Re: Internet access using an apple2gs

[just.dave@genie.com]

slackey@slackey-sun.lightstream.com (Stan Lackey) writes:

>I have a friend with an apple2gs, who wants to use it to get internet
>access.  Her interest is just for email, so I assume text mode would
>be fine.

>Is this possible?  If so, how?  I know nothing about apple2's, I just
>promised her I'd ask.

Yep.  It's not only possible, but very frequently done! :)  All she needs is
a telecom program capable of handling VT-100 emulation, and a shell account
with a local internet provider.  If all she wants is email, you might check
the local BBS lists and see if there are any ProLine or FutureVision BBSes
in the area.  These are Apple II BBSes that provide internet mail, and
probably cheaper than a real ISP.  Many other BBSes provide internet mail
nowadays, too, and it doesn't have to be Apple II specific, either, as long
as it supports VT100, ANSI, or TTY dialup.  If all else fails, she could
always get an account with Genie or Delphi, both of which provide internet
mail, and both still offer text-mode access.

For VT100 emulation, her best bet would be ANSITerm, which is a commercial
program (don't remember the cost right offhand).  ProTERM and Spectrum will
also work, both of those also being commercial.  There are a couple
shareware telecom apps out there that provide VT100 emulation, but they
don't give you much in the way of file transfers or local file handling
support, and are basically dumb terminals.  If you want more information on
any of them specifically, I'll be happy to look it up for you, I just don't
have it handy as I'm writing this :)
--
Dave Miller                                    dmiller@c4systm.com
System Admin: Antimatter BBS  (517) 263-8384   root@antimatter.ecore.fnet.org
Subdomain Admin: Futurenet Eastern Core        root@ecore.fnet.org
Assistant Chief Sysop: A2Pro RT on GEnie       just.dave@genie.com
  "My opinions are my own, and not necessarily those of A2Pro or GEnie"