Re: Internet support

[Helen Landry <hlandry@spectra.net>]

On Wed, 20 Mar 1996, Mickey Johnson wrote:

> I have found a email reader, but I was wondering if there is software
> out there to allow the apple II gs to access the web and ftp sites
> 
>                Please email me at             mickster@geneseo.net
> 
	
	You've gotten excellent advice but perhaps I may add a little frostng 
on the cake, since I have just recently gone through this myself. 

	Number one, *First thing*. Get hold of someone with access to 
the web and adress the following URL. http://www.thelist.com  . This is a 
comprehensive list of ISPs (Internet Service Providers) in the United 
States. It is organized by area code so you can chose one that insures 
that your modem calls into the provider are local. The list is very 
complete. the ISP services are  described in detail along with   the 
charges. Furthermore most of them have web pages of their own so you can 
get additional information if you want it. Be *sure* to get one that 
advertises a "Shell account." The commonest servers are 
SLIP and PPP, which the GS cannot use, so get the Shell. *Under no 
circumstances* succumb to the blandishments of the big service providers 
(AOL and Compuserve.)  They are very expensive and if all you want is 
acesss to the web, ypu don't need them. In fact, don't sign on with any 
ISP that requires hourly charges of any kind. You  should be 
able to get unlimited access to the Web for between $15 and $20 per 
month. My ISP is charging me $14 and change per month because I 
signed up for a year's service, and they waived the installation fee into the
bargain. You can probably swing a similar deal. The software you need, as 
many of your advisers have noted, is Proterm. It is easy to install and a 
joy to use, and of course, Lynx is mode of activation. For E-mail, use Pine. 
To my way of thinking it is really superior to all the point and click 
gimmicks that are so heavily hyped.

	Make sure you have  a 14,400 modem. Scantron (Q) makea a very good 
one. Don't try to get by with your old 2400 baud one. It will 
cause endless trouble. Sooner or later, you will want to install a 
second phone line. I know  it is a  bit of an expense, but the modem 
really does make you incommunicado. You can't use call waiting; it will 
devestate your online communication, so a dedicated phone line is best.  
It really doesn;t cost very much once  you get by the expense of 
installation. 

	I hope this helps and, welcome to the club.