Re: IIgs, Marinetti, and the Internet.

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

bi720@lafn.org (William Teagardin) wrote:

>THE SITUTATION
> 
>	I am faceing a major disaster of the first magnatude.
>My ISP (LAFN {L. A. Free Net}) is schedualed to discontinue
>Text baised service at the end of this year.
>	I am running an Apple (NOT A MAC) IIgs with GSOS 6.0.1
>and Comm software ANSITerm 2.13 release B (8 bit program). This
>works fine except for a few anal retentive sites which insist
>on cookies and/or a frames capable browser.  However, when LAFN
>shuts down text support I won't even be able to get on to those
>far seeing technological advanced visionaries who have sites
>capable of supporting both text and frames baised users.
>	Now, I have upgraded my LAFN account to PPP service (I
>am still able to log on with ANSITerm and run text baised) and
>installed Marinetti TCP/IP (IIgs PPP dialer) which runs fine and 
>establishes a good PPP connection. Marinetti came with their
>version of TELNET which I am able to run and make a PPP connection
>to LAFN.  The problem is that TELNET is naked, no macros (scripts),
>no editor, no screen capture/scrollback, etc., etc., etc.
> 
>THE QUESTIONS
> 
>	Are there any "applications" communications programs which
>work with Marinetti ??  I found one "SPECTRUM" from SevenHills that
>brags in their Features list that they can connect to the net without
>the requirement of TCP/IP !!  Why bother, if Marinetti is available ??

Well, if you were STILL using a shell account, Spectrum allows
you to web browse and VT100 WITHOUT TCP/IP.  But if you DO
have Marinetti AND a PPP connection, THEN Spectrum WILL
use the TCP/IP link, provide VT100 and web browsing through
the TCP/IP link, etc.  ;-)
 
>	There is a mention of the requirement of a UNIX Shell account.
>What is a Shell account ?? and where can you get one ?? How Much $$ ??

A shell account is a text account.  You had basically a shell
account with LAFN before (you know, Lynx, email, etc).
 
>	What use is TELNET if it is so limited, Other than a means
>of testing Marinetti PPP connections ??

It was only meant to test PPP connections.  The real
applications are other software that work with Marinetti.  I
think that if you get Spectrum, you can then connect to
your PPP account with Marinetti and use Spectrum's
VT100 terminal just as you now use ANSITerm's.  If you
want a direct web browser rather than just Lynx, you
would then get SIS as well.
 
>	Is there such a thing as a real browser (frames/cookies & all)
>for the IIgs ???  One document described Spectrum as an "Almost
>browser."
> 
>	I have downloaded the specs and manual for Spectrum but I
>am somewhat confused as to what the limitations of it are.  Would
>you believe that of all the glowing words describing how wonderful
>it is, I couldn't find any describing the limitations ??  Specificaly,
>will I be able to connect to those site which insist on cookies 
>and/or "frames" capability ???

It won't display graphics or take cookies, unfortunately, but
current versions of Lynx will (take cookies, not display graphics).
As for frames, I think it displays a frames menu and then you
can select which frame to display.  The current version of Lynx
also does this.