The Online World Part 16

Send the message to user UUCP at 1:105/42. The first line of the TEXT of the message should contain:

To: [email protected]

Add a blank line after the address before entering the text of your message.

FidoNet addresses are composed by three or four numbers;

zone:net/node or zone:net/node.point

The FidoNet address 1:105/42 has three elements. "1:" tells that the recipient lives in Zone number 1 (North America). "105/42"

refers to Node number 42, which receives mail through Net number 105. This node has an automatic gateway to the Internet.

Another example: Jan Stozek is sysop of "Home of PCQ" in Warsaw, Poland. The Node number of his BBS is 10. He receives mail through Net number 480. Poland is a country in Europe, Zone number 2. The address to his system is: 2:480/10. His user name is Jan Stozek.

You can send an Internet message to anyone in FidoNet by using the following template:

.@p.f.n.z.fidonet.org

Where is the person's first name is the person's last name

To send a message from the Internet to Jan, use this address:

[email protected]

One final example: Ola Garstad in Oslo has the FidoNet address 2:502/15. Use the address [email protected] , when sending mail to him through the Internet.

An updated list of global FidoNet nodes can be retrieved from most connected BBS systems.

For more information -------------------- If you have access to BITNET or Internet mail, get "The Inter- Network Mail Guide." It describes how to send mail between electronic mail systems like AppleLink, BITNET, BIX, CompuServe, Connect-USA, EasyNet, Envoy, FidoNet, GeoNet, Internet, MCI, MFENET, NasaMail, PeaceNet, Sinet, Span, SprintMail, and more.

Send a message to the BITNET address [email protected] In the TEXT of the message enter:

GET NETWORK GUIDE

This list is also posted monthly to the Usenet newsgroups comp.mail.misc and news.newusers.questions.

The doc.u.ment "FAQ: How to find people's E-mail addresses" is regularly posted to the Usenet group news.answers. It is also available by email from [email protected] . To get a copy, put the command "send usenet/news.answers/finding-addresses" in the body of your message.

Chapter 8: Free expert a.s.sistance =================================

This may sound too good to be true. Many computer experts are ready to help YOU without asking a dollar in return. The same is the case with experts in other areas.

You have an impossible decision to make. A lawyer has a dotted line that requires your signature, or a surgeon has a dotted line in mind for your upper abdomen. You're not comfortable with the fine print or the diagnosis and wonder if a second opinion is in order. Just ask, and get help.

If you have problems with your communications program, post a message on a bulletin board. Do the same thing if you want to sell equipment. Learn from other people's experiences with computers or software that you plan to buy.

You will get a reply - if the subject or you attract interest.

In the process, you'll get new friends, and be able to follow the development in a dynamic marketplace.

The following message from CompuServe is typical:

16-Nov-91 15:16:14 Sb: Back & Forth software Fm: Joan Healy To: John Nelson

Changed my mind about GrandView:

1. Learning curve like Mt. Everest. Give me intuitive or give me death.

2. Lack of patience with " ".

3. Lack of time.

4. It may be unsuited for what I wanted (outlining a book). Since becoming a born-again Galaxian, I've started using that for the outline, and I'm happy. There's nothing like a decision and a permanent bonding and lifelong commitment to make a woman happy. Remember that, you louts. :-)

Many users prefer open conference messages to private email for their technical discussions. This gives "the group" a chance to read, comment, provide additional facts, and return with new questions.

The reactions to one simple question may be overwhelming, but most of the time the contributions are useful and educational.

Since the discussion is public, regard it as your personal online university. Offer opinions when you have something to contribute, or keep silent.

In most conferences, some members are critical to "lurkers." A "lurker" is someone who read without ever contributing. Don't let them get to you. Do not feel bad about being silent. Most other members are there only to watch and learn as well.

If you consider buying a newly released computer program, tune in to the section of your favorite online service that deals with products from this manufacturer. Count messages with complaints of the new program before buying.

When you have received your new program, return to read other users' experiences and to pick up practical advice. It will never hurt to offer your own two cents' worth in the process.

| Visit online services that have many users who know more than | | most. There, you will usually get faster and better replies to | | your questions. It is far cheaper to ask than to search. |

Start with bulletin boards. If you have never visited a BBS, call one in your neighborhood to get a feel for what this is. Most of them can be accessed free. Usually, their only requirement is that you answer some self-presentation questions before being granted full access to their system.

