ASKELADDEN 1530
`
`

`
`Software EEHEEB
`
`Gateways to the Internet
`
`America Orlline, compuserve, and Prodigy offer Web browsers, FTP,
`and more, but these services aren't for everyone
`
`GEORGE BOND
`
`ccess to the World Wide Web
`
`A may seem an obvious compo-
`
`nent of any major on-line ser-
`vice, but the Big Three—America Online
`(or AOL), CompuServe, and Prodigy-
`are just now scrambling aboard the band-
`wagon. All three offer something you don’t
`get from an ISP (Internet service provider):
`a single point of access for Web surfing,
`commercial database browsing, and on-
`line conference discussions. They also de-
`liver single-source access to technical sup-
`port and training.
`
`The [SP Advantage
`All these service providers—with the pos-
`sible exception of Prodigyrtend to be
`more expensive than ISPs (see the text box
`“Convenience, but at What Price?” be-
`low). And the speed of phone connections
`to the Big Three is still mostly limited to
`14.4 Kbps, a drawback when working with
`the on-line graphics of the Web.
`Also, the three providers promise to up-
`grade their networks, but at the time of
`this writing only a few 28.8-Kbps connec-
`tions were available. In contrast, many ISPs
`offer 28.8 Kbps routinely. But these short-
`comings may be offset by the large number
`of POPS (points of presence, or local phone
`numbers) offered by the Big Three, as well
`as by the convenience of one-stop access to
`
`services. and sup-
`port.
`Prodigy is the
`only major infor-
`mation provider _
`currently with an
`actual Web ser-
`vice. At this writ-
`
`ing, CompuServe
`and AOL were
`still in beta test-
`
`ing with their Web
`browsers (graph-
`ical front ends for
`
`navigating the In-
`ternet and view-
`
`ing Web pages)
`and Web services.
`However, users
`of these providers’
`services can walk
`
`compu5erve’s What's
`New page links users
`to popular new sites on
`the Internet.
`
`America 0nline’s
`Explorer page
`provides links to
`other Internet
`sites.
`
`wum-
`
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`
`the Web now by
`downloading the
`necessary soft-
`ware. Internet mail, FTP (the Internet’s
`file transfer protocol), and Usenet news
`groups are already in place.
`
`Web-Crawling with CompuServe
`CompuServe uses the Spry Mosaic brows-
`er, TCP/IP stack, and dialer (the company
`purchased Spry to obtain the technology,
`as AOL did with Internetworks and its
`browser). There are so many free sign-up
`
`Priodigy's Welcome screen is the
`first thing you see when you irrmp
`to the World Wide Web.
`
`deals floating around that this initial ex-
`pense Will be nil, or close to it.
`Once you’re logged on to CompuServe,
`you use the command go ppp to get to the
`browser—downloading area. Then you ei-
`ther walk through menus to download the
`Windows version of the software or read
`instructions on how to connect via third-
`
`party Macintosh and OS/2 software. If
`you are using CompuServe’s WinCim or
`
`Convenience, but at What Price?
`
`Using the Big Three commercial information
`providers can be expensive. Here's what it
`would oosttn surfflrelnterrretfor-30 hours per
`month with each of them.
`
`AOL (America Oniine). The first 5 hours are
`included in the $9.95 monthly fee. You're
`then charged $2.95 for each of the remain-
`ing 25 hours. Total: $83.70.
`
`compuserve. An initial charge of $9.95 in-
`cludes unlimited use of basic services and
`3 hours of Internet services (i.e., World
`Wide Web. FTP. telnet, and the Usenet
`news reader). An additional charge of $15
`
`gets you an internet Club membership
`with 1? more hours of connect time;
`each of the remaining 10 hours costs
`$1.95. Total: $44.90.
`
`Prodigy. You get 30 hours of connect time
`under the 30/30 Plan. Total: $29.95.
`
`To be fair, these comparisons aren't
`strictly parallel; CompuServe also has a
`mail surcharge (10 cents for the first
`7500 words and 2 cents for each addi-
`tional 7500 words per message) if you
`exceed approximately 90 three-page. full-
`text messages a month. But time spent
`in mail is not counted toward connect
`
`l,l\\\\\\'fi
`
`charges. The oth-
`er services don't
`have a mail sur-
`charge; they ac-
`count for mail in
`their regular con-
`nect-time charges.
