[cc: list removed] On Fri, 25 May 2001, Mitch Halmu wrote:
If you were a dial-up user, chances are you wouldn't be able to do that.
If you were a dial-up user, FTP would be far more efficient. Ever thought of the 8 to 7 bit conversion? The man page for uuencode says an expansion of 37% is quite normal. I would prefer to wait 10 minutes instead of almost 14 minutes for the same file. Suppose a clueless user takes about 15 minutes to find out how it works; if you use email regularly to transmit files, you will save time very fast.
A few simple reasons come to mind: first, you wouldn't have any or not enough disk space on your system account (limited by quota) to store the file.
I think most ISP's prefer a onetime use of webspace instead of a 10 time use in pop boxes.
Second, an average user probably wouldn't have the skill.
Then he/she should learn. I don't buy a car if I can't drive. I'm sorry for comparing internetworking with driving a car but I feel that FTP'ing is a basic skill if you want to use the internet in a professional way (and since most documents are being distributed for professional reasons, they should know).
Third, a .zip file will usually display as funny characters on a web browser - that's why ftp is needed.
Most browsers can handle .zip files and ask the user what to do with them.
Fourth, you probably wouldn't have shell access and ftp space from your provider with a regular account.
Then change ISP's.
Fifth, assuming you would have all the toys, you would have to spend yourself the time to first upload the file, so that another may retrieve it.
C:\windows\ftp.exe ftp://www.bit.nl/~sabri/suexec.patch.gz
Sixth, if your file was a sensitive document, others would have public access to it, etc.
http://foo:bar@www.bit.nl/~sabri/suexec.patch.gz
So what's a regular user to do? Email it! Hence the legitimate use of email for transmission of large files. Most ISPs know that if they start limiting this privilege, users will migrate to someone that allows it.
Allowing != promoting... And like more people on this list; I consider it very rude to receive large attachments, especially from clueless salesdroids sending .doc files. That's the way to get me not buying anything. imho of course. -- /* Sabri Berisha CCNA,BOFH,+iO O.O Business Internet Trends * Join HAL!!: www.HAL2001.org ____oOo_U_oOo____ http://www.bit.nl/~sabri * ____________________________________________, +31 318648688 318643334 * DDoS: http://misterpoll.com/3517731598.html L_______________________ */