›              o=o=o=o=o=››            Delphi Warning›› Here's  an  email  message I received› from TOM ANDREWS.  It should be taken› at  face  value as a warning that the› service described in it will cease on› January  1st, 2000.  But beyond that,› it is a reflection of the  constantly› shrinking  number  of ISPs that offer› text-based service.  I see  it  as  a› trend that will continue to affect us› adversely  until  one  of  two things› happens:››      1. We all use PCs, or Macs for›         Internet access; or,››      2. Those  in  our community who›         are developing more advanced›         Internet  access  tools  for›         our  8-bits  are successful.›› - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -›› From: <TANDREWS16@delphi.com>› To: <asharkis@erols.com>› Subject: Delphi Access› Date: Saturday, October 23, 1999›       10:50 PM›› It's  probably  too late to make your› last   issue   of  the  Ol'  Hackers'› Newsletter, but here's a bit of  news› that might be important:›› Delphi Internet has announced that as› of January 1, 2000, members  will  no› longer  be  able  to  access Delphi's› Textside by  direct  dialing  through› SprintNet  or  TymNet.   Access  will› still   be   available   through   an› Internet connection and Telnet, or by› direct  dialing  of  Delphi's   local› numbers.  According to Dana Jacobsen,› Manager of Delphi's  Atari  Advantage› Forum,  the  problem  rests  with the› software used to make  the  SprintNet› and    TymNet    connections.    This› software is not  Y2K  compliant,  and› "no  one  seems  interested in fixing› it."›› There's little  else  to  say.   This› means  that  Genie  will  soon be the› only national online service that the› Atari 8-bit can use directly, and how› long Genie  will  last  is  anybody's› guess.   One more nail in the coffin,› I   guess.   There  is  SLIP/PPP  and› Telnet software available for the ST,› so  I will continue to be able to use› Delphi's Textside, but  none  of  the› programs my advisors have heard about› support  uploading/downloading.   The› Chrystal Atari Browser  does  support› up/down-loading,   and   the   latest› version   supports   "cookies,"    so› perhaps I can work things around that› way.  We'll see.›› Tom›› - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -›› Tom  Andrews  has  raised  a  serious› question.   As  I've  stated   above,› there  are  two possible solutions to› the  shrinking   text-based  Internet› access we can  utilize  with  our  8-› bits.   I've been using a PC for some› years   now.   It  accomplishes  many› things for  me,  including  graphics-› based  Internet access AND supporting› my Atari 8-bit hobby.   But,  I'd  be› the  LAST person to advocate buying a› PC for one function only.  Sooner  or› later,  anyone  who  does is going to› find themselves over their  heads  in› technical  stuff  that didn't SEEM to› be related to  Internet  access  when› they bought the machine.›› What  about  WebTV?   I'm  still  not› convinced  that  WebTV  is the answer› for us 8-bitters  who  wish  Internet› access.  To my knowledge, only one or› two of our members are using it,  and› they  could probably tell us of their› experiences with  it.   I  wish  they› would.›› Tom's  message  makes  it  clear that› neither   Sprint,   nor  TymNet,  nor› Delphi wish to make an investment  in› new  Unix-based  software unless that› move will be paid for by the  current› user  base.  I would imagine that the› user   base  in  question  is  rather› small, anyway.  Delphi states that it› is  willing  to  continue the service› for those who can reach it by  Telnet› or  other  Internet connection.  That› implies that the  user  have  another› ISP THAT PROVIDES SHELL ACCOUNTS with› a local access  number  --  something› that  Tom  won't need since he has an› ST, but something that many 8-bitters› will  not  be  able  to  do.   Delphi› probably   knows   that   they   will› eventually lose those  users  --  sad› for  Delphi,  but  sadder   for   the› users!›› Could a hobbyist with a Linux or Unix› background  fix  the  software  as  a› public service?   Apparently  neither› TymNet,   Delphi   nor   Sprint   has› investigated this question  to  their› satisfaction.›› What  about the development of TCP/IP› stacks, PPP or SLIP connections and a› graphical  browser  for  our  8-bits?› Once again, these are being worked on› by  some  in our community.  Progress› is  slow  --  remember,  we  are  all› hobbyists.›› Can it happen some day?   I  hope  it› does  happen  --  soon!   Let's  give› those  guys  some   support.    Watch››        comp.sys.atari.8bit             ›and››      comp.sys.atari.announce›› for  requests for  beta  testers,  and  then jump in and help those guys!››              o=o=o=o=o=›››