`By comparison, iSPs (In-
`ternet service providers), companies that
`offer gateways to the Internet but rarely
`any local databases. have charges rang-
`ing from about $20 to $30 for 20 to 40
`hours of access via 28.8-Kbps or slower
`modems, plus a dollar or two per hour for
`additional time.
`
`SEPTEMBER 1995 B Y T E 229
`
`

`
`Turning an Ugly Duckling into a Hollywood Swan
`
`To seamlessly integrate the World Wide Web into its existing service, CompuServe faced
`two technical challenges: supporting the Internet protocols and getting the software front
`ends {i.e., the compuserve access software and the Web browser} to talk to each other.
`
`Last spring, compuserve delivered a downloadable Web browser, called Netlauncher,
`that could work from within a PPP li.e., standard lntemetl session established by the
`dialer built into the Wincim 1.4 interface. But if you'd already used Wincim to dial into
`compuserve, you had to disconnect before dialing the PPP session.
`The latest upgrade to CompuServe's Windows shell, Wincim 2.0, lets you dial a single
`phone number and toggle between any Web browser and the Gompuserve interface in the
`same session. The improved integration is principally due to the Windows Sockets, or
`Winsoclr, DLL. Winsock presents a network-independent Interface between Winsock-coin-
`
`pliant applications. This interface sits on top of a network-dependent component that
`supports the specific networking protocol stack lusually. TCP/IPI.
`
`access is its lack of integration.
`To browse the Web, you must call
`a specific phone number and use
`the Spry software. To peruse news
`groups, or to use FTP to down-
`load a file or use telnet (a remote
`terminal program), you must re-
`sort to a terminal emulator or one
`of CompuServe’s custom soft-
`ware packages. CompuServe is
`working to address these issues;
`see the Technology Focus box at
`left.
`
`
`
`TECHNOLOGYFOCUS
`
`Where Winsock Fits In
`
`Any
`winsock - compliant
`3PP|iCa!i°n
`
`Spry Mosaic
`CompuServe
`edition 2.0
`
`Protocol stack
`
`WinCim 2.0
`
`For the new version of Wincim, Cornpuserve programmers wrote a Winsock networking
`layer for both Netlauncher and
`Wincim. Both the Web browser and
`the compuserve front end now hook
`into the Winsock API. This result ls
`point-and-click access to both Net-
`Launcher lor any other Winsock-
`compliant Web browser] and Com-
`puserve.
`CompuServe has also met the chal-
`lenge of different software com-
`mands by adding translation algo-
`rithms to the mix. Netlauncher and
`Wincim can now talk each other’s
`
`On Target with AOL
`Like CompuServe, AOL was still
`beta-testing its Web software dur-
`ing our review period.
`However, unlike Compu-
`Serve’s software, AOL’s
`is nicely integrated into
`the regular AOL pack-
`age, as are the clients for
`FTP, news groups. and
`gopher (a database search
`engine).
`You will need special
`software to browse the
`Web from AOL. The cur-
`rent distribution disk is
`version 2.0. You must
`load this version of the
`software to get AOL in
`the first place. To use the
`Web browser, you need
`the version 2.5 preview
`edition, available for
`downloading from AOL.
`If you're working from
`a LAN that is linked to
`a T1 connection to the Internet.
`you’ll find a pleasant surprise: One of the
`setup items in the network-selection pull-
`down menu is TCP/IP. It worked for us
`with no fuss on NetWare networks. We
`
`lingo. For instance, when a user
`types go pol 1' ti CS in NetLaunch-
`or, it recognizes the command as
`being Intended for a compuserve Go
`page and passes the command in a
`message to Wincim.
`
`Hardware drivers
`
`H ardware
`( NIC, serial port and modern, etc.)
`
`_
`Due out tlns month,
`Wincim 2.0
`integrates formerly
`separate interfaces
`for accessing
`Compuserve and
`World Wide Web services using Wincim and NetLaun¢:her, respectively.
`Both will also now be able to access the same live PPP connection
`established by CompuServe’; dialing software and exchange commands
`intended for each other's domains.
