How to Use the Internet

Understand that the internet has a myriad of uses;

as a business tool - by finding new supplers or customers, checking prices, selling direct, dealing with Government, monitoring your bank account (s)

for education - to receive or deliver a course or classes, to submit coursework or homework.

as a source of knowledge - to find out almost anything about almost everything, to research your hobby.

as a social platform - to engage with other humans (mostly) via discussion boards, author sites, blogs, photo sites

for romance - to find love, romance, sex or any combination of all three

buying and selling - sell old junk, buy new junk :-)

planning travel - find hotels, flights, car hire, compare prices, obtain reviews and information about where you are going

promote your skills - promote yourself, your shop, your creativity, your drawing, writing, craft-e-ness

Ingredients

1. Computer - the nice people at Dell can sort you out with a machine, select your connection type first and order your machine with that capability. Old 56k modem, cable modem, DSL, WIFI router. Again ask a friendly expert, they are mostly willing to guide you in your choices.

2. Connection - lots of liars, cheat and thieves here. You need as fast a connection as you can afford, there is so much to see, plus if you are on a slow connection you miss a lot of moving image, music and multi-media content.

Choices

dial-up - tedious, slow for $20/Mth - better than nothing

cable/dsl - a lot faster still around $20/Mth basic

satellite - weather dependent, slow when rainy or cloudy

WIFI, WIFI Max, microwave

Dedicated line, like a T1 to die for....

There are a very wide range of packages and prices, shop around, ask people already on, especially someone using the internet for business. check the small print, you can get on for almost nothing only to find out you are locked in for 18 months.

What does quo vadis mean ? - look it up on Wikipedia

There are billions of pages on the Internet, some good, some bad, some total rubbish. Start with a project in mind;-

The DMV is good place to visit electronically, physically going to the DMV is usually an experience most of us can do without. DMV California

Online you can...

Change of Address - Complete your change of address on line.

Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability - Complete your vehicle transfer and release of liability on line.

Special Interest and Personalized Plates - You may now order Special Interest and Personalized plates online.

Appointments - For faster service, make an appointment before you visit a DMV office

Vehicle Registration Renewal - Renew your vehicle's registration.

Vehicle Registration Fee Calculator - Calculate an estimate of your vehicle registration fees for a new vehicle purchased in California or for a nonresident vehicle.

Driver License Renewal - Renew your driver license.

Simple Refunds - New Online Refund Program

Occupational License Status Information - Check the current license status of businesses licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Mobilehome Renewal Registration - Link to the California Department of Housing and Community Development website

Register to Vote - Link to the Voter Registration page on the California Secretary of State website

Online Traffic Payment - Handle your traffic citations online.

Finding stuff on the internet can be a challenge, two best approaches;-

use Google - a search engine

use Yahoo - a directory

you may see the letters RTFM from time to time - this translates as Read the Feckin Manual, you are now the proud owner of a three wheeler, you must practice to graduate to a two wheeler... so RTFM.

get yourself a rolodex or index card box for usernames and passwords

do not call yourself joe6785@yahoo

do not publish your telephone number (unless business phone)

do use a throw away cell if necessary

do get some firewall to protect your machine

do try to make a positive contribution

e.g. expert knowledge back to the global internet community

..here a few useful sites for your enjoyment...