Getting Started On The Internet FAQ's

Q: What is the Internet?

A: The Internet started in the 60's as a government experiment that's since become a global computing resource connecting millions of users. It links local, regional and national backbone networks all using TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) to collectively provide many fun and valuable services.

Q:  What can I do on the Internet?

A:  You can find information, conduct business, play games and communicate. Send electronic mail and navigate the World Wide Web. Shop, download information from public archives, and "chat" with other users. Radio programs are broadcast on the Internet, and rock bands have even delivered live performances on it - including video.

Q:  What is the World Wide Web?

A:  The World Wide Web comprises all the interlinked content on the Internet. You explore it with a web browser (like Netscape Navigator or Microsoft's Internet Explorer) that uses a file format called "HTML" (hypertext markup language). This lets you simply "hyperlink" (double-lick and jump) from one web "page" to another.

Q:  When you’re "on" AOL are you "on" the Net?

A:  It's more accurate to say you go "through" AOL to get "on" the Net. Dial-up network accounts like this are popular and convenient. You dial in and are passed to a fast leased telephone line that sends you to an Internet host computer that houses the Web pages. This gives you Internet access plus all of AOL’s other great services, but you're only "on the net" after you've actually reached the host computer's Web pages on the Internet backbone. There are 5,000 other ways to get to the Net, too - that’s how many ISP’s there are in North America alone. Check out their services, pricing and - perhaps most important if you're an avid Web surfer - user-per-port ratios, which heavily influences dial-in convenience.

Q:  What is a URL?

A:  URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. It's like a postal address or phone number for a Web home page.

Q:  What is a home page?

A:  It describes the site and its contents. The home page http://www.golf.com, for instance, offers link to information about tours, players and tips on your game.

Q:  How can I make home pages load faster?

A:  Help's here. New 56Kbps analog modems nearly double your speed under optimal line conditions. ISPs are quickly adding 56Kbps modem ports and you'll find Rockwell chipsets in the vast majority of their equipment. Computer stores now stock many varieties of modems that use Rockwell's K56flex chipsets. Before you buy, confirm that your ISP supports K56flex. Until then, have your browser ignore all graphics (in Explorer choose Options from the View menu, click on the General tab, and unclick the "show pictures" box in the multimedia menu).

Q:  What is a link?

A:  Links quickly connect you to another page. Your cursor will change shape as you pass over a link

Q:  What is a plug-in?

A:  Plug-ins are software modules (inexpensive or even free) that let your browser do cool things like show movies or play a music clip. Check your browser vendor's home page (for example, http://www netscape.com, http://www microsoft.com, or http://www.sun.com).

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First make room for the 5 to 50 MB that plug-ins can consume. At www.netscape.com, you can select Plug-ins from the Download Software column, pick a plug-in link (like Moviestar by Intel-ligence at Large, for video and sound), and go to its site. Select Downloads and click on the link for your operating system. Answer the prompts, then click download.

Q:  What is a search engine?

A:  Search engines are free and easy to find, and act like giant automated card catalogues for quickly locating Web sites.

Q:  Popular ones include:

A:  Altavista (http://www.altavista.digital.com); Yahoo (http://www.yahoo.com); Excite (http://excite.com); Infoseek (http://infoseek.com); Lycos (http://www.lycos.com); and NetGuide (http://wwwnetguide.com).

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Try methods like Altavista's "simple" and "advanced" options to narrow your search. For simple searches, enter a word or phrase - such as Scuba - in the Search dialog box and click Submit Advanced searches refine your request through special techniques - i.e., you could search on "scuba" and "tropical" with a date range of "1/1/97-4/1/97" and rank the hits by documents containing the word "Cayman."

Q:  What is a bookmark?

A:  A bookmark is a URL you save for later use. Most browsers have a pull-down function called "Bookmark" or "Favorite." With Navigator, simply click on the bookmark menu and select 'Add Bookmark" to add http:// www.netguide.com, for instance, to your list. Regularly updated bookmarks tailor your Web page library to your tastes and needs.

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Save time by bookmarking your favorite search engines.

Q:  What are Internet Newsgroups?

A:  Internet newsgroups are ongoing discussions in the Internet Usenet area. Users post messages and pass them around. There are news-groups for many subjects - even America's favorite pastime, baseball (rec.sports.baseball).

Q:  How do you access a newsgroup?

A:  First get access to a news server (which ISPs provide), and news-reader software like Forte’s Agent (which establishes Usenet news server connection and manages your news "subscriptions"). Subscriptions aren't mandatory, but give you a more manageable subset of the Internet's roughly 15,000 news-groups. Most Web browsers also handle news (type "news" for a list of available newsgroups).

Q:  What is FTP?

A:  FTP (file transfer protocol) downloads and transfers "bulk" files like shareware and freeware. You navigate another computer's directories and when you find what you want copy it to your Internet host computer and then to your PC. Look for a "click here to download" option. Companies use FTP servers to deliver access drivers and utility software. A useful search site is http://www.shareware.com - check out its "This Week's Most Popular List." There are FTP sites from AOL and on Yahoo!'s search engine, too. Your Web browser is the simplest FTP client for occasional file transfers. Or, "click here to download" one of the many graphical FTP clients.

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FTP sites often restrict the number of incoming connections. Solve this by connecting off-hours, using an FTP client that automatically retries your connection, or accessing a "mirror" site meant for other parts of the world.