From adam Mon Dec 26 15:22:45 1994 Subject: Slip Knot Date: Mon, 26 Dec 1994 12:24:15 -0600 (CST) From: jimhong@merle.acns.nwu.edu To: gen-x@phantom.com (gen-x) Subject: SlipKnot Info Message-ID: <199412261824.AA064356255@merle.acns.nwu.edu> Hey Gang, For those of you wanting web browser at home, but maybe don't have the hardware requirements, this may be a good alternative. I know it's an AD, but this one may be a little more helpful than panties (your mileage may vary, of course). I don't know how good it is, though. Jim SLIPKNOT 1.0 IS NOW AVAILABLE. SlipKnot is a Windows-based graphical WWW browser which does NOT require SLIP or PPP or TCP/IP. Designed for users of UNIX dial-up shell accounts, SlipKnot has a number of features included specifically for modem users. How to get it (and price) The SlipKnot distribution file (approx. 1.2 MB) is available for downloading from the following sites (either manually through FTP, or clicking on one of the links below) Site/Directory/Filename In North America: oak.oakland.edu/SimTel/win3/internet/slnot100.zip ftp.uoknor.edu/mirrors/SimTel/win3/internet/slnot100.zip ftp.netcom.com/pub/pbrooks/slipknot/slnot100.zip In the U.K.: src.doc.ic.ac.uk/computing/systems/ibmpc/simtel-win3/internet/slnot100.zip SlipKnot is being released as restricted shareware. This means that users will be given approx. 3 months (depending upon usage) to evaluate the product before the evaluation period expires, and registration is required. The cost of registration is: US $29.95 for commercial users US $29.95 for individuals in the U.S., Canada, Japan and Western Europe US $20.00 for individuals elsewhere Note: 10% of SlipKnot registration fees will be donated to refugee relief organizations. Features Does not require SLIP or PPP or TCP/IP in any form -- it makes use of an ordinary dial-up UNIX shell session. Does not use TIA or remsock, and places no executable binaries on the UNIX system. Allows you to switch between SlipKnot's Web browser and its UNIX terminal window at any time (except when documents are being retrieved). The terminal window allows: scripting -- to automate login and logout file uploads and downloads any other UNIX operation you would normally use (mail, news, gopher, WAIS, archie, etc.) Can save entire documents -- including the embedded pictures -- in your own local directories. These documents can be redisplayed at any later time, including offline. This allows you to demonstrate the WWW even when not connected to it, since the document links to each other are saved with the documents. Documents are retrieved in the background, allowing you to scroll through other displayed documents or print, etc. during retrieval. Displays up to 5 documents on the screen. Displays most graphics formats, and will play sound files (if you have sound capabilities) Documents are saved with your comments attached, to make them easier to find later. Screen fonts and printer fonts are changeable. Keeps an unlimited session cache (limited by available disk space) of retrieved documents. You can ask for more than one document while waiting -- requests are automatically queued up. Since SlipKnot is also an offline document renderer, so you can use it to display your own home pages while they're in development. SlipKnot will retrieve files via anonymous FTP for you. Last, but definitely not least: SlipKnot has built-in upgrading capabilities.When new versions are released, SlipKnot users can click on a built-in SlipKnot link, which will retrieve and upgrade the product itself. Design Note: SlipKnot was specifically designed for modem users. Unlike other World Wide Web browsers, SlipKnot understands that its users will have to wait a while for each document to be retrieved from the internet, no matter which browser they are using. Therefore, we included many features to allow multiple documents to be seen, stored, and printed so you don't have to retrieve documents unnecessarily, and so retrieval can be performed in the background. Limitations (truth in advertising) SlipKnot V. 1.0 does not support "fill-in" forms. SlipKnot recognizes the HTML-1 specification, while forms support requires HTML-2 (we are working on this). Likewise, SlipKnot does not yet support "authentication". SlipKnot retrieves documents automatically via http or ftp only.No gopher or mailto or WAIS yet. However, you can always switch to the UNIX terminal window to perform these services. SlipKnot does not support 286 PCs, and may not run on the Mac with Windows emulators. SlipKnot may run a little slower than some fast SLIP-based browsers -- a consequence of the additional steps SlipKnot needs to retrieve documents. However, unlike other browsers, SlipKnot retrieves its documents in the background, allowing you to browse other documents in the foreground. System requirements PC System requirements: Microsoft Windows (tm) 3.1+ running in 386 Enhanced mode, or Windows for Workgroups. SlipKnot has not yet been tested with Windows NT or OS/2. A UNIX dial-up account with shell access. Your must have write permission to your UNIX home directory. At least 4 MB of RAM memory; recommended 8 MB. Since SlipKnot is a graphics program, the more memory you have, the better. At least 2 MB of available hard disk space. SlipKnot itself takes approx. 1.5 MB, but since it allows you to save your documents, more free space is much better. Requirements of your UNIX system: The UNIX system must: provide you will a shell account (the type of shell makes little difference: SlipKnot has been tested with sh, csh, ksh, bash and tcsh). have Internet access offer either one of two standard programs: "lynx" or "www" offer uploading and downloading of files via Xmodem or Ymodem offer anonymous FTP capability (to retrieve SlipKnot itself). Note to UNIX service providers: SlipKnot does not deposit any executable binaries on your host. It makes use of only the following UNIX commands: "ls", "echo", "rm", "chmod", either "lynx" or "www", and whichever programs you offer for Xmodem or Ymodem file transfer. Because SlipKnot is able to save entire documents (including the embedded pictures) on the user's local PC, your users do not have to retrieve any document more than once. About MicroMind, Inc. MicroMind, Inc. is a New York City-based software development company with six major products developed and released for the international market, including: RUN/C -- the world's first interpreter for the C language -- 20,000 copies sold in the U.S. and Japan at $250. OL2 -- a product to duplicate the functionality of Sharp Electronics' Wizard Electronic Organizer on a desktop computer -- marketed by Sharp worldwide. Over 150,000 copies sold at $100. Note from Peter Brooks, President of MicroMind and developer of SlipKnot: SlipKnot was created because there was, at that time, no other alternative to accessing the World Wide Web graphically if you did not have SLIP or PPP or TCP/IP access. Having analyzed Mosaic and some of its competitors, I concluded that all of these browsers were designed for people with very rapid communications channels into the Internet, not modem users. Even if you have SLIP access, most of these browsers do not allow you to save entire documents (with the included pictures), forcing you to retrieve the documents again whenever you wish to take a full look at them -- eliminating the possibility of demonstrating WWW without being online. It takes a while to retrieve any document by modem with any browser, and you shouldn't have to do this more than once. The Web is a remarkable human construct and a truly a wondrous place. I hope that SlipKnot brings you the magic of the Web, and that you become as astounded by it as I am. How to reach us For press and distribution questions: Felix Kramer (felixk@panix.com). For technical questions about SlipKnot: slpstaff@micromind.com. For discussions about SlipKnot issues, we will be active on the newsgroup: comp.infosystems.www.users This SlipKnot Home Page is made possible by the remarkable services of Interport.Net -- a major New York City Internet service provider. For information about Interport.