Why Were There Once PC Only (nonmac) ISPs

[Harry]

There may still be but there once were many PC only (nonmac) ISPs. What would it be that would have made it more difficult to include a Mac to the compatibility of an ISP? A modem connection is a modem connection. So what was the problem?

[Vigo]

ISP software and tech support.

[Statica]

Originally posted by Harry There may still be but there once were many PC only (nonmac) ISPs. What would it be that would have made it more difficult to include a Mac to the compatibility of an ISP? A modem connection is a modem connection. So what was the problem?

It isn't that TCP/IP accounts are PC exclusive, provided the connection is, as you say, a straightforward modem or broadband connection. We are talking about networks, that are not the exclusive features of any one operating system or platform.
Usually, however connections are not Mac compatible because the ISP might have a proprietary dialling software, that they have only written for the Windows platform (it might not be viable for them to have people writing code for Macs or even *nix). The fact is that, even if you had a PC, it's always recommended that you avoid ISPs with such proprietary crap.

On the other hand, there are ISPs that will be compatible with any OS, it just might be that they don't support them. They probably don't have tech support representatives who know how to troubleshoot modem/connection issues on a non-Windows platform; however if you are competent enough you could get a connection going.

[Mac Medic]

There are still companies that bill themselves as Mac dial-up companies, a bit redundant really as a dialer has been built into Mac OS for years (like windows) and the ISP software was never really needed to begin with (except AOL). I think it's more of a marketing ploy than anything as these companies seem to charge more for dial-up than other PC geared companies.

[glc]

AOL isn't the only ISP that requires proprietary software. MSN and the Netzero family does too, among others. Earthlink can be used with anything, it's a standard RADIUS authentication on a standard PPP connection.