In a message dated 18-Jan-97 19:02:02, Mike La Pietra wrote:

 MLP> I'm in desperate need of help (in more ways than one ;) ) re: the
 MLP> viability of hooking my Ami (stock A1200 with 6 Megs of RAM) into the Net
 MLP> (via A Maesto 14.4 FME modem)...

 MLP> Firstly, is it possible? I mean, REALLY possible with RELIABLE, bug-free
 MLP> software and connections? If so:

Yes the A1200 you have is perfectly capable of accessing the Internet.

 MLP>         What software do I need?
 MLP>         Where can I get/buy it?
 MLP>         Do I need to modify my Ami to make it work?
 MLP>         Will everything run at a reasonable speed?

There are quite a few software options actually. For a web browser you
could try IBrowse or AWEB II. Both are commercial and are quite good. I'm
using IBrowse on my system, and the only "problem" I have is that
it currently doesen't support "frames" (web pages with
"frames" on them don't work) However an upgrade is coming soon. 

By the way, IBrowse uses MUI, AWEB doesen't. You might find AWEB to be a
bit faster on your 1200 because of this.

You will also need a TCP program. Termite TCP is a good, reliable basic
commercial program. Another alternative is Miami, which is shareware. It
has more "bells & whistles" yet is still fairly easy to set
up. If you want to use that you will need to register it, as the
unregistred version "times out" and drops carrier after an hour.

An email program is a good idea as well...there are dozens of shareware/PD
alternatives. Try "YAM" for starters.


By the way, I believe there is a "demo" version of IBrowse and
Aweb around, so you could try them (with Miami demo) to see if it all works
for you.


 MLP> I'd love to hear from someone out there who's actually DONE IT! Some
 MLP> people have told me to forget it - it just doesn't work, yet others are
 MLP> vehement in telling me it's as "good" as any other
platform etc.. I'd
 MLP> really like to separate the facts from the bullshit.

My setup works as well as any PC on the 'net. I do have an accelerated
A4000, though.... I have been on the 'net for a few months now and my
impression of using the Amiga is that it was a lot easier to set up than I
was expecting, though not a simple as using the custom-made software
provided by service providers for PC users. 

Your A1200, is quite adequate to use. It will be a bit slower - getting a
33.6K modem will help there... as well as using the appropriate screenmode,
try using 64 colours instead of 256 if you find your screen updates to be a
bit slow for your liking. I would suggest using an internet service
provider who is at least Amiga-aware as some setup items may be different
to the way PCs are done.

 MLP> Now, here's my SPECIFIC problem.... I need to dial up real-time
 MLP> stock/share prices (Aust only), either directly from the ASX (or
 MLP> provider) or through the Internet. Another list:

 MLP>         Is anyone out there doing this already on their Ami?
 MLP>         If so, how did you set it up (contacts, costs etc...)?
 MLP>         Who are you going through?

I don't know about the share prices - I guess it would be like looking up
any other Web site. I don't know of any service providers in Adelaide - but
I would guess that the well known ones such as OZemail should have Amiga
users and be Amiga-aware. 

 MLP> I'd appreciate ANY feedback from those of you out there who may know what
 MLP> to do. My biggest fear at the moment is the realisation that otherwise
 MLP> I'll be walking into my study to face a Wintel machine in the near
 MLP> future.....

Yuck!

By the way, to underline just how well the Amiga works on the Internet, the
world's largest single PD/Shareware site is called Aminet and is devoted
exclusively to the Amiga....it's nudging some 9GB in size now! There are
quite a few Amiga users still out there on the web!

Regards,
David Myers,
NWAUG Secretary.

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