C) World Wide Web. Sorry, you cannot run Mosaic through the Apple
///. However, the lynx program can handle any World Wide Web page, is
text- based, and is very fast. Suggest using lynx under Access /// in
ANSI emulation mode. Sometimes lynx will display a garbled screen:
press Control-L to ask lynx to erase and re-display it.
D) The Usenet. Several text-based
Usenet readers are available. The author's favorite is nn, short for
"No News is good news." Other alternatives include tin, rn, and trn.
Each has a slightly different user interface. nn is Apple ///
friendly and works well under Access ///.
5) How Much Should It
Cost?
In most areas of the United States
Internet host access is available for under $20.00 a month. Similar
service for similar prices can be found in most places in the world.
Normally called "shell" access, an Internet provider generates an
account for you on their host(s). Then, using the Apple ///, a modem,
and a communications program such as Access /// or The Communications
Manager, you call into their host and begin using the programs above
in any combination to explore the Internet. In some areas popular
systems known as FreeNets are available. These offer free, text-based
access to the Internet and generally have the same capabilities as
any other Internet host.
While you are connected to the host,
the normal Apple /// abilities of capturing or printing information,
switching programs, and the
extraordinarily comfortable keyboard of the /// are available to you.
However, most of the actual work of bringing Internet information to
you is being off-loaded to the host system.
6) How do I transfer information
from the Internet to my ///?
The Internet host system acts as an
intermediary. When you access files from other Internet systems, you
will still need to download the files to your Apple ///'s diskette
drives, ProFile, or hard disk. Unfortunately, one of the best
communications programs for the Apple /// (Access ///) lacks the
ability to download anything except simple text files. It may be
necessary to switch to another communications program such as Xmodem
/// when file downloads are necessary.
The author prefers to use Access ///
most of the time. After gathering a number of files that need to be
downloaded, the author will disconnect from his Internet host, switch
to Xmodem /// using BOS, and begin a downloading frenzy after
re-connecting to his Internet host. When the files are all safely on
the ProFile, it's time to return to Access ///.
Most hosts support Xmodem
downloading and uploading capability. Often the sx and rx commands
handle sending and receiving files via Xmodem, respectively. If not,
check with the system managers for the correct command.
