The Rough Guide to The Internet 9 (Rough Guide Internet/Computing)

INTRODUCTION

READ ME

Hooking up to the Internet isn’t such a big deal these days. So why do you need a book to get online? Or more to the point, why do you need one if you’re already there?

You don’t, of course. In fact, most people just start clicking and worry about the consequences later. That’s why they catch viruses, get scammed (p.172), unwittingly install "spyware" and wonder why their computers keep crashing. It’s why so few know how to get the best from a search engine, take part in online discussions, collect their email on the road, set up a second account, maintain their privacy or avoid junk email. And why most people’s time is spent sifting through rubbish websites instead of going straight to the best. You can do it the hard way too – if you don’t mind wasting half your life.

Or you can do it the smart way and leave the hard work to us. We’ve spent years test-driving software, sorting through sites, torturing search engines and figuring out what works best. You’ll find the latest results distilled into this small book, plus tips on how to do everything from scoring a free email address to building an online photo gallery.

If you only read one chapter, make it "Find it". Know it back-to-front and you’ll have the Net around your little finger. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you become an expert.

The fact that we find ourselves flipping through this book from time to time suggests that it’s as much a desktop reference for old-timers as a beginner’s guide. So we hope you’ll keep a dog-eared copy by your computer for many years to come. That said, things change, so keep your eyes peeled for each new edition.

Best wishes and bon voyage!