Welcome to a brand new edition of the BIGSURF Netguide.
Please see the important note in this "read me" for the proper use and care of BIGSURF.
This is version 3.3 and is now presented to the user entirely in HTML format.
BIGSURF Netguide 3.3 offers enhancements, updated links and a few minor improvements over the previous V 3.2 release. We hope you enjoy this release of BIGSURF Netguide and find it useful... and fun!
This is, in a sense, a virtual BIGSURF web-site delivered right to you and easily accessed right from your "home" computer.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
You must keep all BIGSURF-related files within the folder entitled "BIGSURF Netguide 3.3" (in other words, you must have the files remain in the original folder that they were distributed in). Also, do not rename any files or folders or the BIGSURF Netguide will not work properly. For more information on how to use this BIGSURF Netguide please see the brief "HOW TO USE BIGSURF" section towards the end of this "read me" document. BIGSURF was meant to be easily used and viewed so the directions will be very short and to the point.
Please remember that BIGSURF Netguide is not public domain software, or "freeware," but it is distributed freely in the hopes that users will support this publication effort. Absolutely no section is "locked" or "crippled." We send this issue of BIGSURF out with everything "intact" and fully working.
BIGSURF is "donation-ware" and is a fully copyrighted software publication.
All that is asked is a donation of $10.00 (US) if you find this useful or use it more than thirty days. BIGSURF is an expanding effort and I thank everyone that has contributed both their donations and comments/suggestions.
Please send donations to (US postal address):
S. DiRosa
232 Talbot Drive
Broomall, PA 19008
attn: BIGSURF Netguide
If you would like to be placed on the BIGSURF mailing list, then include your email address along with your donation and you will be placed on the mailing list. Please make sure your email service can allow large, attached files sent to your email address. You will receive new issues of BIGSURF directly sent to your email address as attached files. If you do not wish to receive new issues via email (attached file) but would still like to be notified when new issues come out, then simply state this in a brief note along with your donation. I'm sorry - but only folks who make a donation can be placed on this mailing list.
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HOW TO USE BIGSURF:
It's easy! Simply double-click on the included "Start" icon appropriate to the browser you wish to use (Netscape is recommended). For instance, if you have Netscape Navigator installed, then double-click on the "Start Netscape" icon and Netscape will launch and the BIGSURF Netguide will be presented to you. If you are using NCSA Mosaic then double-click on the "Start NCSA Mosaic" icon and Mosaic will launch and the BIGSURF Netguide will be presented to you.
You also have the option of launching your web browser as you normally would and at any time you wish to view BIGSURF simply open manually from within the browser by opening the appropriate "Start" file (under the File Menu - the "Open File" menu option in Netscape is what you would use).
A special note:
BIGSURF Netguide, at this time, does not work properly with the MacWeb software browser. Please use either Mosaic or Netscape. (Netscape recommended).
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Other versions/formats of BIGSURF:
There is much information concerning BIGSURF within the actual Netguide. Please take the time to read the opening/introductory section and the closing/copyright notice section for more information relating to all the various places BIGSURF can be found online. There is a plain-text version of BIGSURF available via the UTA Gopher (University of Texas at Arlington) for those people who wish to have a plain-text version available to them.
UTA Gopher site (plain text display by section and binary download offered)
WWW site (fully linked BIGSURF Netguide on the web!)
http://dipmat.unife.it/Root/d-Internet/h-Bigsurf
The above sites (and more) are available as linked sites within the BIGSURF Netguide that offer alternative ways to view or obtain the BIGSURF Netguide.
Launch BIGSURF and start your web surfing explorations!
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BIGSURF¬ Netguide 3.3
Copyright 1995 by:
S. DiRosa ("Pinochle")
Internet: sjd@omni.voicenet.com
HTML format by:
E. Reid ("Blue Savannah!")
Internet: aa262@broadway.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca
Notes from Blue Savannah!:
Please recognize that sections 7.1 (Education FTP Sites) and 7.2 (Education Telnet Sites) are not in full HTML format. If you are interested in visiting any of the sites listed, please copy the URL and paste it into your browser. As well, the sheer size of 7.2 requires you to allocate more memory to Netscape in order to view the whole file. To do this, highlight the Netscape icon and type command-i. Increase the number in the bottom, right-hand corner of the Get-Info window to 4096 (if you have enough RAM). Future editions of BIGSURF will remedy this situation (when we get our second wind!).
We'd like to express our gratitude to Greg Swann for providing us with Torquemada. The BIGSURF Netguide HTML-incarnation would not be the same without it.
Sometimes, searching for sites in BIGSURF can be daunting. We realize this and are working diligently to provide a search mechanism that will allow you to pinpoint URLs within BIGSURF and whisk you directly to them. For now you have a number of "find" options. Netscape has its own search command that will allow you to scan each chapter for certain words. This can be very useful if you are fairly certain you are already in the correct chapter. However, if you are having problems locating sites, we urge you to use Patrick Maes' FindText 1.3, available from the Info-Mac HyperArchive. Simply go to:
http://hyperarchive.lcs.mit.edu/HyperArchive.html
and look for "find-text" with the "search" option. We are sure you will find this shareware application useful.
As a last note, I urge those of you who love the colorful backgrounds of the WWW to look out for BIGSURF Backgrounds, soon to be available from Info-Mac.
A final note from Pinochle:
I would like to thank E. Reid for his friendship, patience, help and for his diligent work into converting BIGSURF into HTML format. Without you - it would not have been possible. I would like to also express my gratitude and appreciation for all that have helped with suggestions and have graciously donated to the BIGSURF effort.
- S. "Pinochle" DiRosa
We sincerely hope all our readers enjoy this new version of BIGSURF.
