which you still
see once in a while.  It has been in the "main-stream" longer than
monarch and is run by a number of non-elite boards.  From a remote
sysop's point of view this software beat everything, even Major
BBS.  The remote's commands are so rich that I could see running
this BBS totally from remote.  Telegard is also very easy to
modify. :like major BBS you can change practicably every bit of
text in the system and even the logic of some prompts.  I've only
seen one door (dungeon stomper) written for Telegard but many run
RBBS-PC-Board doors.
            
                         What Monarch Offers

     The software many people call monarch is actually Monarch/2
the original Monarch is rarely used.  Monarch's file system is
almost identical to Telegard's.   The Monarch Message system is
also very similar, but slightly faster and more flexible.  As well
as Basic file and message functions Monarch also offers a data-
base selection (mostly to keep track of other BBS numbers), a T-
file base separate from the file base, built in Casino and Trivia
sections.  As well Monarch keeps track of more user information and
has three interfaces.  

     Of these interfaces the first is normal BBS menus and the
second expert menus only the third warrant's real attention.  The
third interface is a pull down menu system which seems to confirm
to IBM's SAA specifications, the menu system is a full light
bar\arrow key menu.  Although this menu is interesting its too slow
to be of any real value but at 9600 baud I could really imagine
using it.  Or, if the Monarchs makers really want to get this thing
out there a special com-program would allow users to use it easily
even at 1200 baud.  

     Also notable is Monarch's great security system and well
designed sysop functions.  
     These feature's coupled with monarch's power make Monarch
superior to Telegard. Monarch is more prepared for the future and,
to spite average remote sysop functions better for most purposes.