The Internet Companion, 2nd edition The Internet Companion A Beginner's Guide to Global Networking (2nd edition) by Tracy LaQuey The OBS is pleased to present our free, "distributive" full-text HTML version of the second edition of this bestselling title, linked to resources around the world. As with all our distributive publications, we invite you to browse, comment, and send in your link suggestions. We are also pleased to offer paths to a sibling version of the Internet Companion, produced as a class project at the University of North Carolina. This use of online files points the way to a new form of reading and publishing on the Net: true interactivity where the students or readers can affect a book's content by finding, choosing, and implementing links for it. About the Internet Companion What World Media is Saying About the Internet Companion About Tracy LaQuey Copyright The Internet Companion at the University of North Carolina Buy this Book http://www.obs-us.com/obs/english/books/editinc/top.htm (1 of 3) [5/1/1999 11:46:04 PM] The Internet Companion, 2nd edition Contents Front Matter Foreword Preface Chapter 1 What Is the Internet and Why Should You Know About It? Whence It Came It Keeps Going and Going . The Equalizer Peeling Back the Layers: Differences between Networks Convergence: A Traffic Circle on the Information Highway Mrs. Smith Connects to Washington Business Use Backing Out of the Driveway The Future Chapter 2 Internet: The Lowdown A Network of Networks In the Beginning How Computers Talk Who Runs the Internet? Acceptable Use Internet Concepts Chapter 3 Communicating with People All (Or Almost All) About Electronic Mail Conferencing: Group Speak Interactive Discussions Netiquette, Ethics, and Digital Tricks of the Trade Chapter 4 Finding Information Using Online Resources and Services Accessing Interactive Services Online Resources http://www.obs-us.com/obs/english/books/editinc/top.htm (2 of 3) [5/1/1999 11:46:04 PM] The Internet Companion, 2nd edition Transferring Information Finding Resources and Files Chapter 5 Internet in-the-Know Guide Legends on the Internet Games Security Issues Internet Organizations Help! Getting More Information Finding Email Addresses: The Sequel Chapter 6 Unix on the Internet: A Survival Guide Logging In Getting Help The Unix File System Electronic Mail Reading USENET News Chapter 7 Getting Connected Easy Street All You Need to Get Started Dialing into the Internet Types of Connections Choosing an Individual Access Provider Connecting Your Business or Organization Appendix Appendix -- fully-linked version at the University of North Carolina Copyright © 1994 by Tracy LaQuey and Editorial Inc. [ OBS - Home | OBS - The Bookshelves | The Internet Companion ] http://www.obs-us.com/obs/english/books/editinc/top.htm (3 of 3) [5/1/1999 11:46:04 PM] The Internet Companion: Front Matter THE INTERNET COMPANION A Beginner's Guide to Global Networking Second Edition TRACY LAQUEY Foreword by Vice President Al Gore AN EDITORIAL INC / OBS ONLINE PUBLICATION Addison-Wesley Publishing Company Reading, Massachusetts • Menlo Park, California • New York Don Mills, Ontario • Wokingham, England • Amsterdam Bonn • Sydney • Singapore • Tokyo • Madrid • San Juan Paris • Seoul • Milan • Mexico City • Taipei Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and Addison-Wesley was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in initial capital letters or all capital letters. The authors and publishers have taken care in preparation of this book, but make no expressed on implied warranty of any kind and assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of the use of the information or programs contained herein. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data LaQuey, Tracy L., 1963– The Internet companion : a beginner's guide to global networking / Tracy LaQuey. — 2nd ed. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 0-201-40766-3 1. Internet (Computer network) I. Title. TK5105.875.I57L37 1994 384.3'3—dc20 Copyright © 1994 by Tracy LaQuey and Editorial Inc. Artwork copyright © 1993 by Editorial Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America. Published simultaneously in Canada. Sponsoring Editor: Keith Wollman Project Editor: Eleanor McCarthy http://www.obs-us.com/obs/english/books/editinc/front.htm (1 of 2) [5/1/1999 11:46:27 PM] The Internet Companion: Front Matter Production Coordinator: Lora L. Ryan Cover Design: Virginia Evans and Rob Day Text design: Arisman Design Illustrations: Steven Ackerman Set in Meridien and Futura type by Cathleen Collins Initial HTML coding: FreeRange Media, Inc. Link Editing: David Williams 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 -MW- 9897969594 First printing, July 1994 Addison-Wesley books are available for bulk purchases by corporations, institutions, and