Most bulletin boards offer conferencing and archives filled with shareware and public domain software. Many also have files or bulletins listing telephone numbers of other boards in your country or area.

The trick is to find know-how. The larger the online service, the more skilled people are likely to "meet" there regularly.

Therefore, if local bulletin boards fail to satisfy your needs, visit the large commercial services. CompuServe and EXEC-PC are two services in the top league. BIX is another good source of information for professional computer specialists.

One exception: When you need contact with ONE particular person, who knows YOUR problem in detail, go where he uses to go.

Examples: If you need top advice about the communications program GALINK, call Mike's BBS in Oslo (at +472 -416588). If you buy modems from Semafor A/S, the best place for expert advice is Semaforum BBS (tel. +4741-370-11710). If you have a Novell local area network, visit the Novell forums on CompuServe.

For users of MS-DOS computers ----------------------------- I visit the following CompuServe forums regularly:

IBM Communication - about communication software for MS-DOS computers.

IBM Hardware - about new IBM compatibles, expansion cards, displays, hard disks, IBM PS/2, software for performance evaluation, printers, etc.

IBM Systems/Utilities - about DOS, utilities, sh.e.l.ls, file utilities, and much more. A large software library.

IBM Applications - about all kind of applications. The forum has a large file library full of shareware and public domain software.

Many CompuServe forums are operated or sponsored by software and hardware vendors, like:

Adobe Systems Inc., Aldus Corp., Ashton-Tate Corp., Autodesk Inc., Borland International, Broderbund Software Inc., b.u.t.tonware Inc., Cadkey Inc., Crosstalk Communications, Customs Technologies, Enable Software, Datastorm Technologies Inc., Microsoft Systems, Nantucket Corp., Lotus Development Corp., Novell Inc., Peter Norton Computing, Quarterdeck Office Systems, Quicksoft, Sun Microsystems (TOPS Division), Symantec Corp., Tos.h.i.+ba, Turbopower Software, and WordPerfect Corp.

CompuServe has hundreds of other forums with a.s.sociated libraries of files and programs.

FidoNet has the PC_TECH and PCUG conferences, and a long list of product specific echos like QUICKBBS, PCTOOLS, ZMODEM, DESQVIEW and WINDOWS.SHAREW .

BITNET has CLIPPER ([email protected]), I-IBMPC ([email protected]), PC-L ([email protected]), and the abstract service INFO-IBMPC (IBMPC- [email protected]). On EXEC-PC, look under MS-DOS systems. Usenet has many offerings including the following:

comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc Discussion about IBM personal computers.

comp.sys.ibm.pc.digest The IBM PC, PC-XT, and PC-AT. (Moderated) comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware XT/AT/EISA hardware, any vendor.

comp.sys.ibm.pc.rt Topics related to IBM's RT computer.

comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware Microchannel hardware, any vendor.

For help with Lotus 1-2-3, there are two CompuServe forums. There is a LOTUS conference on RelayNet. WordPerfect Corp. has a support forum on CompuServe. WORDPERF is the equivalent offering on RelayNet. On ILINK, visit WORDPERFECT. For support about Ami Pro, visit CompuServe's LDC Word Processing Forum.

For owners of Amiga computers ----------------------------- FidoNet has a long list of conferences for Amiga users:

AMIGA Amiga International Echo AMIGAGAMES Amiga Gaming AMIGA_COMMS Amiga Communications Software and Hardware AMIGA_DESKTOP Amiga Desktop Publis.h.i.+ng AMIGA_INFO AMIGA_INFO AMIGA_LC Amiga Lattice/SASC C Echo AMIGA_NET_DEV Amiga Network Developers.

AMIGA_PDREVIEW Amiga PD Reviews & Requests AMIGA_PERFECT Amiga Word Perfect & Word Processing AMIGA_PROG Amiga Programmer's International Conference AMIGA_SYSOP Amiga SysOp's Discussion/ADS Echo AMIGA_UG Amiga User's Groups AMIGA_VIDEO Amiga Video and Animation

EXEC-PC has the Amiga Hardware and Amiga Software conferences, and a large library with shareware and public domain files. ILINK has the AMIGA conference.

Usenet's com.sys.amiga hierarchy has entries like advocacy, announce applications, audio, datacomm, emulations, games, graphics, hardware, introduction, marketplace, multimedia, misc, programmer, reviews and more.

Abstracts of comp.sys.amiga conferences are available through several BITNET mailing lists, like [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected]