technical help sheet

Technical Help Sheet: How do I Work This Thing?

Using the internet and the world wide web in your class can be a fun, exciting, new way to study. But if you don't
know how to make it work, then it's not much good. This page will provide you with some basic info on using this
website, and the web in general.

I. Basic Hardware and Operating Systems

The better your computer equipment is, the easier it will be to use the world wide web. But you can use just about
any kind of personal computer to browse the web--it'll work on any PC running some version of Windows(3.1 or
higher) or OS/2, or on a Macintosh running System 7 or higher. To use the web, your machine needs to have at least
4 megabytes of RAM, (although that's barely enough--8 or more is really much better), and a processor chip from
the modern era. For PC users, that means a 386 processor is the bare minimum, but a 486 or Pentium machine will
be much, much quicker. For Macintosh users, the 68020 chip or any higher one will work--once again, the faster the
chip, the easier it is to use the web.

II. Internet Connection

To use the web, you have to first connect to the internet. You can connect by a few different means.

With a standard modem, preferably one that transmits data at 14.4 kbps or higher
With ethernet, the high-speed connection that computer labs use and many dormitories have installed in dorm
rooms
With an ISDN modem, which transmits data much faster than a standard modem
With a cable modem, provided by your cable tv company

III. Web browsers

The web browser is the piece of software that you use to cruise the world wide web. The most popular ones are
Netscape Communicator(formerly called Navigator) and Microsoft Internet Explorer. The HST 203 site is best
viewed with current versions of Netscape(3.0 or higher) and Internet Explorer(2.0 or higher). There are lots of
others to choose from though, such as Apple's Cyberdog, NeXT's OmniWeb, and NCSA's Mosaic(which may be
discontinued--but old versions still work acceptably.) Commercial on-line providers such as America OnLine and
Compuserv may offer web browser alternatives as well.

IV. Plug-Ins

When you're on the web, you will often find items you want to see that require a plug-in, that is, a little piece of
software that works with your web browser. For example, to hear an audio clip on a website usually requires that
you have an audio plug-in for your web browser. RealAudio is the most common one and wil work for most of your
audio needs. Movies on the web may require a plug-in called QuickTime. If you don't have them already, you can
find these and other plug-ins on the web. Just go these sites(or others, for sure) and follow the directions to
download the plug-ins:

RealAudio: http://www.real.com
QuickTime: http://www.shareware.com and search with the term "quicktime."

V. Computer Labs

Not everyone has their own computer. The University has computer labs, stocked with PC's and Macintoshes, all
over the campus. In most cases, you will be able to do the web-based work for this class from one of these labs if
not from home. The computers in the labs have Netscape and Internet Explorer, ususally with the appropriate
plug-ins, and they are hooked up to the internet via fast ethernet connections.

created: February 10, 2000
last updated: February 23, 2000