INTERNET, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD DO THAT, SECOND EDITION

Want to find cool and interesting things to do on the Internet? Look no farther than Sybex! This Second Edition provides completely updated coverage on how to see live TV, access video vaults, get help from Microsoft and other tech support resources, find the lowest airfare and hotel prices for your next vacation, listen to on-air radio, eliminate spam, get coupons for your local grocery store, download free music, and get all kinds of free and inexpensive items! The CD contains valuable programs, including much of the software discussed in the book.

It might seem hard to believe that there are people out there who don't know that you can download music files online or map out directions for your next road trip from Yahoo! But we have to remind ourselves that not all folks spend half their waking hours on the Internet, and that many of those who do use the Net use it only for specific tasks. If you fit into either of these categories, Internet! I Didn't Know You Could Do That... is for you.

To someone who spends much of the time online, just about all of the advice in this book will seem rather simplistic. But, surely, some of you didn't know that you could make telephone calls over the Internet or store documents online. That Alan R. Neibauer delves into the how, as well as the what, is to his credit, although some of his advice is skimpy, even for Web novices.

The section on downloading MP3 files, for example, focuses solely on MP3.com and MP3Now.com, and the book doesn't tell you that you're not likely to find the latest Radiohead single on either of these sites; throughout the book, in fact, examples are limited to one or two sites. Although this approach eases the online newbie into different areas, it also can be severely limiting, especially when the sites that are recommended aren't necessarily the best of the bunch. (Is 11Net.com really the best place to register and host your domain name?)

For the person who feels totally overwhelmed by the whole Internet experience, Internet! I Didn't Know is a fine place to begin. If nothing else, the bundled CD-ROM, which comes with several programs, including Internet Explorer 5.0, RealPlayer, and DJ Jukebox, should justify the cost of the book. --John Frederick Moore