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IN THIS ISSUE:
Inspirational Quote
Editor's Notes
Tips & Tricks
What's New
Speeding Up Your Internet Connection
Guest Article:
Everyone has Something to Teach...
Shameless Self-Promotion
Feedback Requested!
Advertising
Subscribe/Unsubscribe Instructions
"How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the
young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the
striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because
someday in life you will have been all of these."
- George Washington Carver
Being sympathetic to newcomers to the Internet is what
about-the-web.com is all about. There is much to learn and it can
be a bit overwhelming at first. The World Wide Web is a culture
consisting of an incredibly diverse collection of people from
all nationalities, religions, levels of education, and technical
expertise. Users of the Internet have a language and methodology
that are unique to their culture. E-mail etiquette, search engine
familiarity and e-commerce are just a few examples.
The more educated and experienced you are in the ways of the
Internet, the more comfortable you will be, and the more
connected to the rest of the world you will feel. This is the
mission of this newsletter and of about-the-web.com in general.
In today's featured article "Everyone has Something to Teach..."
Kevin Eikenberry makes a strong case for learning from others.
I also believe that we all have something we can teach others.
Have you considered writing an article or an e-book for
publication on the Internet? Please contact me if you need
assistance with this.
About-the-web.com is a resource for new users to the Internet.
Our mission is to provide newcomers a place to learn about
browsers, e-mail programs, search engines, making money,
avoiding scams, creating and promoting web sites, and some
simple tips for a better web surfing experience. More advanced
users will find useful links to other sites on about-the-web.com.
We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. We also
welcome any tips, tricks or great web sites that you would like
to share. Send me an e-mail and we'll publish all the most
relevant ones in this newsletter.
Welcome to the premier issue of What's New About-the-Web! We
intend that you find this newsletter interesting and inspiring.
Please pass it along to a friend.
My favorite web surfing trick is to have at least two windows
open at the same time when I'm looking for something.
I start by going to a search engine and searching for whatever
subject is on my mind at the moment. (By the way, did you know
that in recent versions of Internet Explorer you can just type
"? what I'm looking for" and you'll get back several pages of
excellent listings from MSN Search.)
Next, instead of just clicking on each listing that I find
interesting, I right click (or hold the mouse down on the
Macintosh) on the link and choose Open Link in a New Window from
the popup menu.
Then, while that page is loading, I click back on the page of
search results (you may have to minimize the front window or
move it out of the way) and open another link in a new window.
Finally, I click back to the first page that I opened in a new
window and see if the information I'm looking for is there. If
so, I can browse further. If not, I just close that window, go
back to the search window, and open another link in a new window.
There is a practical limit to the number of windows you can have
open at the same time. I find that if I'm loading more than three
pages at once, my computer slows down too much. Your experience
may vary. Generally, once a page is downloaded, it can stay open
and not slow things down. When I get to the point of having more
than six or eight windows open though, it starts to get pretty
confusing, so that's another limit that you might consider.
Let me know what you think of this tip and if you have any other
comments or questions.
The speed at which you can receive e-mail and surf the web is
determined by the following factors: 1) the speed of your
computer, 2) the speed of your modem, 3) the type of Internet
connection you have, 4) the quality of that connection and
5) the number of other users using the same connection. Let's
review each of these factors.
The speed of your computer is measured by the number of
instructions your central processing unit (CPU) can handle in
one second (MHz). The original Pentium processor was rated
between 50 and 100 MHz. The most recent processors can now
process data at a blistering 500 - 1000 MHz. The faster your
computer's CPU is the faster it can load information into your
browser window.
The speed of your modem is measured by the number of bits of
information that can be transferred in one second. Most modems
being manufactured today have a rating of 56 Kbps (Kbps =
thousand bits per second). This is the highest practical limit
for analog (as opposed to digital) modems over regular telephone
lines. ISDN, DSL and Cable modems operate at faster speeds
because they are either digital or are not constrained by the
limitations of conventional telephone lines.
There are two basic types of connection you can have to the
Internet. These include dial-up (normal service via an analog
modem that requires a new connection be established), and
subscriber line service (where you have a dedicated line that is
always connected to the Internet). Cable, DSL and T1 connections
are examples of digital subscriber lines. ISDN is a faster
dial-up service that requires special telephone wiring.
