Sams Teach Yourself the Internet in 24 Hours, Sixth Edition

Book description

The Internet has become an essential part of everyday life in business education, and the home. Yet the complexity and vast scope of the Internet can still intimidate all but the most experienced user, and it's becoming even more complex and powerful every day.

Sams Teach Yourself the Internet in 24 Hours steps the reader through everything he or she needs to know in order to quickly get connected to the Internet, send and receive e-mail, find and browse Web sites, read and post to newsgroups, and apply the Internet to their everyday office and home life.

Written in a straightforward, easy-to-understand style, the book avoids confusing jargon at all costs, clearly telling the reader just what they need to know in order to become productive.

Table of contents

  1. Sams Teach Yourself the Internet in 24 Hours, Sixth Edition
    1. About the Authors
    2. Acknowledgments
      1. Ned Snell
      2. Bob Temple
    3. Tell Us What You Think!
    4. Introduction
        1. Who I Wrote This Thing For
        2. How This Book Is Organized
        3. Things You Would Probably Figure Out by Yourself
          1. Instructions, Tips, and Terms
          2. Q&A
        4. One More Thing...
    5. I. Getting Started
      1. 1. What Is the Internet and What Can You Do There?
          1. Understanding the Net (Easy Version)
            1. A Little History Lesson
            2. What It Became
          2. Making the Net Work: Clients and Servers
          3. What Can You Do Through the Net?
            1. Browse the Web
              1. Visit Companies, Governments, Museums, Schools...
              2. Read the News
              3. Explore Libraries
              4. Read
              5. Get Software
              6. Shop
              7. Watch TV and Listen to CD-Quality Music and Radio Broadcasts
              8. Play Games, Get a College Degree, Waste Time...
            2. Exchange Messages
            3. Have a Discussion
            4. Chat
            5. Run Programs on Other Computers
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      2. 2. What Hardware and Software Do You Need?
          1. Modems—Wherein the Lack of Speed Kills
          2. Choosing a Computer
            1. A PC for the Internet
            2. A Mac for the Internet
            3. Internet Appliances and WebTV
              1. Compaq’s iPaqs
              2. MailStation
              3. WebTV
            4. What You’ll Miss with an Internet Appliance
            5. Other Internet Options
          3. Getting Internet Software
            1. What Do You Need?
            2. Where Can You Get It?
            3. About the Suites: Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      3. 3. Getting Connected to the Internet
          1. Types of Internet Accounts
            1. Dial-Up Accounts
            2. Cable Internet and DSL (Broadband)?
              1. Cable Internet
              2. DSL
            3. Email-only Accounts
          2. Who Can I Get Dial-up Access From?
            1. Commercial Online Services
              1. America Online (AOL)
              2. CompuServe (CSi)
              3. Microsoft Network (MSN)
            2. Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
            3. Free Internet!
            4. Finding a Local ISP
          3. How Do I Choose a Dial-Up Internet Plan?
          4. Getting Connected
            1. Number, Username, and Password
            2. Using Supplied Software
            3. Why Use a Signup Program?
            4. Running a Typical Signup Program
          5. Using the Connection Wizard on Your Own
            1. Running the Connection Wizard
            2. Connecting at Last
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      4. 4. Basic Browsing
          1. About Your “Home Page”
          2. Understanding Web Page Addresses
            1. Anatomy of a Web Address
              1. To Do: Find the Address of Your Home Page
          3. Going Straight to Any Web Address
            1. Entering and Editing URLs
              1. To Do: Go to Sams Publishing’s Web Site
          4. Basic Jumping Around
            1. Finding and Using Links
            2. Using Navigation Buttons: Back, Forward, Home, and Stop
              1. To Do: Practice Using Links and Buttons
          5. Fussing with Frames
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
    6. II. Talking to the World
      1. 5. Sending and Receiving Email
          1. Types of Email Programs
          2. Understanding Email Addresses
          3. Setting Up Your Email Program
            1. Configuring Email
          4. Getting Around in Your Email Program
            1. Choosing a Folder
            2. Displaying a Message
          5. Composing and Sending a Message
            1. Writing Your Message
              1. To Do: Compose a New Message in Outlook Express
              2. To Do: Compose a New Message in Netscape Messenger
