Last year, self styled computer guru Harley Hahn put out a book on the Internet. Now he has updated the book and put out a second edition. The book is called Harley Hahn Teaches The Internet. Que Corporation published it.
The book takes you through chapters that deal with anything from understanding the Internet to creating your own domain name and abbreviations used out in cyberspace. There are seventeen chapters along with three appendixes.
The first chapter wades right into the subject matter with the question, What Is The Internet? It then explains what the Internet is and the different ways it is used. Learn about who controls the Internet and that there is no one true center that operates it. The chapter also touches on the unsavory elements like stalkers and pornographers that sneak around on the Internet.
Chapter 3 gets into the different things that are needed to connect to the Internet. Learn about how much oomph your computer will need in order to let you navigate the Internet successfully. The chapter talks about how modem speed is an essential part of your Internet travel. Learn about Internet Service Providers (ISP's) like America Online that you pay a monthly fee to. Also learn about free ISP's.
Chapters 4 through 6 deal with Internet addresses and electronic mail. Chapter 4 deals with the various aspects of an Internet domain and what it means to the visitor to a web site. Lean how the Domain Name System (DNS) translates a web site name into an Internet Protocol (IP) address so that the site can be accessed. Chapter 5 goes through the different areas of electronic mail (e-mail). Chapter 6 tells you how to get the most out of your e-mail.
Chapter 8 is all about safety and security on the Internet. Learn about secure connections to sites that sell stuff and want your credit card information. Learn that a cookie is not necessarily a good thing to have. The chapter also touches on the various computer viruses that pop up over the Internet.
Chapter 9 is about finding stuff on the Internet. It tells you what a search engine is and how to use one. Chapter 10 goes through the different plug in elements that can be added to your Internet browser to enhance your viewing. Learn about downloading a program through your browser and how to uninstall it if you end up not wanting to keep it.
Other chapters cover things like Usenet, mailing lists, chat rooms and finding, listening to and downloading music from the Net. Learn the pitfalls and perks of chatting over the Internet. Find out how mailing lists can be a lifeline for information you might really want or need. Chapter 14 is all about getting music from the Web. Find out what the MP3 music format is and how it can bring songs to your computer.
Chapters 15 and 16 are about setting up your own web site. Learn about web page editors and how to add pictures and sounds to a web page. You are told how to seek out a computer to host your site. Chapter 15 also delves a little bit into how to promote your web site once it's out there. Chapter 16 puts you into the arena of choosing a domain name and what to do with it. Learn how to register a domain name and a way to find out if anyone else is using the same one.
The book ends with a 30-page sampler of web sites on the Internet. These are sites or newsgroups that Harley thinks will get you interested in surfing the Net.
For a good introductory volume on learning the Internet, Harley Hahn Teaches The Internet can't be beat. The book has all of the basic information needed to have you start surfing the Net.
Harley Hahn Teaches The Internet can be found at most major bookstores. The list price for the book is $ 19.99.
There is also a pocket sized companion book that Harley put out called Harley Hahn's Read Me First Guide To The Internet. It is subtitled Real Answers To Important Questions.
For additional Que Corporation titles, visit their web site. It can be found at www.quecorp.com.
Copyright © 2000 Bruce E. Von Stiers