The quality of your connection to the Internet is particularly
important if you have regular analog dial-up service. Noisy
phone lines can keep your connection speed to 28 Kbps or lower
even if you have a 56K modem. Having a separate phone line, with
no other equipment (fax machines, answering machines or extension
phones) attached is one way to avoid noisy lines and keep your
connection speed up. A much more detailed explanation of this
problem and its solutions can be found at:
http://www.houston.tx.us/internet/28800-baud.shtml
The number of users using a particular connection is also a
factor. If you share a connection with many other users, such as
in an office or with a cable modem, the problem is particularly
noticeable. But with any kind of connection, at peak usage
periods, the whole Internet tends to slow down because of the
amount of information being sent and requested, throughout the
World Wide Web.
>There are many ways to speed up your Internet connection.
>Here's a brief explanation of some of your options:
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is a digital service
offered by the phone company that requires a special modem and
phone line. It costs several hundred dollars to get set up and
you are charged per minute, but it is available in many areas
that DSL and Cable are not. Both dial-up and subscriber line
options are available. A 128 Kbps ISDN line offers integrated
voice, data, video and image transmission over a single telephone
line, with vastly increased quality and data due to digital
transmission.
CABLE service is still not available in most areas. There are
many pros and cons to this service. Cable modems are relatively
expensive, but there are no per minute charges. Although a cable
modem is capable of providing downstream transmissions of 500
Kbps to 30,000 Kbps, there are limiting factors that will
significantly reduce these speeds including your computer's
ability to handle Internet traffic and the number of users using
the cable. The practical limit is currently about 200K which
still very fast.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) while theoretically slower than
cable can match the 200 Kbps rate and is capable of speeds up to
1500 Kbps. The down sides are that DSL modems are more expensive
than regular modems and service is not available in many areas.
The advantage is that DSL users can receive voice and data
simultaneously, so small offices can leave computers plugged
into the Net without interrupting phone connections.
VMSK - ALPHACOM's (http://www.networkalpha.com/) Network Utility
is still under development, but has the potential to speed up any
Internet connection without special modems or phone lines.
SYSTEM TUNING - If you live in an area that does not offer DSL
or Cable Internet service and/or you can not afford the price of
the faster modems and connections, there are still some things
you can do to increase your computers ability to transfer
information over the modem. Here are a few programs that can
help PC users tune up their computers:
Modem Booster - works with all dial-up connections, Version v2.1
boosts your speed on AOL, CompuServe 2000 and optimizes Windows
2000 to speed up surfing. Modem Booster tweaks your Internet
connection settings to match with your ISP's so that your
surfing speed is really at its optimum. -
http://www.inklineglobal.net/products/mb/index.html
Modem Wizard - Modem Wizard's powerful set of utilities deliver
tons more functionality including troubleshooting tools, setup
wizards, connection management tools, plus everything you need
to fully optimize your Internet connection. It's 100% safe and
compatible with all Windows applications. It works on any modem,
ISDN, cable, or T1 connection! - http://www.modemwizard.com/
TurboSurfer2000 - has a built in "high speed memory" that will
instantly recall where web sites are located so your computer
finds what you are looking for INSTANTLY. Turbo Surfer increases
the performance of your computer by "opening up the pipeline" so
that the information flows FASTER. You will be amazed at the
increase in speed - GUARANTEED!
http://about-the-web.com/internet-guide/TurboSurfer.shtml
If you prefer the do-it-yourself method, consult CNET Features -
How To - Internet Speed Tweaks - at:
http://www.cnet.com/Content/Features/Howto/Netspeed
In conclusion, I would recommend DSL for those that can get it. I
like the fact that you can use your telephone at the same time as
you surf the Internet at very fast speeds. Cable modems sound
great, but I think there are some potential pitfalls. Please let
me know what your experience is. ISDN seems like outdated
technology to me, but may be great for some people. A system
tune-up is the least expensive solution and may make an
appreciable difference for many PC users.
P.S. There were quite a few topics that I considered writing
about. They included a review of "Get-paid-to-surf" programs and
an overview of the Napster controversy. If you would like to
read about either of these topics or have a suggestion for
another one, please send me an e-mail.
"I can learn something from everyone, and I benefit in
many ways when I act on that belief." - Kevin Eikenberry
When I was in college someone respected in our
community told me that it was his philosophy that he
could learn something from everyone. I thought a lot
about that, and over time it has become a part of my life
philosophy as well.
