The Internet for Dummies Quick Reference, 6th edition

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By John R. Levine, Arnold Reinhold and Margaret Levine Young.
February 2000, 210 pages, US$12.99. C$19.99, £11.99, ISBN 0-7645-0675-7.

The most important thing about the Internet for Dummies Quick Reference, 6th edition, is its amazing plastic ring binding. At last, an Internet reference that'll lay flat on your desk. Other books about the Internet have plenty of useful info, but you have to learn to type with one hand while holding them open with the other. This can seriously increase your stress level and has actually been shown to increase bad cholesterol levels in laboratory rats by 20 points.

Ok, our content is pretty good too. We've crammed a lot of up-to-date information into 210 pages. We try to explain the stuff you really need to know, while leaving out the gobbledygook. We write for you, someone who wants to use and enjoy the Internet, not to become an expert in arcane computer jargon.

The material is carefully organized and well indexed and features an extensive Glossary. We do our best to write clearly and the hard-nosed editors at IDG nail us on every ambiguity. You will have to put up with our warped sense of humor, tho.

We think this is the perfect book to take along in your Road Warrior Kit along with your Internet-equipped laptop, palm top, or brain insert. The book is small, light and thorough, and the lay flat binding is perfect for airline tray tables. Take a few extras to give to friends and business contacts as well.

What's new?

• An updated introductory section telling you how to get on the Net, with the latest options including high speed cable modems and telephone company DSL lines
• Lots more on the fine art of web browsing
• Detailed info on surfing the web using America Online, Netscape, and Internet Explorer
• A chapter on using Web search tools to find all sorts of information
• On-line shopping 'till your fingers drop
• Online music and MP3 files
• A whole section on online chat, featuring America Online, ICQ IRC, MUDs, MOOs and even Internet Telephony.
• The latest info on e-mail security, PGP, creating your own Web page, starting an on-line business and more

Table of Contents

Part I: Getting to Know the Internet
What Is the Internet?
What's So Great about the Internet?
What Services Does the Internet Provide?
Will the Internet Take a Bunch of Your Time?

Part II: Getting Started
Hooking up to the Internet -- First Class, Economy and Coach
Buying a Computer for Internet Access
Modems
Selecting an Internet Service Provider
Software for Internet Access

Part III: Electronic Mail
Abbreviations and Acronyms
ABCs of E-Mail: Etiquette, Caveats, Finding Addresses, Headers, etc.
Accounts on Online Services
Addresses
Attachments
Smileys and Emoticons :)
Using America Online (AOL)
Using Eudora (Windows and Mac)
Using Juno (Free!)
Using Netscape
Using Outlook Express
Using Pine (UNIX Systems)

Part IV: Usenet Newsgroups
DejaNews and Usenet Indexers
Frequently Asked Questions
Newsgroup Names
Newsgroup Netiquette
Posting Your First Article
Ramp up your Own Newsgroup
Reading News with Deja.com
Reading News with Netscape Newsgroup, Outlook Express and Other Newsreader Programs

Part V: Mailing Lists
Addresses Used with Mailing Lists
Finding a Mailing List
Getting On and Off a Mailing List
Open and Closed Mailing Lists
Receiving Digested Mailing Lists
Sending Messages to a Mailing List
Special Requests to Mailing Lists
Starting your Own Mailing List
Using Filters

Part VI: The World Wide Web
ABC's of the Web
Finding Your Way around the Web
Kids, Porn and the Web
Plug-Ins, Helper Programs and ActiveX controls
Privacy, Security and Cookies
Problems and Error Messages
Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)
Using AOL to Browse the Web
Using Internet Explorer to Browse the Web
Using Lynx to Browse the Web
Using Netscape Navigator to Browse the Web

Part VII: Finding Information on the Internet
Directories, Search Engines and Portals
Excellent Surfing Ideas
Free, Free, Free!
Information Sources: CIA, Encyclopedia Britannica and more
Newspapers
Magazines and Literature
Music Online
Newspapers
Selling Online
Shareware and Freeware Software
Shopping Online from A to Z
Should You Give Out Your Credit Card number Over the Internet?
Telephone Directories
Uncompressing and Decoding Retrieved Files
Viruses )::o-[ :(

Part VIII: Online Communication
Chatting Online
Chatting on America Online (AOL)
ICQ
Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
Web-Based Chat
MUDs and MOOs
Internet Telephony

Part XI: Advanced Topics
Encryption and Internet Security
Java and Network computers
Internet Radio and TV
Creating Your Own Web Home Page
Starting a Business on the Web

Part X: Classic Internet
FTP
Using Telnet
Finger

Appendix: Internet Country Codes

Glossary: Techie Talk

Index