CompuServe forums will be shut down in December
CompuServe was the first major online service provider in the United States before AOL took over the company's position. AOL acquired CompuServe eventually, and shut down most of the other company's operations.
CompuServe stopped providing Internet Provider Services for instance, and popular services such as OurWorld Web pages were taken offline as a consequence.
The CompuServe forums on the other hand remained a thing, albeit not as popular as the forums during the golden age of the service.
AOL on the other hand was acquired by Verizon, and is now part of Oath together with the remains of Yahoo.
When you visit the forums right now, you are greeted with a pinned message stating that the forums will be shut down on December 15, 2017.
Dear Forum friends and family,
We regret to inform you that the Forums will be removed from the CompuServe service effective December 15, 2017. For more than two decades, the CompuServe Forums paved the way for online discussions on a wide variety of topics and we appreciate all of the participation and comments you have provided over the years.All of your email, news, weather, sports, and entertainment information will remain available to you after this change. We are constantly evaluating the content and services that are available through the service, and look forward to bringing you new content and services in the future.
Sincerely,
The CompuServe Team
While the forums will be removed from the CompuServe service on that day, CompuServe email as well as news, weather sports and entertainment information won't be. These remain available through the service according to the announcement.
While the forums activity pales in comparison to sites like Reddit, it appears that it has attracted a dedicated group of users who frequent it regularly.
These users will lose access to the information posted to the forums. There does not seem to be an option to export data. What users could do however is use a program to mirror the site before it goes offline. A program like HTTRack should do the trick.
Closing Words
The shut down of the CompuServe forums is probably another casualty of the merging of services under Oath. Neither Verizon nor AOL have issued a statement yet in regards to the closure however. (via Fast)
Yup, CompuServe was my first ISP back in 1993. My Windows 3.1 PC cost me about $750 back then.. I had saved enough money to either buy a used car, or a PC and a scooter. Being a young geek I went with the PC and the scooter, ha.
I joined the online world via CompuServe so long ago! The forums were great for programmers. I had no idea that the forums still existed! Even so, I feel sad they’re dying.
Compuserve, what memories I have of them and AOL as well! I grew up when the internet was in its infancy, so I remember AOL,Compuserve, Prodigy, etc! I was really surprised to hear that Compuserve still existed!
I am surprised AOL still exists. And yes I remember all of them. Never used AOL though. It was beyond horrible.
same here. used compuserve… a long long time ago, and had no idea they still were still around.
but i guess they weren’t really popular here in europe.
Another drop in the pool of business rationalism.
“The Web began dying in 2014, here’s how” [https://staltz.com/the-web-began-dying-in-2014-heres-how.html]
The beat goes on. Concentration, monopoly when diversity and pluralism on the contrary have always enlightened humanity. Those who survive may be the strongest but strength and ethics may differ. Animals know but strength. Is our world emphasizing on our animality?
“I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together” dominated!
@ Tom Hawack:
Bonus points for referencing “I Am The Walrus”!