9.7  SLIP: BUT I WANT TO USE MY MOUSE!

OK, so you have a Windows computer or Macintosh and you want to use the 
Internet via a point-and-click interface.  You can.  Many Internet 
providers now offer Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) or Point to 
Point Protocol (PPP) connections.  Among other things, this sort of link 
will let you run a growing number of programs that let you fully 
integrate everything from e-mail to the Web into the interface with which 
you're familiar  -- you can use your mouse, drag and drop things, etc.  
IBM now includes such software as part of its OS/2 operating system, 
while Microsoft Corp. has similar plans for its Windows 95 operating 
system.  There are also several companies that offer complete graphical 
Internet starter kits.  For example, O'Reilly and Associates sells an 
"Internet in a Box" kit for Windows users.  And two Internet providers, 
Netcom and Pipeline, offer their own, proprietary graphical user 
interfaces for the Internet. 

Although using these programs can be easy, setting them up is sometimes a 
pain (it gets even more complex if you decide to download free and low-
cost software from the Internet that provides the same features).  First, 
check with your provider to see if they do offer SLIP or PPP access, and 
if so, at what price (some may charge extra).  If they do not, ask if 
they will allow the use of The Internet Adapter, software that lets 
Macintosh and Windows users use graphical programs via a standard dial-up 
connection.