This software works in any DOS environment to provide internet tools of WWW, FTP, telnet, news groups and email. It is packaged with its own dialer. All that is needed to get on the net is an internet service account.
Offering a "quick and dirty" access software, Net-Tamer has some features not available in some of the Big Name packages.
One of the nicest features is a timer which will dial your ISP, log on, retrieve email and news groups. The material is on your desk waiting for you and your morning coffee.
You are given the option of checking news groups and reading every message or just getting the subjects you wish to read. If you do the latter, you will mark those you wish to read and, the next time you connect, Net-Tamer will grab those messages f or you.
Net-Tamer also support multiple accounts and/or multiple users from one machine. In other words, Net-Tamer will support Compuserve, AOL, etc. while also allowing access from an independent ISP. In fact, the author of the software wrote the offline mail reading program for Delphi.
The program (and all its files) fit on a 720K disk with space left for some messages. This means you can put it on a floppy and carry that with you. If you find a computer and need to check your mail, stick the disk in the floppy drive and run it from there. It really does work.
On FTP, the program does an acceptable job. There are even some FTP sites in its directory. For example, if it is known that there is a file at Garbo, search the list for Garbo. The result is the site is found and, with one keystroke, you are connecting to it. If only finding the files was so easy!
When using this for the WWW, the user can type a URL, go to one of the last 64, or open his list of favorites. Cookies are also supported.
Palm-tops are also supported by a palm-top version of the software. Other versions are also available for XT/286 computers and 386/486/586 computers.
The only drawback this writer sees with Net-Tamer is its lack of speed. However, this is not bad for an old 286 laptop in DOS with 640K of RAM and a 14.4 modem when compared to Netscape on a 486DX4-100 with 8meg of RAM and a 28.8 modem.
The program is shareware. Registration is $35 for life. Updates past that are free. The program is available from http://people.delphi.com/davidcolston/ as well as some other sites around.
The program's author is available by email to davidcolston@delphi.com.
To contact the author of this article, email kc5fm@amsat.org or call 918 825 6514 (evenings before 9 p.m. please).
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