It is intuitively obvious that everyone has information
and knowledge that I don't have. And it is easy for me to
list things that I have learned, or am learning, from
those around me. Parker teaches me about whales, Kelsey
teaches me about living in the moment, Brett teaches me
to slow down, and Lori continually teaches me about
customer service "in the real world." These are people I
interact with everyday.
"Nobody is totally useless. At the very least, they can
serve as a bad example!" - Robert Sweet, Netizen
But this philosophy is harder to follow in many other
cases. What about people I don't like? Or don't agree
with? Or who look or act differently than me? How well
does my philosophy hold up then? I've thought a lot
about this, and I've determined that there is an ART to
trying to learn from everyone I come into contact with.
ART is an acronym... let me explain.
Asking
Reflecting
Thanking
Asking. The first step is to ask myself the pivotal
question, "What can I learn from this person?" or "What
does this person know that would be helpful for me to
know?" In some cases this is just an introspective
question for me to consider. In other cases, the person
may literally have information that would help me reach
my goals, and I need to ask them outright.
Reflecting. Next, I need to reflect on the answer to the
question. When the person has given me information,
this means deciding how I can use this new knowledge.
In the more introspective cases, reflecting means
thinking about what I've learned, and thinking about
how to apply that new information or insight into my
life.
Thanking. It is important to let people know that you are
appreciative of their help. The piece of knowledge they
shared may warrant a phone call, a nod, a smile or a
thank you note (or more than one of the above).
Sometimes the learning comes from someone you never
really knew, or have no way of actually thanking. In
those cases, I believe that you can share your sense of
gratitude by sharing the learning with someone else,
doing a random act of kindness, or anything else that
helps you show your gratitude by making your world
(and those in it) a little better place to be.
I encourage you to think about my philosophy. Do you
believe that you can learn something from everyone? If
so, how can you make your learning more
commonplace?
Consider making an ART of this philosophy. I guarantee
that applying this ART, whether once an hour, once a
day or once a month will make you happier, wiser and
move you towards your goals.
So ask yourself, who have I learned from today?
(c) Copyright 1999, the Discian Group. All rights
reserved.
Kevin Eikenberry
is a
speaker, trainer, author, and President of the Discian
Group ( http://discian.com ) - a learning consulting
company. He authors a monthly article on learning
from life's events called Vantagepoints. If you liked
this article, you can read more or subscribe for free at
http://discian.com/vp.htm .
In addition to creating and updating about-the-web.com, I also
work on other people's web sites. So if you have one that you
need some help with, or would like help setting one up, email me
at garth@about-the-web.com and I'll give you an estimate of time
and expenses.
If you're in the market for some photography, be sure to check
out my collection of stock photography at
http://about-the-web/photos/ where you can download a wide
variety of images (mostly nature photos) for printing or just
viewing on your computer.
Here's a press release concerning my newest product:
>New Time Tracking Software for Small Businesses Released
Redwood Valley, CA 09/09/2000 -- Today, SpiritWorks Software
Development released Activity Tracker, their new project,
activity and expense tracking system. This new productivity
software allows self-employed professionals, or small
businesses, to keep track of time and expenses spent on any
number of projects.
Now writers, programmers or any consultant can easily record the
amount of time they spend on specific activities and make notes
on tasks and expenses. They can then quickly generate invoices
and reports that can be printed or exported to word processing
or spreadsheet programs.
Activity Tracker works well for small businesses or work groups
too. Each person keeps track of their own time and expenses,
exports the data and sends it to an administrator, who imports
them all, and then generates invoices, and time and expense
reports.
Students, teachers, athletes and hobbyists can use Activity
tracker to keep track of time spent on their projects too.
Volunteers will find the program useful for keeping track of
time and expenses for tax purposes as well.
Users can try out the software free for 30 days, before
registering it for only $35. Activity Tracker runs on most
computers including, Windows 95/98/2000/NT, Macintosh and many
UNIX operating systems.
For more information, go to
http://about-the-web.com/activitytracker/?pr on the World Wide
Web or e-mail at-info@about-the-web.com.
Let me know what you think about this newsletter, our web site,
or what topics would you like to see discussed, either in this
newsletter or on our web site. Just send me an e-mail! Please!
Thanks for participating in this Internet experience!
We are still considering what kind of advertising to accept in
this newsletter. We may accept short classifieds or longer
"advertorials" that have informational value to our readers. We
may limit the number of ads to two or three. If you have a
strong opinion about this subject, or wish to become an
advertiser, please send an email to whats-new-editor@about-the-web.com
Please share this newsletter with your friends by simply
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