Slip/slirp/ppp capability for SCN--uh oh!

[Rich Littleton]

I do understand that SCN is built on Unix, and, as I was educated about
recently, this is not the problem.  Not having a PPP setup apparently is. 
My main point is that it is very difficult for new people to use, so we
should step up the teaching, if we can't provide an easier program.

I've picked up from talking with librarians that SPL is planning to go
graphic by early next year, and this makes them look askanse at SCN's less
friendly Pine/Freeport systems.

The fact that we are FREE to home users is still in our favor.  However,
this raises questions about our target group.  If we are best suited for
homes with computer hookups, maybe we are simply giving a free service to
homes which could purchase it from an IP.  Nice of us, but hardly noble or
an essential social service.

(The poor who only use the library can get e-mail free there, in a
graphical (friendly) format.)

We need to consider SCN goals.  We should think about a series of meeting
to deal with this.

Rich

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On Fri, 18 Sep 1998, allen wrote:

> sorry for delay in response.  actually rich...unix is about the most
> simple OS around...or Linux for PCs.  is complex to use sometimes...and
> part of unix from the beginning was to make the kernel very basic.
> I do not forsee SCN moving away from unix (unless it is to linux)...as
> almost other isps will not.  NT simply does not have the capabilities that
> unix has.  perhaps you are speaking of the user interface?  I agree with
> that...we should have had a web based interface by the end of 1996...that
> was the deadline set at a hardware committee meeting summer of that year.
> re mail?  pine is much more user friendly than freeport and offers so
> much more...very few folks in my experience have any interest in returning
> to freeport mailer...this is from 3+ years on scn help desk.
> 
> On Sat, 29 Aug 1998, Rich Littleton wrote:
> 
> > Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1998 23:11:56 -0700 (PDT)
> > From: Rich Littleton <be718 at scn.org>
> > To: Rod Clark <bb615 at scn.org>
> > Cc: hardware at scn.org, webmasters at scn.org
> > Subject: Re: Slip/slirp/ppp capability for SCN--uh oh!
> > 
> > 
> > Rod's comments give both information and perspective.  
> > 
> > However, I think pushing and maintaining simpler technology should be an
> > SCNA
> > priority, especially if SCN does stick with Unix.  Perhaps, SCNA's true
> > service might be to design or re-design a Unix system to be user friendly.
> > Perhaps our discussion should focus less on SLIP/PPP lines and more on
> > useable NEW Unix programs (in e-mail)
> > 
> > Thanks Rod for good info.
> > 
> > 
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