On Wed, 9 Jun 1999, allyn yonge wrote:

Hello,
IMO it could be done. Considering all of the magical
items, princes, scrolls etc. that just 'happen' to
show up ---- adding e-mail to the story in a country
that has disposable cell phones (VERY short range, in
bright colors for �trendy' teens and others�about
$12.95/each) does not seem out of place.  The
technology is in place. It doesn't have to be a
computer e-mail. It could just as well be voice-mail
on a text beeper/phone/digital assistant/palm top,
etc.  In fact giving Ryouga a satellite link
phone/beeper etc. is a joke in itself. ^_^
From there it's a short step to �Sorry, wrong number.'

Well, certainly the technology is in place, nowadays.  But first off,
Ranma is set in the eighties.  And even if you decided to move it today,
could you really see Ranma with a beeper?  Or Shampoo with a cell phone?
Or Ryouga with a PDA?  (Actually, I might see Shinnosuke with a palm
pilot, but that's neither here nor there).

If you *did* move it to today, it would seem that most of the cast doesn't
care about being trendy, as most *don't* have cell phones and such.  So
still, it seems out of place to me. 

Hell, there are lost of anime series out there where this would work.  A
technically dominated world like BGC or Robotech, an introspection fic
like EVA, or even something silly like Tylor, for there *is* character
development there (if you haven't seen it, I won't ruin it, but if you see
the last one after having seen the rest, you'll understand), I think
they'd work great!  But Ranma?  You'd really have to reach.

If you REALLY want to get strange you can do
cross-over's. 
Remember, beepers work across worlds in Escaflowne. If
they can do that . . .:
Ranma/FY
Blue Seed/Nurse Angel
Sailor Moon/Iczer
Blue Sonnet /Mama is a 4th Grader
Combustible Campus Guardress/ Pokeman

Indeed!  By the power of my sword, and my beeper...
Combustable Campus Guardress is good stuff.  ^_^

The Ultimate Teacher/ Marmalade Boy
Mysterious Thief St. Tail/ NGE

While James wrote:

I agree with most of the above, but don't you think Nabiki and Kuno
might actually use the Web now and again? I mean, in a few fan-fic I've
read, Nabiki HAS had a computer. Just a thought, but I think it could
work if Nabiki and Kuno were used. 

Now, Nabiki I might see with a computer (I think that's a fanfic thing,
not in anything Takahashi Rumiko drew.)  But would the paragon of a
samaurai stoop to use a decadent object like a computer?

When I saw this post, I started thinking "Okay, now who would actually
*have* a computer?"  And as I began crossing names off of my mental list,
I began to realize that not many would need one.  Certainly, not wandering
martial artists who spend their time training for revenge or just to
improve.  Not someone who's village probably doesn't have electricity.
Not someone who cooks and cleans, or someone who spends their recreational
time stealing panties.

Basically, using the computer means sitting down and thinking, and the
Ranma cast seems to prefer to act.

It's not pretty, but it could be funny.

It could be funny...but I think Ranma and Hinako would be funnier.  But
that's just me. ^_^

-Natsume Ranma Ranma
-------
The sardines weren't worth the trouble.  A few more shots, then 
Ryoga-san would overheat and explode.  Ducking around a corner, 
I managed to lose him as I entered the ramshackle residence of 
my Anime supplier.

One look at his face and I knew that I was betrayed.  "Tell me."
I insisted.  He refused, so I slammed him against the wall.
"Last chance.  Where can Ranma-Ranma find good fanfics?"
"Try Jason Liao." he whispered, before he slumped to the floor.
I heard the sounds of a door splintering as I left through the 
window, one step ahead of Tendo Heavy Industries...