            2. Sending a Message
          6. Receiving Messages
          7. Replying and Forwarding
          8. Using an Address Book
            1. Adding to Your Address Book
            2. Addressing a Message from the Address Book
          9. Attaching Files to Email Messages
            1. To Do: Attach a File to an Email Message
          10. Using the Web for Email
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      2. 6. Chatting and Instant Messenger
          1. Understanding Internet Chatting
          2. Chatting Through Your Browser
            1. Finding Sites with Chat Rooms
            2. Chatting at Yahoo!
            3. The Chat Window
          3. Chatting in AOL
            1. Using the People Connection
            2. Moving to Another Room
          4. Using Microsoft Chat
          5. Joining a Chat Room
            1. To Do: Start Chat and Display the Chat Rooms List
            2. Choosing an Identity
            3. Entering a Room
          6. What Is Instant Messenger?
            1. Sending “Instant” Messages
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      3. 7. Participating in Newsgroups and Mailing Lists
          1. Getting Started with Newsgroups
            1. Configuring Your Newsreader
            2. Downloading the Newsgroups List
            3. Finding and Subscribing to Newsgroups
              1. To Do: Choose, Subscribe To, and Open Groups in Outlook Express
          2. Reading Newsgroup Messages
          3. Composing and Replying to Messages
          4. The Basics of Mailing Lists
          5. Working with Mailing Lists
            1. Subscribing to a Mailing List
            2. Composing the Subscription Message
            3. Reading the Welcome Message
            4. Contributing to a Mailing List
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      4. 8. Online Communication Tricks and Tips
          1. Observing Proper Netiquette
          2. Adding Personality with Smileys and Shorthand
            1. Smileys
            2. Shorthand
          3. Stopping Junk Email (Spam)
            1. How They Get You
            2. Report ’Em!
            3. In Newsgroups, Spoof ’Em!
            4. Never Reply! Never! Never!
            5. Filter ’Em Out!
            6. Finding Filters in Your Email Program
            7. The Last Resort: Move
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
    7. III. Software for Your Journey
      1. 9. Using Internet Explorer 6.0
          1. Why Choose Internet Explorer?
          2. Where and How to Get Internet Explorer
            1. Downloading the Latest Version
              1. To Do: Download and Install the Latest Version of Internet Explorer
            2. Starting Up Internet Explorer
          3. Features of Internet Explorer
            1. Basic Features of Explorer 6.0
            2. Using the Explorer Bar
              1. Customizing the Personal Bar
              2. Adding/Removing Explorer Bars
            3. Working with Favorite Places
          4. Setting Your Internet Options
            1. General Options
            2. Content Options
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      2. 10. Using Netscape Navigator 6
          1. Why Choose Netscape Navigator?
          2. Where and How to Get Netscape Navigator
            1. Download the Latest Version
              1. To Do: Download and Install the Latest Version of Netscape Navigator
            2. Starting Up Netscape Navigator
          3. Features of Netscape Navigator
            1. Basic Features of Netscape
            2. Working with My Sidebar
              1. Changing the Sidebar Tabs
              2. Customizing Your Sidebar
            3. Changing Your Theme
          4. Working with the Preferences
          5. Working with Bookmarks
            1. Putting Bookmarks in Your Personal Toolbar
            2. Removing Bookmarks from the Personal Toolbar
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      3. 11. Using AOL 6.0
          1. Understanding AOL
            1. Why Should I Choose AOL?
            2. Why Shouldn’t I Choose AOL?
          2. Taking a Quick Tour of AOL
            1. The Welcome Screen
            2. The Channels
            3. Entertainment
              1. Kids Only
              2. Personal Finance
              3. Computer Center
              4. News
            4. Getting Places, Saving Places
          3. Where Can I Get the AOL Software?
            1. To Do: Download the Latest Version of AOL
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      4. 12. Plug-in and Add-on Programs
          1. Understanding Plug-Ins, Java, and Other Programs in Pages
            1. Finding Plug-Ins and Helpers
            2. Installing and Using Plug-Ins and Helpers
          2. Playing Audio and Video
            1. Playing Downloaded Audio or Video Files
            2. Playing “Streaming” Files
            3. Taking Advantage of Media Options in Internet Explorer
