🚀 go-pugleaf

While at the Apple expo yesterday I watched the demonstration of the Apple
Internet Connection Kit (or whatever its called!). Although most of us more
experienced users would regard it as an expensive way to buy shareware, I
think it will be popular among new users as it promises a one step, easy to
set up connection, and is of course backed by Apple. They were promoting it
at the show as a system that would work with any Internet provider. The
problem, of course, is that it won't work with the UKs largest provider,
Demon! It seems to me that this confusion is going to cause loads of
problems in the months ahead.

Email is of course the problem. The kit uses a cutdown version of Claris
Emailer, which will not integrate with Demon's SMTP service. (I know about
AIMS, but this is hardly going to appeal to those who are attracted by this
product). And the supplied Dialer will not provide a suitable interface if
a user decides to cut their losses and go for the Addmail-Eudora solution,
as one has to get Addmail up and running as part of making the connection,
which the Apple Dialer of course does not do.

What can Demon do to prevent a load of new customers signing up, getting
pissed off, and immediately leaving. I know they are resistant to offering
a POP3 mailbox at a reasonable cost, so I think they are going to have to
look into producing a modification of the Apple system that works with the
Demon SMTP. I have seen that Demon are planning an all new Windows
dialer/interface. Any chance of doing something for the Mac? A version of
the Dialler perhaps which starts up and intergrates with those bits of AIMS
that are necessary for picking up SMTP mail, and dropping it into a POP3
mailbox for Emailer to clloect. Clearly the full AIMS package is not
required. Of course this would require cooperation with Apple. Perhaps it
would be easier to write something from scratch!

Whatever, I think something should be done to avoid tears!