Internet Connectivity Software

\Internet Connectivity Software

Before you can go anywhere on the Internet

Before you go anywhere on the Internet, you need to gather a few pieces of software. There's a lot of programs out there, and many of them aren't very good. Never fear, we've brought together some of the best and easiest to use Internet programs available, and before long you'll be a pro with all of them. But first, let's cover some Internet basics:

What do URL/HTTP/FTP/TELNET/GOPHER mean?

One of the first things to talk about are URLs. An URL, pronounced "Earl," is an acronym for "Uniform Resource Locator," and starts with the name of the protocol you're using followed by a colon and two forward slashes. When searching the World Wide Web, you are using "HyperText Transport Protocol" or http. As you have probably noticed, most URLs begin with http://. If you're using "File Transfer Protocol" or FTP, the URL would be ftp://. Other URL beginnings are gopher:// for the GOPHER protocol, telnet:// for the TELNET protocol, and wais:// for the WAIS protocol. Can you see a pattern developing here?

Different protocols are used for different things. For example, http, or the "HyperText Transport Protocol", sends data over the World Wide Web, and is the most common. FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is used to transfer files over the Internet.

Software: What and Where?

First, the Browser

eb browsers, using http, are what makes all this graphical-interface Internet stuff possible. Obviously, if you are online with MacintoshOS.com, you have one, but it may be on America Online, Compuserve, or some other online service.

If you really want to see MacintoshOS.com in all its enhanced splendor, you need a browser like: Netscape's Navigator 2.02 or 3.01, or Microsoft's Explorer 2.1 or 3.0a

In the good ole' days, Mosaic was the orginal web software used. It still works great, and is available in new and improved versions, so you might want to check it out too.

FTP Clients

Anarchie

Fetch

It's really just a matter of preference when choosing between the two, so check them out and pick the one that works for you.

That's really enough to get started, but when you're ready for more, check out:

The best Macintosh Gopher client -- TurboGopher
The best Macintosh WAIS client -- MacWAIS
The best Macintosh Telnet client -- NCSA Telnet

These programs are also available in the Communications section of Shareware Library. You can learn more about Gopher, Telnet, and WAIS further on in Internet Connectivity.

Ready?

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