Synopsis
The best-selling guide to the Internet just got better with the release of a brand new fifth edition! The Internet For Dummies, 5th Edition, is the most useful, practical, and easy-to-understand guide to the Internet and the World Wide Web that you're likely to find. Loaded with tips and tricks to jump into the fast lane on the Information Superhighway, The Internet For Dummies, 5th Edition, is an indispensable guide to what's what -- and where -- across the rapidly growing global expanse of cyberspace.
The Internet For Dummies, 5th Edition, tells you in plain English how to get online, send and receive e-mail, join chats or newsgroups, shop 'til you drop, and browse the ever-expanding World Wide Web. Timely advice from the trio of experienced Internet authors -- John R. Levine, Carol Baroudi, and Margaret Levine Young -- brings you up-to-date with the newest and most important tools and techniques you need for safe and sane surfing. Select the right Internet service provider for your needs, use the Web's powerhouse search engines, get the most from commercial sites (such as America Online and CompuServe), find the latest word on WebTV, and enjoy live radio and TV broadcasts on your own home or office computer. And after you've mastered the basics of Internet exploring, The Internet For Dummies, 5th Edition, offers many tips for creating your very own home page!
Review
Even if you're not a dummy, the sixth edition of The Internet for Dummies is one of the best user's guides to the Internet now available. Many so-called Internet books are nothing more than printed collections of Web addresses, but John Levine, Carol Baroudi, and Margaret Levine Young recognize that deciding to use the Internet involves financial commitments and computer-hardware decisions as much as it does looking at neat pictures. That said, don't expect to set up your own e-commerce site with this book, and don't expect to find step-by-step instructions for starting your computer. But do expect to get some good advice about picking an ISP (Internet Service Provider), protecting your privacy (and your kids), and connecting with Windows or a Mac. The authors also do an exceptional job of explaining such terms as PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) and what it is for, and they even talk about the old Unix shell account (with a Lynx text browser) for those not getting a PPP account. You'll find tips for optimizing your browser for speed, building your first Web page, managing e-mail, subscribing to mailing lists, and, yes, shopping. What is most impressive, however, is the balanced approach the authors take in evaluating Web sites (they do give some Web addresses), online services, and browser software. They offer the pros and cons and let you sort it out. They also include their own Web address so you can look for updates to the book and check on their latest favorites. --Patrick O'Kelley
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