`
`Navigator software, you simply point and
`click to download the browser.
`You run a single executable to install
`the software. If you already have a TCP/ TP
`stack installed, CompuServe’s stack will
`rename your stack and install its own. Your
`existing Internet client software probably
`will work with the new stack.
`If you’ve seen Spry’s Mosaic browser
`elsewhere (in the lntemet-in-a-Box pack-
`age. for example), you’ll immediately rec-
`ognize CompuServe’s: It has the familiar
`menu bar and line-of-control buttons along
`the top of the screen, two long boxes in
`which you enter URLs (uniform resource
`locators, which are simply Internet ad-
`dresses), and the familiar Spry globe for in-
`dicating when data is being transferred.
`The browser defaults to the CompuServe
`home page on connection. You have three
`choices for navigating the Web: Clicking
`
`230 BYTE SEPTEJVIBER 1995
`
`on one of the hot links on the screen. se-
`lecting a location from a hot list that you
`create, or typing in the URL of the site that
`you want to visit after you use the open URL
`command (by typing Ctrl-O or selecting
`Open URL... from the File menu).
`The Spry stack and dialer are among
`the more robust that we’ve used. and Com-
`puServe’s version performed without a
`problem. During several weeks of use, our
`CompuServe setup behaved reliably on
`a Gateway P5-60 and an IBM ThinkPad
`360C. The Spry browser also performed
`well, including properly handling home
`pages built with the Netscape extensions.
`Because these extensions aren’t part of the
`current HTML (Hypertext Markup Lan-
`guage) standard, they can cause problems
`with the way in which some browsers dis-
`play images.
`The downside of CompuServe’s Internet
`
`were able to connect virtually instantly
`and run AOL at T1 speeds. AOL is rapid-
`ly adding 28.8-Kbps connections for high-
`speed modern access, but so far they are
`concentrated in major metropolitan areas.
`The browser itself looks a bit different
`from most of its competitors; it’s much
`more boxy and industrial looking. The
`usual menu bar and collection of buttons
`
`span the top of the screen, but the buttons
`are long, horizontal rectangles instead of
`the more common squarish ones (see the
`screen on page 229).
`Walking the Web with AOL is a breeze.
`You simply click on hot-linked icons or
`text links to jump to another page, or you
`type in a URL just as you would with any
`
`Product
`
`Infornlation
`
`

`
`MSN: Desktop Internet
`
`With a vision of extending
`the Windows 95 desktop out
`to the world, Microsoft is
`busy building seamless World
`Wide Web access for the Mi-
`crosoft Network, or MSN.
`Microsoft licensed the NCSA
`
`(National Center for Super-
`computing Applications)
`Mosaic Web Browser from
`
`Spry International and, more
`significant, bought minority
`interest in UUNet, the world‘s
`largest ISP (Internet service
`provider).
`Microsoft is now extend-
`
`ing both, enhancing Mosaic
`to support the Windows desktop (e.g., drag and drop, right
`mouse-clicks, and so on) and branching UUNet into more
`sites worldwide. Currently, the Internet access points are lim-
`ited—we had to call in to New York from New Hari1pshire—
`but Microsoftintends to oper_1 many additional lines shortly.
`The enhanced browser, a component of the Microsoft Plus
`Windows 95 Companion Pack, accesses the Web through
`your own service provider, across the LAN (if you have a
`
`Gateways to the Internet WEE
`
`LAN-based connection), or
`via MSN. The Plus Pack sticks
`an Internet icon on the Win-
`
`dows 95 desktop.
`You click on this icon to
`
`launch the browser, starting
`off in a Microsoft Web page
`that serves as an opening menu.
`From there, you can take a tu-
`torial, go surfing on your own,
`or search for specific subjects
`using the Lycos Internet cata-
`log. Once you’re out ofMicro-
`soft’s page, you’re navigating
`the Web just as you would ex-
`pect, jumping across various
`sites by clicking on hyperlinks
`or hopping directly to specific addresses.
`From the menu bar, you can create a desktop shortcut to any
`site, build a list offavorite sites, or pull up a history window of
`recently accessed pages. You can drag and
`drop text or images to the desktop or to other
`applications. To capture an image to disk,
`you simply point at the image, click the right
`mouse button, and select Save As.
