RE: Help! (Again) Network Software for GS

[bpvh@shell1.msn.fullfeed.com (Bradley VonHaden)]

D & J Crounse <drjsc@summit.tminet.com> wrote:

>Need sources for internet software for an Apple II GS. A friend
>sent his Mac to college with his son and wants to communicate
>using his GS. No replies to my earlier query!

To connect a IIgs to the internet here are the items needed:

	1. A modem and appropriate modem cable.

I would suggest getting at least a v32bis (14.4) modem or a v34
(28.8) if it can be afforded.  To connect the modem to the serial
port, a hi-speed hardware handshaking modem cable is necessary.  Some
MAC cables are not wired properly for the IIgs.  Alltech, InSync and
Morgan Davis each sell a IIgs hi-speed cable. 

	2. A communications program.

The 3 main commercial programs are Proterm 3.1, Spectrum 2.0 and
Ansiterm.  All cost about $80 mail order.  Each has its strengths and
weaknesses.  Proterm is a Prodos-8 program that will work on most of
the computers in the II family.  It is text based.  It is very
stable.  Spectrum is a GS/OS desktop program that has a graphical
interface.  Ansiterm's claim to fame is its ANSI emulation (useful if
calling PC ANSI BBSs).

I have both Proterm and Spectrum and use Proterm exclusively, mainly
because I have had it for years, am use to it, and I have several
macros to automate my online activities and I have not yet written
Spectrum equivalents.

	3. An internet connection.

There are three ways to go here: an Internet Service Provider
(preferably local), a local BBS connected to the net, or the internet
gateway of a major online service (GEnie, Delphi, CompuServe).  If
there is going to be a lot of internet activity, than choose an ISP. 
If the only usage is going to be email, try finding a local BBS that
is connected to the net for email.  If somewhere in between, then a
major online service might be the answer.

Note: As there are no PPP/SLIP programs yet for the IIgs, the only
way to connect to an ISP is via a dial-up shell.  So, in choosing an
ISP make sure they offer a dial-up shell account.

****bpvh   Internet: bpvh@msn.fullfeed.com    GEnie: B.VONHADEN****
****Posted by an Apple IIgs using my own Proterm 3.1 File Macro****