Well Connected!

Users' Guide to the Internet for Atari

Mike Kerslake finds a book that doesn't assume you have a degree
in comms technospeak!

As Roy Golding, the author says in his foreword, the aim of this
guide is to make it as simple as possible for Atari users to get
up and running with an internet connection. So has he succeeded?

Getting an Atari machine connected to the internet for the first
time is a black art. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) invariably
provide software for Windows user but Atarians intent on joining
the comms revolution are left to find their own way through a
minefield.

It was navigating this minefield when the author went online a
couple of years ago that provoked him to sit down and write this
guide. Initially the guide was for use with the Zetnet ISP, but
has subsequently been expanded to cover most of the UK based Atari
friendly ISPs and it also takes a sideways look at UK Atari BBS's
and the CIX conferencing system.

The A4 size comb bound 100 page guide starts with a brief
description of what the internet is all about and its history. It
looks at Atari systems and establishes a recommended minimum then
goes on to look at ISPs. The guide points out not all ISPs are
accessible to Atari users so reading this section along with the
list of ISPs is required reading!

Once an ISP has been selected the next order of business is to
check out the available Atari software and the guide thoughtfully
includes sources to obtain the software if you are not yet
on-line.

The next, and perhaps most important section, takes a look at
setting up most of the current Atari software PD/Shareware
software. This includes The STiK and STiNG TCP/IP stacks, Antmail,
AtarIRC, Telnet, CAB web browser, NEWSie, MG-FTP and Oasis 2. The
information provided in this section is very detailed and should
be enough to get most users up and running. Novices may prefer to
obtain the Internet Access Pack. This is a collection of software
known to work together and which comes with an installer which
takes some of the hard work out of setting up. Once up and running
it's easy to add extras, fine tune and update the installed
programs later.

Sadly there's no coverage of POPWatch or NEWSWatch and recently
released client software such as the Infitra emailer are not
covered but the construction of the guide does allow for extra or
amended sections to be inserted.

Following the program section there's a general guide to the
internet which covers newsgroups, the World Wide Web, Netiquette
(code of conduct), Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and more.
There's lots of interesting information and pointers to locate
specific details on topics such as mailing lists and so on.

The final section provides lots of useful addresses and phone
numbers along with a short list of acronyms and emoticons - funny
little clusters of characters which looked at sideways indicate
the writer's mood (sometimes called smileys).
This section also includes an extensive guide to the File Transfer
Protocol (FTP) which handles binary file transfer from FTP sites
around the the world.
Finally, there is a full glossary which explains most of the weird
terms comms enthusiasts throw around to confuse "net newbies"!

The appendices include example STiK, Oasis/ICE and STiNG dial and
configuration files which can be used as guides when editing your
own installation.

In conclusion the guide should enable most Atarians to get
connected to the internet using readily available non-commercial
software.
I found the guide a little dry in places, with coverage of some
sections both technical and text heavy - albeit for good reasons.
Where appropriate, screenshots have been used to illustrate
points.

My main disappointment was the print quality of the manual.
Because of the specialist nature of the publication the author
prints and binds the publication himself using an inkjet printer
and comb binder. Although the output is perfectly readable, one
spilt cup of coffee could prove disastrous! On the plus side the
comb binding is ideal for any reference work because it can lay
flat or fold back on itself.

Overall this is a clearly written and helpful guide. If you're
thinking of going though the pain barrier to get on-line buy this
book first, it will save you both time and aggravation!



Users' Guide to the Internet for Atari

Publisher/Author
Roy Golding

Post: 95 Washford Farm Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 5YA
Tel/Fax: 01233 633177
Email: rgolding@zetnet.co.uk

Cost
£6.50 including UK postage

Pros
Atari specific, clear and concise writing, will get you going on
the internet!

Cons
Some program omissions, print quality not robust enough for
frequent use

Score
80%

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