The Cutting Edge: Computing / Technology / Innovation : Pick an Internet Cruising Vehicle
The Internet is a bit like the weather. Lots of people like to talk about it, few people understand it and no one can control it. But the Internet is getting a little easier to use, thanks to America Online and some commercial Internet providers.
The Internet, a worldwide network of networks designed during the 1970s for scientists, academics and defense contractors, is now available to everyone. However, as many new subscribers have found out, getting on and learning to use the Internet can be a lot more difficult than they imagined. There are several reasons for this.
To begin with, most Internet providers run under the Unix operating system and require users to understand at least a few Unix commands. This is quite different from commercial on-line services such as Prodigy, America Online and CompuServe, which Windows and Macintosh users navigate by pointing and clicking at menus and icons.
Ironically, the most difficult type of account to set up is the type you need if you want to run Mosaic, an easy-to-use Macintosh and Windows Internet access program.
The good news about Mosaic is that it is in the public domain, so you don’t have to buy it. You have already paid for it with your federal tax dollars. The bad news is that you can’t run Mosaic with just any type of Internet account. You have to set up either a SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) or PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) account. And before you can log on, you must obtain and configure some pretty obtuse software. It’s not for everyone.
Several companies are working to change all this. America Online, a major commercial service for users of DOS, Windows and Mac, is now offering access to some, but not all, Internet resources. Like other such services, it offers its members the ability to exchange electronic mail via the Internet, but unlike most other commercial on-line services, it also offers access to Internet news groups.
There are thousands of news groups (forums) that let you post questions, respond to others’ comments and read articles posted by people around the world. America Online charges $9.95 a month, which includes five free hours. Additional hours are $3.50 each.
America Online recently expanded its Internet offerings to include Gopher and WAIS. Gopher is a menu system that lets you cruise from one Internet provider to another. Gophers are organized by subject and geographic area. WAIS (Wide Area Information Server) is a database that allows you to find your way around the network by entering the correct keywords.
America Online’s Gopher is organized by subject matter, so it is very easy to find your way around.
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While AOL expands to embrace the Internet, several commercial Internet providers are developing software to make their services much easier to use. Netcom ((800) 501-8649) will soon release its NetCruiser software, which will allow Windows users to navigate the Internet by clicking on icons. Unlike Mosaic, NetCruiser is a snap to install. The software automatically takes care of all the obscure commands and configuration routines and even helps you find the local access phone number.
Best of all, once you’re on, you never have to issue a single Unix command. NetCruiser provides access to most Internet resources, including World Wide Web, Gopher, FTP (files for downloading) and e-mail. The company plans to charge NetCruiser users $19.95 a month for up to 25 hours of access.
Pipeline ((212) 267-3636), a New York-based Internet provider, offers an elegant and easy-to-use Windows access program for its system. Pull-down menus and icons connect with most Internet services. A powerful electronic mail editor makes it easy to read and send mail. To save time and money, the software allows you to download mail and news group articles onto a hard disk, so you can read and respond before you log on to the service. The company offers a number of price plans, starting at $15 month plus $2 an hour for access from the New York area.
For an additional hourly fee, you’ll soon be able to use the service from anywhere in the United States. Subscribers who already have access to the Internet can avoid extra access charges by using their current Internet service to access Pipeline.
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Whatever system you choose for using the Internet, keep your expectations in check. There is a lot to explore, but it takes a while to get used to it all. For novices, the best strategy is to use the Gopher menu system to cruise around the net.