            4. Where Can I Get Streaming Audio/Video?
          3. Downloading and Playing CD-Quality Music (MP3 Files)
            1. Getting MP3 Files
            2. Playing MP3 Files
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
    8. IV. Needles in a VERY Big Haystack
      1. 13. Searching for Information
          1. What’s a Search Site?
          2. Can I Really Search the Whole Web?
          3. Where Are the Major Search Sites?
          4. Simple Searching by Clicking Categories
            1. Why Use Categories Instead of a Search Term?
            2. Using a Directory
              1. To Do: Exploring Categories
          5. Understanding Searches
          6. Phrasing a Simple Search
            1. To Do: Try a Simple Search
          7. Phrasing a Serious Search
            1. Using Multiple Words in a Search Term
            2. Using Operators to Control Searches
            3. Conducting a Super Search
          8. About Site Searches
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      2. 14. Downloading Programs and Files
          1. What’s Downloading, Anyhow?
            1. Click a Link, Get a File
            2. How Long Does Downloading Take?
              1. To Do: Download a File
          2. Choosing Files You Can Use
            1. The Two File Types: Program and Data
            2. Common Data File Types on the Net
          3. Finding Sites That Help You Find Files
            1. All-Purpose Shareware Sites
              1. To Do: Find a Program on Shareware.com
            2. Commercial Software Sites
          4. Working with Zip Files
          5. Watching Out for Viruses
          6. Downloading Files in AOL
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      3. 15. Finding People
          1. Finding the People-Finding Sites
            1. To Do: Find Yourself in Yahoo!’s People Search
          2. Using People-Finders Through Your Email Program
          3. Finding People in America Online
          4. Other Folk-Finding Tips
            1. Try an Advanced Search
            2. Use a Company or School Directory
            3. Try Name Variations
            4. Use Old Communications to Start the New Ones
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      4. 16. Working Smarter by Working Offline
          1. Reading Web Pages Offline, Anytime
            1. Making Web Sites Available Offline in Internet Explorer
              1. To Do: Select a Page for Offline Browsing in Internet Explorer
            2. Reading Pages Offline
            3. Updating Offline Pages
          2. Offline Email and Newsgroups
            1. Setting Up Offline Email in Outlook Express
            2. Synchronizing News in Outlook Express
              1. To Do: Set Up Newsgroups for Offline Browsing in Outlook Express
            3. Synchronizing Mail and News in Netscape Messenger
              1. To Do: Set Up Netscape Messenger 4.7 for Offline Mail and News
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
    9. V. Making the Web Part of Your Life
      1. 17. Enjoying Safe Family Fun and Games
          1. Choosing a Family Starting Point
          2. Important Family Safety Steps
            1. Supervise!
            2. Don’t Defeat Passwords
            3. Be Extra Careful with Broadband
            4. Resist Chat
          3. Online Rules for Kids
          4. Resources for Parents
          5. Censoring Web Content
            1. Getting a Safe-Surfing Program
            2. Using Internet Explorer’s Built-In Content Advisor
            3. Understanding Content Advisor
              1. To Do: Enable and Configure Content Advisor
          6. Using AOL’s Parental Controls
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      2. 18. Buying and Selling on the Net
          1. Shopping ’Til You Drop
            1. Using Accounts and Shopping Baskets
              1. To Do: Find Some CDs and Put Them in a Basket
            2. Buying Stocks and Such
            3. Investment Starting Points
              1. For Financial Information and Advice
              2. For Making Investments
          2. Finding All the Sites Online That Sell What You Want
          3. Buying and Selling Through Online Auctions
            1. How Online Auction Houses Work
            2. Bidding Tips
            3. Selling Tips
            4. Using a Payment Service
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      3. 19. Creating Web Pages and Multimedia Messages
          1. Understanding Web Authoring
            1. What’s in a Web Page?
            2. What Tools Can I Use to Write a Page?
            3. Where Do I Get the Pictures?
          2. Making Quick Pages with a Wizard
            1. To Do: Create a Page Fast with Netscape Composer’s Wizard
          3. Composing a Page in a WYSIWYG Editor
          4. Publishing Your Web Page
            1. Preparing to Publish
            2. Using a Publishing Utility
