Internet Tutorials | John Faughnan | Robert Elson

Internet Software Recommendations

• Sources
• Email Software
• Web Browsers
• FTP Clients (File Transfer Protocol) and Others

Sources

Most of these products are commercial items, and can be purchased through software vendors. My favorite vendor is PC Connection at 800-800-5555. Internet Explorer is included with the Windows 95 CD-ROM and most Microsoft software. When you sign up with an Internet Service Provider, you'll almost always receive a web browser, which you can use to get any of these other products.

Netscape and Internet Explorer are "free". Some of these applications, such as Opera, are "shareware". Try them, then pay on the honor system. Over the past few years I've found shareware programs to be more reliable than Microsoft's well known commercial products.

Email Software

• Novice: a free web based email service such as HotMail (http://www.hotmail.com)
• Typical: Netscape 4.x email, Outlook Express (IE4/5)
• Serious: Eudora 4.2 by Qualcomm. Mac/Win versions. Very powerful, an industrial strength email package.

Web Browsers

Novice users should probably use the web browser supported by their Internet Service Provider. Opera is the only option for smaller/older computers.

• Internet Explorer 4.01/5.0 (Mac/Win) Free.
  Internet Explorer is Microsoft's web browser. I use IE4 at home (Windows 95) and IE5 at work (Windows NT). It is very dangerous to attempt to install IE5 on top of Windows 95, your Windows system may be rendered inoperable. IE5 is best with Windows 98 or NT. Internet Explorer is free for downloading, is usually included with ISP software, and can be purchased at most software vendors for $17 or so (with a $10 rebate). Since Microsoft bundles IE with the operating system, most persons get it with their computer.

• Netscape Communicator 4.61 (Win/Mac/Unix/Linux) Free.
  Netscape has been hit hard my Microsoft's monopolistic powers. It's hard to fight city hall. There are many features of Netscape I prefer to IE. I think it has better printing, a more 'power user' friendly interface, and much better email and newsgroup software. It's also less disruptive to the OS than installing IE. Netscape 4 is free for downloading, and can be purchased at most software vendors for $17 or so (with a $10 rebate).

• Opera (Win)
  Opera is a little-known web browser from Norway. It is quite a decent browser, and runs very well under Windows 3.1. It has no security risks, and is remarkably simple. The only real choice for less powerful machines. Opera is shareware, about $35.

FTP Clients (File Transfer Protocol) and Others

Most people will use their web browsers to get files, but if you need to put files on a web site or remote machine you'll need to use these programs. Specialty internet software like this can be downloaded from the MacDownload (Mac) or Tucows. This software is for more advanced users.

• Windows: After trying numerous programs, all of which have crashed on me, I've been using LeapFTP, a $30 shareware application. It had a 5 cow rating on Tucows.

• Macintosh: Fetch (truly excellent, shareware, free for educational and charitable users.)

• Netscape 4!: Netscape, at least under Win95, has secret abilities that allow it to send files via FTP. How to - Communicator: tip 68.

• IE5 is a quite strong FPT client, I think it can upload too.