|
Brilliant Internet
Like it or not, the Internet is not going away. Over the very few years that it has been in existence it has evolved to become the hub of our digital lifestyles and will entrench itself more and more firmly at the heart of our everyday lives. Whether we're getting in touch with far-flung relatives, accessing the latest news, doing the weekly shopping,
buying concert tickets or listening to the latest music, the Internet is becoming indispensable. But this strength can also be a weakness with so many websites out there, and so much information to sift through, how can you possibly work out the best ways to use the plethora of useful services? That's where this book comes in. Over 250 pages, we'll strive to show you not only the very best websites, programs and services, but also the most efficient way of using them to their maximum potential saving you loads of time and letting you get on with the rest of your life. Our step-by-step guides, expert tips and cunning tactics will make sure that when it comes to using the Internet, you're constantly one step ahead of the game, enjoying the rich resources that are on offer.
Contents:
CONTENTS:
TOC
1) Getting Online: Your first steps (10)
Introduction
What is the Internet?
Choosing your ISP
TASK: Finding out broadband and ISP information (4 pages)
Connecting your computer and Installing an ISP: how to do it
TASK: Set up your computer to broadband and install an ISP. (4 pages)
BOXOUTS: Different kinds of ISP (eg AOL)
Price Guide to latest ISP deals
OnSPEED: halfway between dial-up and broadband
2) Starting out: Finding your way around the Web (46)
Introduction
Internet Explorer: The basics
TASKS: Setting your Favorites (4 pages)
Using the Search function (4 pages)
Using the History function (4 pages)
Using the 'View' menu (4 pages)
Printing out a Web page (4 pages)
Saving Web sites (4 pages)
Customising your browser (4 pages)
Using Security features (4 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to IE (eg Opera)
Search engines: The basics
TASKS: Use a basic search engine (4 pages)
Basic image searching (4 pages)
Advanced searches (4 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to Google (eg Ask Jeeves, Yahoo!)
Google add-ons (eg Google News, gMail, Google Local)
3) Communicating with others (34)
Introduction
Email: The basics
TASKS: Set up an account in Outlook Express (6 pages)
Send and receive emails (2 pages)
Send attachments (2 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to Outlook Express (eg Eudora, FastMail)
Using Webmail (eg Hotmail, Yahoo!)
Newsgroups: The basics
TASKS: Access a newsgroup (2 pages)
Send messages (2 pages)
BOXOUTS: Some of the subjects covered by newsgroups
Chat rooms: The basics
TASKS: Access a chat room (2 pages)
Chat online, show good Netiquette (4 pages)
Using an Instant Messaging program (2 pages)
BOXOUTS: Chat room dangers
Different IM programs
Online dating: The basics
TASKS: Sign up for a reputable Internet dating site: DatingDirect (4 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to DatingDirect,
Different forms of safe dating (Group dating, Dinner Dating Speed dating)
Blogging: The basics
TASK: Start your own blog with Blogger, writing entries (6 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to Blogger
4) Staying safe online (20)
Introduction
Security: The basics
TASKS: Downloading and using an anti-virus program (6 pages)
Protect yourself against spam and spyware (4 pages)
Banish pop-ups (4 pages)
Protecting your privacy: cover your tracks online (4 pages)
BOXOUTS: Blocking kids access
Different software packages available
5) Your life online: Work and Business (20)
Introduction
Search for a job online
TASK: Sign up for and use a job Web site: Guardian Unlimited (4 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to Guardian Unlimited
Customising your own job search
Internet Banking (how to, security)
TASK: Sign up with an Internet bank: Barclays (4 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to Barclays
Avoiding email scams
Get the latest news online: BBC
TASK: Access and read the latest news headlines (4 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to the BBC (newsnow, Google News, etc)
Get email news alerts
Get free phone calls online
TASK: Download and use Skype (6 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to Skype
6) Your life online: Leisure (42)
Introduction
Supermarket shopping
TASK: Do your weekly shop at Tesco's online (4 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to Tescos
Consumer leisure shopping
TASK: Buy on Amazon (6 pages)
BOXOUTS: Using Amazon Marketplace
Renting a DVD online
TASKS: Sign up with LOVEFILM and choose DVDs to rent (4 pages)
BOXOUTS: Setting up a wishlist of films
Alternatives to LOVEFILM
Using an auction Web site (eBay)
TASKS: Register with eBay, (4 pages)
Search on eBay (4 pages)
Buy on eBay (6 pages)
Sell on eBay (6 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to eBay (CQOut, eBid)
Get the latest auction news delivered to your mobile with eBay Anywhere
Unearth your family tree online
TASK: Find and use a genealogy Web site: 1837 Online.com (6 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to 1837 Online
7) Your life online: Travel (22)
Introduction
Finding directions
TASK: Use Multimap to plan a long journey in the UK (4 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to Multimap
Get travel tickets
TASK: Buy a train ticket online: The TrainLine (4 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to The TrainLine
Booking a holiday
TASK: Use Expedia to plan a flight and hotel (6 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to Expedia
Get the latest health info online
TASK: Sign up for and use a health Web site: NHSDirect (6 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to NHSDirect
8) Your life online: Multimedia (20)
Introduction
Listen to radio online
TASKS: Find an Internet radio station with Live365.com, listen to streaming radio (6 pages)
BOXOUTS: The best online radio stations
Download MP3s
TASKS: Find a legal, reputable Internet music site, download music from iTunes (6 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to iTunes
Play online games
TASK: Find and use an online games site: http://www.miniclip.com/ (6 pages)
BOXOUTS: The best online games
9) Building your first Web site (18)
Introduction
TASKS: Planning your first site (4 pages)
Building your first site with CoffeeCup HTML Editor (8 pages)
Uploading your site (4 pages)
BOXOUTS: Alternatives to CoffeeCup
More Web design tips
10) Technical support (8)
Introduction
Troubleshooting problems
TASKS: Get help online at http://www.helponthe.net/ (6 pages)
BOXOUTS: More online help sites
Glossary (10)
Online Resources - Web sites mentioned in the book (4 pages)
Jargon Buster - Technical jargon explained (6 pages)
Troubleshooting Guide (4)
(254)
|