other organizations. For more information please contact the Corporate, Government and Special Sales Department at (800) 238-9682. Copyright © 1994 by Tracy LaQuey and Editorial Inc. [ OBS - Home | OBS - The Bookshelves | The Internet Companion ] http://www.obs-us.com/obs/english/books/editinc/front.htm (2 of 2) [5/1/1999 11:46:27 PM] The Internet Companion: Foreword Foreword Computer networks have been around for over twenty-five years, and in that time they have gone from being a laboratory curiosity to a tool used by millions of people every day. The first network, ARPANET, was used primarily by a few thousand computer scientists to access computers, share computer files, and send electronic mail. Today, scientists, engineers, teachers, students, librarians, doctors, businesspeople, and even a few members of Congress rely on the Internet and other networks to communicate with their colleagues, receive electronic journals, access bulletin boards, log onto databases, and use remote computers and other equipment. In the last few years, we have witnessed the democratization and commercialization of the Internet. Today, the network connects not only the top research laboratories and universities but also small colleges, businesses, libraries, and schools throughout the world. The growth of commercial networks has enabled much broader access to the government-subsidized portions of the Internet. And that growth is accelerating because the telecommunications and computer industries have recognized the commercial potential of high-speed, interactive networking and have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in developing new switching technology and new applications for networks. Since I first became interested in high-speed networking almost seventeen years ago, there have been many major advances both in the technology and in public awareness. Articles on high-speed networks are commonplace in major newspapers and in news magazines. In contrast, when as a House member in the early 1980s I called for creation of a national network of "information superhighways," the only people interested were the manufacturers of optical fiber. Back then, of course, high-speed meant 56,000 bits per second. Today we are building a national information infrastructure that will carry billions of bits of data per second, serve thousands of users simultaneously, and transmit not only electronic mail and data files but voice and video as well. Unfortunately, it is not easy to keep track of all the new developments in networking. According to some recent estimates, the amount of traffic on the Internet has been increasing 10 percent per month, and the number of new applications and services has been growing almost as quickly. You can now access thousands of different databases and bulletin boards on everything from medieval French literature to global warming. Since the Internet is a network of networks, there is no one place to go for information on what's available and how to access it. Most users have to rely on friends and colleagues for information on the Internet. That is why I welcome the revised edition of The Internet Companion. It provides a valuable primer on the Internet, explains the "rules of the road," and provides step-by-step instructions on accessing many of the information resources available through the Internet. It should help both new and experienced Internet users learn how to make the best use of the network. For too many people the Internet has been uncharted territory, and as a result they have hesitated to explore the vast potential of networking. I trust this book will change that. July 1994 Vice President Al Gore http://www.obs-us.com/obs/english/books/editinc/foreword.htm (1 of 2) [5/1/1999 11:46:46 PM] The Internet Companion: Foreword Copyright © 1994 by Tracy LaQuey and Editorial Inc. [ OBS - Home | OBS - The Bookshelves | The Internet Companion ] http://www.obs-us.com/obs/english/books/editinc/foreword.htm (2 of 2) [5/1/1999 11:46:46 PM] The Internet Companion: Preface Preface The Internet Companion was the first computer trade book to introduce the world to the wonders of the Internet. When it made its debut in 1992, it immediately became a best-seller. Even though today there are other sources of information about the Internet, including training classes and videotapes, new users still look to the Companion for guidance and help in getting to know and use this "network of networks." How times have changed! Back in 1992, few predicted the great Internet wave, which ever since has been building momentum, gathering speed. Not long ago, you could recite the "anonymous FTP" sites from memory, whereas today, there are hundreds of thousands of places to download files, retrieve software, and access online books and services.