The "Internet," a network of networks, connects billions of web sites and millions of users worldwide. For educational institutions it is one of the most exciting concepts in many years. It allows for almost instant access to other people through electronic mail and to information through the World Wide Web.
Using a browser like Microsoft's Internet Explorer or 
etscape's Navigator makes the Web easily accessible. Netscape has an on-line tutorial that can help you in learning to use Netscape.
In addition, there are many URLs that contain additional information about the Internet. The last section of this file has more than 30 links to locations with information to help you better understand the Internet.
There are many things you can do on the Internet: send and receive electronic mail (E-mail), join discussion groups with similar interests to yours, browse the World Wide Web, subscribe to news groups, search for information on the Web, retrieve files, and login to remote computers.
INDEX OF THIS WEB SITE
WWWThe World Wide Web (WWW or W3) is a way of organizing the resources of the Internet in such a way that "hypermedia" (multiple media such as text, sound, and still and moving pictures) can be transmitted from computer to computer. WWW allows for linking of related resources, which makes moving from one site to another related site easy. This movement is called "surfing" or "browsing."
Using a "browser" such as Mosaic (one of the earliest browsers), Netscape Navigator, or Internet Explorer, one can move very rapidly from one graphic site to another. Browsers are very "user friendly" and are much easier to use than a text-based interface, which is still used by many who use the Internet.
Source for Browsers and Viewers
Following are some sites with WWW information. Start with these and follow links on these pages.
Earthlink
World Wide Web FAQs, An excellent introduction to the WWW
Following are some sites for browsing the Web:
Top 100 Web sites, as rated by users (updated hourly)
Interesting Sites
E-Mail (Electronic Mail)
There are many E-mail software packages that can be used on the Internet. Some are PC based, such as GroupWise, Eudora, and Outlook Express. Others such as Pine and Elm are used with the UNIX operating system.
A Beginners Guide to Effective E-mail
E-Mail Etiquette
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A mailing list allows you to use electronic mail (E-mail) to exchange information with other people who share your interests. Participants subscribe to the list and can then send mail to that list. All subscribers receive copies of all the mail sent to the list.
A "LISTSERV" is a software program that manages the list, handling subscriptions, sign-offs, distribution of mail, etc. Commands of how to handle your mail, including subscribing are sent to the LISTSERV. The LISTSERV has a special address, often "listserv@machine.institution.type." The messages you send go to the LISTSERV, which is a machine, and not to a person, though some LISTSERVS are moderated and all incoming mail is monitored. (The LISTSERV address for the mailing list GA-INFO is LISTSERV@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU.)
A second address you will use is the address of the list itself. Your messages will be sent to that address and not the address of the LISTSERV (a LISTSERV can handle many mailing lists). All messages sent to this address are distributed to the E-mail boxes of all of the subscribers. Commands go to the LISTSERV; messages go to the list. (The E-mail address for the above mentioned list is GA-INFO@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU. Any messages to the group go to that address.)
Following are some links to places on the W3 where you can find information on mailing lists:
Directory of
E-mail Discussion Groups
Catalog
of Listserv lists
A listserve for new Internet users, actually a six-week tutorial
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Some FTP machines ask for an ID and password. Many allow for "anonymous FTP," meaning that you use "ANONYMOUS" as the ID and your E-mail address for the password. Some versions of Netscape give this information automatically.
Following are some sites with FTP capability. Try downloading some files from some of them.
OIIT Location
Netscape's FTP Site
IBM-PC Software
Univ. of Illinois FTP site
Good for finding latest in MS-DOS &
Windows PC Software
Monster FTP Sites List
Archie is a program which allows you to search for file names on FTP sites. The main Archie programs are on large computers (servers) at educational institutions around the world. These programs search the Internet and catalog files found on FTP sites. You can enter a file name, and Archie will search the lists and return the names of the computers where your choice is located.
Yahoo's Archie Links
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Usenet News (Newsgroups)
Usenet is one of the first as well as one of the most-used areas on the Internet. It is a collection of discussion groups. It is similar to E-mail and to Mailing Lists in that it is used for discussions of various topics. The difference is that E-mail is not used, but articles are written and posted to the newsgroup where it can be read by all those who subscribe to the group.
What is Usenet?
