Beloved Getting-Started Sites

by Barbara Bergesen

Here we've collected some of our best-loved sites geared toward helping you "get started" on the Internet. Whether you want to find an access provider, choose the right modem, learn waht a URL is, find the best brwoser for yourself, or get the latest Internet-related news, these sites are invaluable.


The List
http://www.thelist.com

You want on the Internet? Then you need an access provider in your area. They have providers
listed for my relatively small home town, so I'll bet there's one for you too. Need a provider in Canada? An international provider? Links from this site will set you up, no matter where you find yourself reading this
magazine.


Infinite Ink's Getting Connected
http://jazzie.com/ii/internet/connecting.html

Once you've decided on a provider, you'll need to find out the best way to connect to the Internet. Infinite Ink's Web site will help you choose a modem, determine what types of services you want and need, and pick the tools to connect with. It also has a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section on the topic. Links to additional providers are also presented.


A Beginner's Guide to URLs
http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/demoweb/url-primer.html

Learning about Uniform Resource Locators is the base from which your Internet knowledge will
flourish. In a nutshell, they are the addresses for sites on the Internet. At this site, you'll learn to distinguish among a variety of URLs, such as Usenet newsgroups, FTP sites, HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol) URLs, and gopher URLs. A Beginner's Guide is simple and straightforward, without talking down to novices.


Netiquette
http://rs6000.adm.fau.edu/rinaldi/net/dis.html

I know, I know -- it's a pain to start all over again. By now, you've probably figured out what to do at the dinner table and what not to tell your boss about your weekend activities. But the Internet breaks new ground, and so, requires a new set of etiquette. There's already a condcut code in place, such as don't leave the caps key on while posting to a newsgroup, and you'll want to folow it if you want to make friends.


BrowserWatch
http://www.browserwatch.com/

You're going to need a browser, the instrument used for viewing the World Wide Web, the graphical arm of the Internet. Here's where to go to find out about the latest about browsers, as well as servers, CGIs, HTML editors, and any other software-related offerings of interest to users and developers of the Web. There's a handy list of browsers, with platform and developer/manufacturer information, plus the Plug-In Plaza, where you'll find links to all of the plug-ins available on the net.


Life on the Internet
http://www.screen.com/understand/explore.html

Don't miss this. Consider it a handbook of sorts, an all-in-one manual for your Internet needs.
It includes links to the latest version of Internet software, tips, resource lists, search tools, and more, all presented in a user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing environment.


search.com
http://www.search.com/

This invaluable service by c|net (http://www.cnet.com/) gathers together 250 different search engines on one site. You can enter in key words on the meta engines, like Yahoo (http://www.yahoo.com/), Lycos (http://www.lycos.com/), and Alta Vista (http://www.altavista.digital.com/), or use specialized search engines focused on specific topics, like arts, employment, sports, travel, etc. There are tips on searching the Internet, and a personalization service that lets you set up your own special search page.


shareware.com
http://www.shareware.com

This site, also a service from c|net, has nearly 200,000 searchable software files that can be downloaded. There are "titles of the day" reviewed for both PCs and Macs, and a "survival kit" that's extermely helpful. There's freeware, shareware, demos, fixes, patches, and upgrades, and you can stay abreast of the latest new arrivals by subscribing to the site's Shareware Dispatch.


ZD Net Software Library
http://www.zdnet.com/zdi/software/

Created by computer publishing power house Ziff-Davis, this site gathers together 10,000+ downloadable software files, runs virus checks, reviews and rates the files (using a five-star system), and offers information on platform and system requirements. There are "Editors' Picks" and "Hot Files of the Day" to alert you to the latest and best shareware out there, plus "Toolkits," which profile collections of shareware that do particular tasks well. You can search for files several ways, including by category and keyword.


c|net (MIRRORED)
http://www.cnet.com

Once you've got a hold on this technology and you're all set up with your Internet connection,
you'll want to keep on top of things. Here's where to go to stay at the forefront of technological news. But that's not all. Packed into this one graphically pleasing site you'll find Web reviews, features, and tips, such as how to add graphics to your home page. Read it and stay ahead of the technology you've just worked so hard to figure out!


Also check out:
411 White Page Directory (http://www.four11.com/)
ACLU Freedom Network (http://www.aclu.org/)
Cybergrrl (http://www.cybergrrl.com)
Don't Spread that Hoax! (http://www.crew.umich.edu/~chymes/newusers/Think.html)
Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://www.eff.org/)
FeMiNa (http://www.femina.com)

Four11 (http://www.four11.com)
GNN Home Page Construction Kit (http://gnn.com/netizens/construction.html)
InfoMac Digest (http://www.mid.net:80/INFO-MAC/)
Koolthing (http://ni.net/quikslvr.com/Koolthing.html)
The New York Times' CyberTimes (http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/cyber/index.html)