Hi Ben,

     About "MS-Kermit on BBSes" of July 29:

MS> ...automated File Transfer only.  I am testing C-Kermit 8.0.209...
MS> ...`C-Kermit' is very well featured, and bloated as a result...
MS> ...tiny FreeWare...  http://kermit.wwarthen.com
BR> Bloated is relative at 233MHz & up...  ...lite is fine but the lite
BR> commands subset would need to work identical...  Should work nice
BR> for Wins 3.1...  ...since it's a 16-bit app.

     It (lets call it `WWWK'), euh...  can hardly support the comparison
given the miniature size.  `WWWK' would only suit the needs of some user
who wants to transfer .QWK/.REP message-packets, for example;  he should
also be able to enjoy his ~VT-102~ sessions on remote `Lynx' browsers or
"Shell" environments but simplicity comes at a price.  Though, it's FREE
and there are versions for all the `Windows' flavours one can use.  This
won't be your next `Kermit' protocol driver since i haven't seen `WWWK's
source-code on the ~WEB~ site, as i recall, but `K95's co$t is no longer
an excuse to tell BBSers that no one is going to use `Kermit' because of
_that_!  Preconceptions are tough to undo but i guess it's possible, one
step at a time.  `WWWK' is the argument that was lost along the path:  i
can now tell SysOps/BSSers that co$t isn't reason enough to ignore it...

     I don't know why but if you only need transfers `G-Kermit' could be
a better choice.  This isn't my own saying but that of a `DOVE-Net' guy.

MS> `ZMoDem' code from an outside source was added to `K95'...
BR> I have ZModem myself, licensed directly from Omen Tech...

     If you have both source-codes and you know how to use it then you'd
be able to combine them in a single application but you won't be allowed
to publish your executable because of the Columbia author rights, no?...

                                  8^o
     
BR> I used Lynx for quite some time until I discovered the Links
BR> browser, which handles Tables & Frames quite nicely in Text mode,
BR> so I have both now .  I do still use Lynx for Text browsing...

     My case as well...  I liked `Links' when i was trying `BasicLinux';
as for `Lynx', i often use remote installs via ~TelNet~ for the speed...

BR> My Editor (The Hessling Editor, THE, a super IBM XEdit clone) also
BR> works under every platform I have here...

     Finding a text editor which fits my needs was a long quest, none of
the ShareWare i could try was well featured and sturdy at the same time;
it also had to be quite easy on the processing resources since i've been
a true LEGACY user not so long ago - an application had to be "perfect"!

     I quit searching when i found `The SemWare Editor Junior v4.0' as i
no longer feared crashes (a 8088 4.77 Mhz boots slowly, you know!), etc.

                                   :)

     I understand the attachment to an environment only too well, it was
the reason why i felt so disapointed after each new `Windows' release!!!

BR> ...my BBS software only allowed Text mode transfers...
BR> What about a .QWK door...
BR> ...at 300 Baud (1200 if you were a rich kid) it made little
BR> difference, IMHO.

     I still got a "dumb" 300 bps MoDem somewhere but what about now?...

BR> ...Upload a Text file directly to an online Message Edit session (as
BR> WC!4 allows) ASCII works well.  Saves typing Online time.

     Yes, there were instances when i posted that way (because of a lack
of `Kermit' support)...  It worked well for single documents but i tried
to avoid it for one hundred lines multi-part posts:  the headers were my
worst nightmare, it was too easy to mess up!  `Kermit' was my liberator,
it allowed me to write for a couple days and post the .REP in seconds...

                                   :)

     As you may know, `ZMoDem' is no success story over ~TelNet~ in DOS!

                                  %-b,

BR> My Download Protocol options here include...  ...Kermit...  I can
BR> even provide a custom/new Protocol option with an external client if
BR> that's what it takes...  ...I pride myself in File management/access
BR> capabilities and definitely see the need to support as many...

     Let me give you the same advice as for every other `WC' SysOp:  the
internal 3rd-party `Kermit' protocol implementation is hurting `Kermit's
reputation a big deal so, please, remove that thing!  `WC' appears to be
everywhere and everywhere it's the same problem - `WC Kermit' is useless
and when someone dares try it they automatically conclude `Kermit' isn't
worth a thought and they walk away from it for ever!  Give them a chance
to experience the post-1985 `Kermit' protocol as it should be, the .INIs
i've published are for that purpose, specifically.  Fight preconceptions
by not being a part of it - no insult intended - or better, by using the
`MS-Kermit v3.15+' protocol drivers;  i'll beg of you if i must!  P-)  I
would visit Positronium if it was a local call, sorry;  but anyway, it's
not necessary to take my word for it, ask around!  Begin with Winston...

                                                       Salutations,  ;^)

                                                       Michel Samson
                                                       a/s Bicephale


... Please!  Let me believe that's not the end of a wonderfull story!...
--- MultiMail/XT v0.42 - Let me try a TelNettable BBS with an OLMR door!