Returning Amigan would like to do internet with Amiga

[apeman451]

Hey all,
I was a hard core Amigan over 10 years ago but lost interest after the big C went under (At the time I was working in a Commodore reseller store so it was extra hard).

My question is: How do I get on the internet with my Amiga and what do I need to do it? I have an a1200 with 10 megs and 1 gig hd. I have 3.0 roms and 3.0 workbench. I also bought some kind of pcmcia ethernet card to network my a1200 to my Athlon3500 for transfering ADFs (but never got around to installing it). I'm sick of the PCs vunerability to spyware and viruses and really just want to use the PC for a video/audio workstation and keep it off the internet (so it stays "clean"). I only use the internet to check this site, some news sites, ebay, and my hotmail email account.

Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

It nice to be back.

Thanks,
Michael

[amigakit]

Welcome to Amiga.org

You could consider Netconnect 3.0:

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=543

Contains the Genesis TCP/IP stack and a suite of Internet connectivity applications.

[neuroflip]

First of all you need to install sana2 device drivers for your pcmcia card. My eth card is a 3COM and i'm using 3c589

The you need a TCP/IP stack like AmiTCP 3.0b2 or other ones like miami or genesis. Try install amiTCP using this guide

Probably this help  :-)

errr welcome!

[B00tDisk]

apeman451 wrote:
Hey all,
I was a hard core Amigan over 10 years ago but lost interest after the big C went under (At the time I was working in a Commodore reseller store so it was extra hard).

My question is: How do I get on the internet with my Amiga and what do I need to do it? I have an a1200 with 10 megs and 1 gig hd. I have 3.0 roms and 3.0 workbench. I also bought some kind of pcmcia ethernet card to network my a1200 to my Athlon3500 for transfering ADFs (but never got around to installing it). I'm sick of the PCs vunerability to spyware and viruses and really just want to use the PC for a video/audio workstation and keep it off the internet (so it stays "clean"). I only use the internet to check this site, some news sites, ebay, and my hotmail email account.

Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

It nice to be back.

Thanks,
Michael

Best of luck.  The browsers currently available for the Amiga are...well, I'll be kind and say that they're "primitive".  IMO, if your 1200 has the oomph to run shapeshifter, do the classic Mac emulation thing and run Netscape (or even IE for Mac).  Alternately network your 1200 to your PC and use the Amiga VNC client to use the PC's browser.

[Flashlab]

While you can browse on an Amiga, it will not be a pleasant experience with only AGA and non powerfull accelerator.

Even on my system (see sig) browsing on more demanding sites is slow; and this unfortunately included eBay. Also newer sites that use CSS won't work. I mainly use my ethernet to connect to my PC with FTP.

If you have a PC use that for browsing; use FireFox if you feel insecure about IE. And always use virus and spyware protection.

[Flashlab]

Concerning using ShapeShifter for browsing; that redefines slow!! While primitive the Amiga browsers are faster than the Mac 68k counterparts (iCab, IE 4.0 and Netscape 4.x). I never tried the IE and Netscape 3.x versions but I think they would be even more primitive than the Amiga browsers.

[Damion]

I used to browse under Mac emulation on my A1200/060/AGA machine, it wasn't terrible, but definitely not ideal, either. Better compatibility than Amiga browsers with Ebay, and things like online banking. iCab is the most up to date Mac 68k browser, but it *is* sluggish, even under Basilisk II on a fast PC.

[Tenacious]

Welcome back!  

It depends on how hard core you are.  There are people here who surf with accelerated A500s using ECS.  I happily do all the things you mentioned and more with Ibrowse 2.3 over dail-up.  A graphics card does make it faster and cleaner, though. I think Ibrowse is soon to be updated.  It's tough to define "soon".

Yam is a great E-mail program, IMHO.  For my use, it's as advanced as the offerings on other platforms.  I like it much better than Outlook.

I don't find Amiga internetting to be too primitive, but, I'm not a technological fashion leader either.

[stopthegop]

As long as you don't need Java, flash, vod or other top heavy web "technologies" (and who really "needs" these, anyway..), Ibrowse 2.3 on a modest amiga should do fine.  Ibrowse does have a javascript interperter, which I have to admit is nice even though I'm no fan of javascript.

[Tenacious]

Javascript slows page-loading for me by about 2 or 3x, maybe because of my slow dail-up connection.  It's nice to disable it when not needed.

Is it slower with broadband?

[apeman451]

Thanks everyone.

You all are being very helpful and pointing me in the right direction. More questions:

Was there anything internet related included in OS updates past 3.0? Was there ever anything officially integrated into the OS that allows for browsing? If there was I would be inclined to update my OS to whatever is currently available, and maybe even track down an 030 or 040 to pop in my 1200.

Thanks again

[neuroflip]

With OS3.9 CD you can install inet apps like:
 - genesis TCP/IP stack
 - Web browser AWEB 3.4 SE
 - Amiga Mail client

[stopthegop]

@Tenacious

Is it slower with broadband?

Yes, quite a bit faster.  I do same thing you do when using ppp slip, pcom or anything else slower than ~256kbits/sec; that is "text only" or, at minimum, prune some fat of the fat (read: disable javascript).    Tenacity, btw, is a admireable trait.    

[Raffaele]

neuroflip wrote:
With OS3.9 CD you can install inet apps like:
 - genesis TCP/IP stack
 - Web browser AWEB 3.4 SE
 - Amiga Mail client

And there are lots of plenty good internet software available for downolad mainly on aminet or from their homesites.

http://www.aminet.net


Epistula: instant messaging

Jabberwocky: instant messaging

Ami Netradio: radio streaming

AmigaAMP: Amiga version of winamp

And there are more:

FTP programs, RSS Feed programs, P2P programs.

(Please check on internet for the whole availability).

Ciao