Further to Craig Rosa's recommendation of a SLIP emulator, here is a new
product that was recently brought to my attention.  If you are in a location
where SLIP accounts are not offered but UNIX shell accounts are available,
this software will emulate the SLIP connection, providing you with all of
the graphical 'net tools.
 
I have not used this program but if anybody does try it, please let me know
how it works out.
 
Forwarded message:
> From mail Wed Nov 23 09:44 PST 1994
> Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 12:15:55 -0500
> Message-Id: <[log in to unmask]>
> To: COMA Mail List <[log in to unmask]>
> From: [log in to unmask] (Felix Kramer)
> Subject: ANNOUNCE: SlipKnot dial-up WWW browser w/o SLIP for Windows
> Sender: [log in to unmask] (coma moderator)
> Organization: Kramer Communications
> Reply-To: [log in to unmask] (Felix Kramer)
> Content-Type: text
> Content-Length: 4841
>
> SlipKnot (tm) is a graphical World Wide Web browser (similar to Mosaic)
> for Microsoft Windows users with dial-up UNIX shell accounts. MicroMind,
> Inc. is releasing version 1.0 on November 22, 1994.
>
> Its primary feature is that it does NOT require SLIP or PPP or TCP/IP
> services in any form (no TIA, no remsock, etc.).  It uses the user's
> ordinary dial-up UNIX shell account to retrieve and then paint WWW
> documents (including, of course, pictures and sound).
>
> See below for information on:
> Description, Features, Availability, Price, More information, Requirements
> and Limitations
>
> ================ Description ========================================
> SlipKnot was designed specifically for modem users with dial-up UNIX shell
> accounts.  It offers a terminal window (with vt100 emulation) into your
> UNIX session, allowing you to use your normal UNIX commands for mail, news,
> gopher, etc. at any time (except during retrieval of WWW documents).
>
> At the press of a button, SlipKnot turns into a graphical WWW browser with
> features including:
> 1. Up to 5 document windows available simultaneously.
> 2. Background retrieval of documents from the Internet, while users can
>    scroll through previously retrieved documents, and perform other
>    operations.
> 3. Ability to save entire documents (including the embedded pictures) into
>    user-definable folders.
> 4. Ability to demonstrate the WWW offline (displaying the saved documents
>    with their links to each other).
> 5. Ability to upgrade to newer versions of SlipKnot (when they become
>    available) through WWW links.
> 6. Print documents (though not pictures, yet). Change preferred screen and
>    printer fonts.
> 7. Ability to install external "viewers" for processing pictures, sounds
>    and movies (two viewers, one for graphics and one for sound, already
>    come pre-installed).
>
> ================ Availability ============================================
> Check at your service provider first to see if it's available locally. If
> not, it's downloadable from the following anonymous FTP sites (approx. 1.2
> MB):
>
> ftp://oak.oakland.edu/SimTel/win3/internet/slnot100.zip
> or from:
> ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/pbrooks/slipknot/slnot100.zip
>
> Oakland has numerous mirror sites, so it should be widely available soon.
>
> After downloading, please read the READ.ME file for Windows installation
> instructions.
>
> =============== Price ===================================================
> Restricted shareware (approx. 3 months evaluation time, depending upon
use):
> US$29.95 for commercial users, and individuals in the U.S., Canada, Western
>          Europe and Japan.
> US$20.00 for individuals elsewhere.
> (10% of registration fees donated to refugee relief).
>
> ============== For more information ======================================
> Point your WWW browser (lynx is fine) to
>     http://interport.net/~pbrooks/slipknot.html
> or send a blank email message to:
>     [log in to unmask]
>
> To facilitate communication and support, we suggest you post comments and
> responses about SlipKnot ONLY to the following Usenet newsgroup:
> comp.infosystems.www.users
>
> ============== Requirements ==============================================
> On your PC:
> 1. Windows 3.1+ running in 386 Enhanced mode (does not support 286
>    machines), Windows for Workgroups
> 2. At least 4 MB of RAM (8 MB is recommended)
> 3. Modem and a dial-up subscription to a UNIX-based Internet service
>    provider with shell account access (must have access to a shell prompt,
>    not a menu-based-only UNIX system)
>
> On your UNIX service provider's system:
> 1. Your UNIX home directory must be writable
> 2. One of the following two text-mode browsers must be available on your
>    UNIX system: "lynx" (version 2.2+) or "www" (SlipKnot uses one of these
>    programs for Internet file transport -- after which, SlipKnot will paint
>    the documents and pictures and play the sounds retrieved).
> 3. Access to ordinary UNIX commands like "ls", "echo", "chmod".
>
> ================ Limitations (truth in advertising) =====================
> 1. SlipKnot will not process "forms" within documents yet (it is an HTML
>    1.0 browser).
> 2. SlipKnot will not process "authentication" yet.
> 3. SlipKnot understands the HTTP and FTP protocols only, no gopher, WAIS,
>    mailto, or news yet (although all of these are readily available in
>    SlipKnot's Terminal window into your UNIX session).
> 4. SlipKnot is currently available only for Windows-based computers.
>    We may in the future developo versions for other platforms.
>
> ========================== Contacts ===============================
> Press and distribution inquiries to: Felix Kramer <[log in to unmask]>
> fax 212/866-5527
>
> Technical support to: [log in to unmask]
> To reach Peter Brooks, SlipKnot developer: [log in to unmask]
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