The Rough Guide to the Internet

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There's nothing worse than feeling left behind - when everyone is talking about something, but for you, it just doesn't gel. The Internet's had this effect over the last few years. Everywhere you look. Virtual this, cyber that. But, unless you've been connected, you're probably still in the dark. Getting to grips with the Net can be daunting, but it's a short (though steep) learning curve, and the basics don't take long to master. This guide might look small, but it's jam packed with practical advice, trouble-shooting tips, step-by-step tuition, and the addresses of everywhere you'll need to go. We'll make you a Net guru in the shortest possible time. Guaranteed!

Internet books fall mostly into two categories: the hefty bricks that tell you far more than you want or need to know; and the patronizing simplistic ones that make it look easy in the bookstore with cute icons and corny titles, but don't help with solutions once you start having problems. And being such a fast-moving subject, if they're written before mid-1999, they might as well be filed under ancient history. The truth is you don't need a fat expensive book to get started on the Internet. It's too much work. Not to mention boring.

In contrast, this guide gives it to you straight, in plain English. We won't waste your time, or your money. If something's no good, we'll tell you so. As long as you follow our instructions, getting on the Net should be a pushover. That's not to say you won't have a few teething problems. You will. That, unfortunately, is just a fact of online life. But don't worry, we'll show you how to solve them and where to go for help. Rather than compile everything there is to know about the Net, we'll give you the basics and show you how to use the Net itself to join the dots. Since the Net and its associated technology changes almost daily, it's wiser to get your information from where it's always freshest.

Along the way, we'll show you how to: get the best deal on Internet access, set up your connection, choose the right software for your machine, and become an instant expert in searching the Net. You'll soon be able to send messages across the world instantly for the price of a local call; locate information on just about anything; manage your finances online; create a personal Web page; tune into live music broadcasts; go online bargain hunting; play games; and loads more. All without having to learn any difficult commands. Or, if you're really impatient, you can wing it and go straight to our listings chapters to explore the weird, wild, wonderful World Wide Web; or just get those nagging questions off your mind in one of the special-interest discussion groups. Who knows, you might even make a few friends along the way.

Well, what are you waiting for?

The Rough Guide series, famous for its listings of skanky Italian hostels and super-cheap Istanbul eateries, now covers the wildest territory of all. The Internet: The Rough Guide 2000 is a tourist's guide to the online world, complete with information on what equipment you need, what it'll cost, and what to see once you're connected. This latest edition reflects recent changes in site locations and contents.

Hardly bigger than a coaster, this book packs a remarkable amount of information into its minimal bulk. Though its small format makes it somewhat difficult to use (it won't lie open), author Angus Kennedy competently explains everything from basic connection procedures to multimedia and page publishing in a fraction of the space other books require (and at far less cost too). Fans of other Rough Guide books will be pleased by coverage of the Internet as it applies to travelers (Web-based mail sites, cybercafés, and the like).

The how-to information represents only half of what this guide contains. The rest is a random walk, largely on the Web's weird side. You'll find references to sites claiming to be the grossest (in an 8-year-old's sense of the word) on the Web, a site where you can get a downward-ticking death clock, Mr. Cranky's movie reviews, and "99 Ways to Open a Beer Bottle." Sure, there's some serious reference stuff, but it misses the point. Overall, the book is almost as much fun as opening 99 beer bottles in a skanky Italian hostel. --David Wall

Topics covered: The Internet from every angle. What it is, what it's good for, why and how you should connect. Having connected you, the author skips off on a eclectic tour of things to see and do online.