`
`Whereto Find
`
`Microsoft Corp.
`Redmond, WA
`(206) 882-8080
`fax: (206) 936-7329
`www.microsoft.com
`
`crude graphics, and generally an old-days-
`in-cyberspace appearance. However, its
`Web browser propels Prodigy into the
`mid-19905. With its high-resolution dis-
`play of non-Prodigy pages, it provides a
`sharp contrast to the rest of Prodigy.
`The browser itself is efficiently laid out:
`It has the usual menu bar at the very top,
`and buttons and URL boxes under the bar,
`with an activity indicator next to them.
`There’s no special installation needed for
`the browser because it’s part of the nor-
`mal Prodigy installation.
`Prodigy’s browser is easy and intuitive
`to use. Just click on what you want, and
`you're there. How fast you get there is lim-
`ited by the connection speed of your mo-
`dem——in Prodigy’s case, it's
`14.4 Kbps, although 10 ma-
`jor cities were expected to
`get 22.8 Kbps by late July.
`That’s better than 9600 bps,
`but it can lead to slow trans-
`
`puServe home page, drops into a heavily
`text-oriented page.
`
`Do We Have a Winner?
`For general prowling around the Internet,
`we'd Select AOL because of its good in-
`tegration and high-speed modem (and Ti)
`connections. Prodigy would run a close
`Second, falling somewhat short because
`of its slower modem links and lack of a
`
`T1 cmnection. CompuServe brings up the
`rear. Without the upcoming improvements
`in WinCim, it’s simply too much work
`having to switch back and forth from the
`main system to the Web browser.
`The wild card is Microsoft Network, or
`MSN, Microsoft’s fledgling network (see
`the text box “MSN: Desktop Internet”
`above). Built with Internet integration in
`mind, it should compete as an Internet
`gateway right out of the starting block. I
`
`George Bond i'.r prtbiisher of S(1!nS.l1£3I, the
`Iritemer imprint of Macmillan Computer
`Publishing USA, and publisher ofsuch titles
`as Teach Yourself Web Publishing with
`HTML in a Week and Internet Unleashed. In
`an earlier life, he cqfourided BIX. You can
`Contact him on the Internet at gbond@sams
`.mcp.c0m or on BIX as "gborid. "
`
`SEPTEMBER I995 BYTE 231
`
`fer times when you’re deal-
`ing with graphics—intensive
`home pages. The Prodigy
`home page itself is skillfully
`designed to load fast: It has
`a modest-size graphic at the
`top and then, like the Com-
`
`browser on a standard ISP. Using other
`Internet clients is just as easy. They are
`well integrated, also appearing as launch-
`able icons. A news-group reader, a gopher}
`WAIS (Wide Area Information Service)
`client, and an FTP client are available.
`
`Prodigy Flows Ahead
`Prodigy, after a long, uphill battle against
`skepticism, has gained an edge on its com-
`petition. Its Internet access is easily the
`best integrated of the three services.
`To be sure, most of Prodigy still looks
`l_ike—weli, Prodigy. Its screens have a de-
`cided look of NAPLPS (North American
`Presentation-Level Protocol Syntax), an
`older standard that features big characters,
`
`e s iE n e d
`
`. $9.95
`.
`Amarlca Dnllne .
`(monthly fees. excluding
`hourly charges)
`American Online, Inc.
`Vienna. VA
`(800) 827-6364
`(703) 448-8700
`circle 1033 on Inquiry card.
`
`. $9.95
`.
`.
`.
`compuserve .
`(monthly fees, excluding
`hourly charges)
`Compuserve. Inc.
`Columbus, OH
`(aoo) B48-8199
`
`ProductInforniation
`
`(514) 529-1349
`fax: (614) 529-1610
`sa|e5@cis.compuserve.com
`circle 1034 on Inquiry card.
`
`. $9.95
`
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`Prodigy .
`(monthty fees, excluding
`hourly charges)
`Prodigy Senrices Co.
`White Plains, NY
`(800) 776-3449
`(914) 448-8000
`into99a@prodigy.Com
`circta 1035 on Inquiry Card.