Re: Dial-up Users

Martijn Koster <m.koster@nexor.co.uk>
Message-id: <9310270912.AA28532@dxmint.cern.ch>
To: dale@ora.com (Dale Dougherty)
Cc: www-talk@nxoc01.cern.ch
Subject: Re: Dial-up Users
In-reply-to: Your message of "Wed, 27 Oct 1993 00:12:41 MST." <9310270012.ZM21727@rock.west.ora.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1993 09:11:44 +0000
From: Martijn Koster <m.koster@nexor.co.uk>

> [Description of why not have a dial-up browser instead of SLIP/PPP deleted]
>
> I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who is thinking about or actually
> working on this problem.

Well, this keeps coming up. The thing is, running a process on the host
requires setting things up, same as SLIP/PPP. To get error-free communication
you need a error-checking protocol, which gives you overhead, same as SLIP/PPP.
If you develop such a protocol, there won't be any implementations or
experience, unlike SLIP/PPP.

You only win a bit less overhead, but with a lot less functionality (only
WWW, nothing else), costing lot of effort. Is that worth it, keeping in mind
connections only get faster? I don't think so. If you want the full
graphical interface, images and what have you, use SLIP/PPP on a 
decent connection. If you are content with the basics over a slow line,
dial into Lynx or something.

Of course, if you do develop a dial-up browser you will instantly prove me
wrong; thousands will love you :-)

Just my 2p.

-- Martijn
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