I’m assuming that if you’re reading this, you’re already on-line. If you’re reading this from a public library or from the office, and you want to be on-line at home, you need a computer, some sort of modem, and an Internet Service Provider. If you have cable service in your area, check with them first. Cable-based Internet access generally comes with a modem, and they’ll install it for you! Your computer needs to have “ethernet” installed. If you have a Macintosh, you probably have it. If you don’t, well, they’ll usually be able to install it for an extra fee.
If you don’t have cable service, you’ll probably need to buy your own modem, and then hire a dedicated Internet Service Provider to give you an Internet connection. Your modem will use your telephone line to connect with your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Your computer will also need software to make this connection; if you have a Macintosh, it not only comes with the software you need, it is easy to set up. Your ISP will be able to guide you through it. If you have Windows ’95 or greater, well, it does come with the software you need. Your ISP should also have instructions for that. The information you’re looking for has to do with “PPP” connections, because that’s the standard for talking to the Internet over telephone lines.
You can find Internet providers in the back of most computer magazines if your area has one, or in any Internet magazine. Shop around. If you don’t mind seeing lots of advertisements, you might even be able to get a free computer and free Internet.
Once you have your Internet connection, you need to do something with it. An Internet connection is a lot like water pipes. Unless you also have a sink or a shower or a bath, it doesn’t do you much good. The sinks, shower, and bath on the Internet are your web browser, your e-mail software, and your Usenet news reader.
The ‘web browser’ is your kitchen sink. It holds all the dirty stuff you don’t know what to do with. All the information on the net is generally available on ‘web pages’, and you need a web browser to view these web pages. There are three major web browsers out there: Netscape, Internet Explorer, and Lynx. Lynx is text-only. It does not display images or movies, nor does it play sound, which is probably a good part of why you got your Internet connection in the first place. It does display the text of the net very well, however, so if you are blind (the Macintosh version of Lynx can read web pages to you out loud), have a slow computer, or have other special needs, Lynx is a very good choice to look into.
In general, however, Netscape and Explorer are the choices you’re looking at. Both of these packages are huge pieces of software. If you already have one of them, I recommend sticking with it. Both work pretty much the same. Netscape might be a little more reliable; Explorer has a few more features. But for just looking at web pages, either one will work fine.
If you’re on a slower net connection, you might find Explorer’s ability to turn off what are called ‘frames’ a useful feature. You might also find that Explorer’s long-term memory of where you’ve been recently is better than Netscape’s.
If you decide to make your own web page on the net, you might find Netscape Communicator’s built-in web page editor useful. If you read Usenet news (and you should) you might find Netscape’s built-in newsreader useful. I would recommend getting a specialized newsreader, however, in the long run.
Electronic mail is how you communicate with other individuals on the net. You’ll need electronic mail software to read and send electronic mail (e-mail) messages. The best choice is most likely Eudora: the free version is great software, and if you need even more features, you can upgrade to the commercial version.
á Freeware: Lynx
á Netscape’s Navigator
á Qualcomm’s Eudora
You can look for other software at Download.Com . There is a lot of free,
shareware, and public domain software available there for ‘downloading’, that
is, for transferring from their computer to your computer. I also have my own list of recommended
Internet software
A “shell” is a command-line interface to, generally, a Unix computer.
When connecting to your Unix account, you’ll usually:
1. Be asked for your username (or “login”). Type it in, and press return.
2. Finally, you’ll be asked for your password. Type it in and press return. Unix doesn’t let you see your password as you type it in, in case someone’s looking over your shoulder.
At this point, you’re at what’s called the “Unix command line”. Here, you can type the name of the software you want to use. Some examples are:
á pine for electronic mail
á trn for Usenet news
á lynx for the World Wide Web
In general, you’ll only use a ‘shell’ account if you already know what you’re doing, so I won’t be talking about that from here on.
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