            3. Using AOL Hometown
          5. Creating Formatted Email and Newsgroup Messages
            1. Starting a New HTML Message
            2. Using Stationery (Yes, Stationery!)
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      4. 20. Going Wireless
          1. What Is Wireless Internet/Email?
          2. Real-time Versus Synched
          3. Hardware to Get You Going
            1. Wireless for Your Laptop
            2. Internet/Email into Your Cell Phone or Pager
            3. Handheld Computers
            4. Wireless Email Devices
            5. Phone/PDA Combination
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
    10. VI. Integrating the Web Into Your Life
      1. 21. Ten Ways the Web Can Change Your Business Life
          1. 1. Form a Corporation
          2. 2. Find a New Job or Career
          3. 3. Get a Degree or Professional Training
          4. 4. Ship Packages
          5. 5. Keep Your Company’s Books
          6. 6. Conduct a Video Conference
          7. 7. Handle Your Business Taxes Electronically
          8. 8. Attract New Customers with Your Web Site
          9. 9. Network with Clients Using Email
          10. 10. Track Customer Relationships Online
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      2. 22. Ten Ways the Web Can Change Your Family Life
          1. 1. Keep Your Family Calendar
          2. 2. Find a New Place to Live
          3. 3. Get Medical Advice
          4. 4. Sign up for Sports or Other Programs
          5. 5. Find Family-Oriented Recreation Opportunities
          6. 6. Shop for Groceries
          7. 7. Plan a Vacation
          8. 8. Rent a DVD
          9. 9. Create a Family Web Site
          10. 10. Participate in Religious Activities
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      3. 23. Ten Ways the Web Can Change Your School Life
          1. 1. Choose a College
          2. 2. Register for the ACT or SAT Test
          3. 3. Order Your College Transcript
          4. 4. Conduct Research
          5. 5. Apply for a Student Loan
          6. 6. Find Scholarship Money
          7. 7. Ask a Teacher
          8. 8. Newsgroups for Educational Purposes
          9. 9. Check In with Teachers and Keep Up with Homework
          10. 10. Email Your Assignments
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
      4. 24. Ten Ways the Web Can Change Your Personal Life
          1. 1. Get Tax Forms or File Your Tax Returns
          2. 2. Read Your Local Newspaper
          3. 3. Order Your Credit Report
          4. 4. Play Games
          5. 5. Buy a Car
          6. 6. Sample CDs Before You Buy
          7. 7. Avoid Traffic Jams
          8. 8. Consult TV Guide
          9. 9. Play the Stock Market
          10. 10. Trace Your Family’s History
          1. Summary
          2. Q&A
    11. VII. Appendixes
      1. A. Fun Web Sites to Visit
          1. Browsers and Other Client Programs
          2. Plug-Ins, Helpers, and Other Browser Accessories
          3. General-Purpose Software Download Sites
          4. Search Engines
          5. Web Authoring Resources
            1. Clip Art and Templates
            2. General Web Authoring
          6. Arts, Culture, and Society
          7. Business
          8. Government
          9. Education
          10. Entertainment/Media
            1. TV Networks
            2. Movie Studios
          11. Health
          12. Kid Stuff
          13. Shopping Malls
          14. Sports
          15. Travel
          16. Computer-Related Sites
            1. Computer Systems
            2. Printers
            3. Modems
            4. Major Commercial Software Companies
      2. B. Tools for the Serious User: FTP and Telnet
          1. Downloading Files with FTP
            1. Understanding FTP Addresses
            2. Downloading an FTP File with Your Web Browser
            3. Using an FTP Client
          2. Burrowing Through the Net with Gopher
            1. Browsing Gopherspace Through a Web Browser
          3. Using Remote Computers Through Telnet
            1. Understanding Telnet
            2. Getting a Telnet Client
      3. C. Protecting Your Privacy (and Other Security Stuff)
          1. Smart Surfing
            1. Why Are Forms Risky Sometimes?
            2. Important Safety Questions
            3. Identifying Secure Sites
          2. Knowing Whom You’re Dealing With: Certificates
          3. Protecting Yourself with Browser Security
            1. Customizing Security in Netscape
            2. Customizing Security in Internet Explorer 6
            3. Understanding Zone Security Settings
          4. I Want a Cookie! I Don’t Want a Cookie!
          5. Special Considerations for Broadband Internet Users
          6. Watching Out for Spyware
      4. Glossary

Product information

  • Title: Sams Teach Yourself the Internet in 24 Hours, Sixth Edition
  • Author(s): Ned Snell
  • Release date: October 2002
  • Publisher(s): Sams
  • ISBN: None