I think that it is useful if you have a fairly focussed agenda, because this kind of chat can range all over the place. I would suggest two to four items for discussion, with a free-style chat after your business is done (with everything logged as the free-style chat can often come up with better ideas than the strict agenda, but the strict agenda is needed to move forward on things like project organization, etc.). I can use just about anything under the sun and the time is ok with me.
The major problems we had when trying to get together with the DQPA posse was:
1. getting a time that suited most people.
2. choosing a technology platform that everybody was comfortable with
3. choosing a technology platform that everybody could run on their computers
4. choosing a technology platform that allowed us to log the conversation for later referral.
While many java based chat tools were available and most people could use them, most did not offer the ability to log the conversation. One's like webRPG could create a log but some of our group was mac-based and had problems with it (as Rodger knows from our online campaign). Some of the group did not know how to use IRC or ICQ, etc., etc.
That said AIM seems to have most of those bases covered (winpc, mac versions, save feature, free, etc.)
JohnR
-----Original Message-----
From: Rodger Thorm [mailto:dqn@ntsource.com]
Sent: March 1, 2000 10:05 PM
To: dq-rules@eGroups.com
Subject: [dq-rules] Proposed Online Meeting
Does this make sense, or am I
chasing off in the wrong direction?