Before the World Wide Web made graphical access to the Internet
possible, computers on the Internet understood only typed commands (much like
DOS). Telnet was (and is) a way of connecting to these computers and typing in
these commands.
Typically, you gained access to these computers from a "terminal" - a simple
computer directly connected to the larger, more complex "host." Telnet software
is "terminal emulator" software - that is, it pretends to be a terminal directly
connected to the "host", even though its connection is actually made through the
Internet.
Now that the WWW has become the preferred way to access most resources, Telnet is
seldom used, except for special applications, system administration, and to access archaic
systems.
Macintosh
NCSA Telnet
This is the standard telnet program that allows you to access computers over the Internet.
NiftyTelnet
An alternative freeware telnet client for Macs.
Hytelnet
Hytelnet is a hypertext interface for telnet that will help you reach library catalogs, freenets, BBSs, Gophers, WAIS, etc.
Windows
Hytelnet (MS-DOS)
Hytelnet gives IBM-PC users instant-access to all Internet-accessible library catalogs, freenets, BBSs, Gophers, WAIS, etc.
Hytelnet (Windows)
This program provides a Windows interface for Hytelnet. You can download the database and Windows interface at this Web page.