USENET Discussion
Groups
Newsgroup
Information
Finding Newsgroups
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Earthlink's Telnet page
SSU
Library (log in as PACMENU)
Instructions for loading
a Telnet client into your browser
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Gopher and VeronicaGopher is used to help in organizing text files on computers. It is a special file system that catalogs FTP files regardless of where they are located on the Internet. Gopher organizes the information and allows the user to locate it, while FTP sets rules for how the information is copied from one computer to another. All the gopher catalogs together are known as "gopherspace."
For more information check here. Check here for FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) on Veronica. For information on searching using Veronica, which offers a keyword search of most gopher-server menus in the entire gopher web, click here.
Following are other gopher sites:
USG
Information, including state contracts
Good Site
InterNIC information
The Virtual Reference
Desk
The
Chronicle
National Science Foundation
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Using "Search Engines," you can search for almost anything on the Internet and get back listings of sites that meet your set criteria. Use the search engines listed in the link below to locate pages on the Internet that have on them whatever information you are looking for.
Search Engines on the Internet
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Learning to Use the InternetFollowing are sites on the Web that have tutorials as well as other information about the Internet. Work with some of these as you learn more about the Internet and its resources.
Beginner's Guide to
Understanding and Using the Internet
EFF's
Guide to the Internet
Netscape's "About the Internet"
Introduction
to the Internet
Gopher menu for Internet Information
Using the Internet
EarthLink - Internet and Web Help, Excellent
RoadMap Internet Tutorial
WWW Tutorial
ISS101 - Internet Survival Skills
Guide to Cyberspace 6.1: Contents
Exploring The Internet
Internet Overview
Netscape/Mosaic and WWW Tutorial
Yahoo - Computers and Internet:Internet:World Wide Web
Yahoo - Computers and Internet:Internet:Searching the Net
Internet Web Text: Index
World Wide Web FAQs
Ask Dr. Internet
Internet Aids, Hints, and Tips
Internet Terms - Glossary
The Net: User Guidelines and Netiquette, by Arlene Rinaldi
Gopher Menu for Internet Sources
WWW InfoPage, (some great links here)
Internet
Guides, Tutorials, and Training Information
Library of Congress, Explore the Internet page
Library of Congress, Guide to Internet Resources
Newbie Net
Cyber Course, a really good one!!
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Internet Service ProvidersThere are many Internet Service Providers that you can use for Internet access. Several of them are listed below:
America On Line, $14.95 a month
for ten hours; $24.95 a month for unlimited access
Compuserve,
10 hours free your first month; then $9.95 per month for 5 hours; additional hours $2.95
Microsoft Network,
Standard Annual Plan: $49.95 per year for 3 hours a month, $2.50 each additional hour;
Frequent User Monthly Plan: $19.95 per month for 20 hours a month, $2.00 each additional
hour; Standard Monthly Plan: $4.95 a month for 3 hours, $2.50 each additional hour.
Prodigy,
$9.95 a month for 5 hours; $29.95 a month for 30 hours of usage, additional hours
under either plan $2.95; 10 free hours in a special trial offer! (New pricing for
educators as of 3/97 - one year for $17.95 a month or two years for $14.95 a month.)
AT&T Worldnet,
For AT&T long-distance customers: five free hours monthly for a year with extra hours at
$2.50 each or unlimited use $19.95 monthly. Without AT&T long-distance service: $24.95
monthly for unlimited service or $4.95 for three hours monthly, with additional hours for
$2.50.
Netcom, unlimited
use, $19.95 per month; new subscribers will receive their first month $5.00.
Mindspring, Various
plans, including $19.95 monthly for unlimited use. Other options range from $6.95 to
$26.95 monthly.
Internet MCI, $19.95 per month
for unlimited access or five free hours monthly for a year and $2.50 for each additional
hour.
Sprint Internet Passport, $19.95
monthly for unlimited access, or $1.50 per hour with no minimum or maximum usage
requirement. 30-day free trial.
Most of the Internet service providers (ISPs) have a local number so there is no long-distance charge for the telephone service.
C-Net has a page that compares the online services here. You might like to see their comparison.
Internet Access Providers
Internet Access Providers (Georgia)
Internet
Service Providers (c-net)
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Page address: http://bellsouthpwp.net/c/a/caroltapp/internet/inet101.html
Last modified February 3, 2005, 2:05 p.m.
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