Here is
what I consider to be a good starter collection of
software for the Internet.
If you can recommend others please e-mail me.
BROWSERS
-E-MAIL - FTP -
IRC - NEWS READER
- SOFTWARE SITES
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BROWSERS
Netscape 3.01 - This is my preferred one - its
an all in one program Browser. It not only has the
browser, but built in E-Mail and Newsreader. Its great
benefit is it has a smaller hard drive footprint and is
much quicker that Microsoft.
Microsoft Internet explorer 3.0 - A good browser - but it is more
of an operating system extension. It has a LOT of stuff
under the hood to support active content (program that
run inside Explorer)so its rather big. If you just want
to "Surf the Web" I recommend Netscape.
Explorer does not have a built in Mail or News client.
However It has a couple of compelling benefits, its free,
and is from the largest software company on the planet.
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E-MAIL
I recommend you use
whatever mail client came with your particular browser.
However if you are reading this from a friends computer
or a Library and want to get on the E-mail band wagon you
still can - all you need to have in your personal
computer is a modem. A couple of outfits are offering
free e-mail programs for the Internet deprived. They get
paid for their trouble by advertisers. What happens is
their software calls into their mail servers only and you
will have to answer about a hundred questions about what
you like in food, cars, movies e.t.c. Then they send you
advertisements along with your mail. Not a bad deal for
free e-mail. Some even have 800 numbers for access. I
recommend JUNO.
No Modem? But you have
access to the Web at work or a library. Check out Hotmail, RocketMail, or Mail City. Their e-mail is web based so all you have
to do is be able to get on the web.
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FTP
If you want to get
programs from (and to) the net you will need a FTP
program. The one I recommend is WS-FTP. There are a lot of other good ones, but Ws
FTP can't be beat for its user friendly and intuitive
interface.
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IRC
If you get bored and can't
think of what you are going to do, try IRC on line chat.
PC Magazine says that at any one time there are 100,000
people on-line in IRC. The client I recommend is MIRC.
Get the Win95 version here, or here, or here.
If You have Windows 3.X -
look Here, or here, or here
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News
Reader
If you want an answers to
a computer question, or any question for that matter, you
can post it to the an USENET group. With 10's of
thousands of different news groups one is got to be there
specializing in what you need to know with people who
have expertise in what you need to know. You can use the
newsreader in Netscape - but if you want to get news
messages and read them off line, and free up your phone
line, I suggest Agent. Its Free and very easy to use.
Get Agent for Windows 95 here or here or here or here.
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SOFTWARE
SITES
Some enterprising people
have compiled software available on the net. Here are the
ones I stop by if I need something or just want to see
what's new.
TUCOWS
- make sure you select a "mirror" site close to
you. They can get quite busy and therefore slow. Here is one close to Littlestown. They have grouped software
together by function and have descriptions for each. Look
for software that is Recommended (5 cows).
Download.com- A commercial site run by C-net, so you'll
have to look at a lot of advertising. You can even sign
up and get e-mail of new programs sent to you
periodically. It has just about every thing you will ever
need - so it is cluttered with some pretty mediocre
software. Look for software marked with PICK or POP.
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