#Internet
17 messages in this thread
Thanks for the help. Internet does sound intriguing; I am a university
prof–that sounds academic enough–but do you know how I can find out more
about accessing it? If so, let me know. Thanks again, Kathy
Kathy,
I know your message was to Scott – but here comes, anyway. There should be
someone on your campus called the System Administrator for the computer
systems, and anyone in the computer science department should be able to
point you to him. This person should be able to tell you all about
Internet, set you up with an account, etc. If you do get an account and
want to use the mail system and read the messages there, I would suggest
that you read a book called UNIX COMMUNICATIONS, from the Waite Group,
Howard Sams & Company. It is an excellent introduction to it. It won't
tell you ALL about it, but it will take you a long way.
Betty
Thanks, Betty. I'll try to find out from the University today, and hope
they're agreeable–I have visions of a suspicious comp sci person saying,
"And just WHY does an art historian need Internet anyway?" under the glare
of an interrogation bulb! And maybe the book you've suggested will finally
tell me why I need Unix (almost all my programs support it, so I might as
well understand it). Kathy
Kathy,
The Unix Communications will only tell you how to use the mail system – not
about the underlying operating system. It will help you to navigate,
though. Prepare for some frustrating hours learning to use VI (their text
editor). There are some good books introducing the Unix operating system,
but I cannot think of one at the moment – sorry. I borrowed one or two a
while back, but have returned them.
Betty
About VI… your best bet is to simply change to a different editor… they
have Emacs available! (It's what I use.) But now I can't remember how to
change it over– that's my fiance's department. (His is Internet, mine is
CompuServe!) I'll try to find an answer of how to avoid VI and get it back
here!
–Beth
Beth, I have several choices of editors at SMU, but of the ones they
offered to me, VI is the best choice – and it truly is powerful, just
cryptic and hard to learn. I do fairly well with it now.
Actually, I usually call up VI, flip over to WordPerfect and write my
answers, then save them to RAM: and move them over to VI with SnipIt. I
find that much easier. It is also possible to write the message offline
with any editor, upload the answer to my mailbox, and then import the text
into VI, but I usually take care of any answers on the spot, making that
impractical.
But you are right that Emacs is lots better than VI.
Betty
Ouch!! Yeah, it does depend on what your mail server offers, as my fiance
reminded me. I have the option for Emacs– it still seems wierd to me, but
then again I still haven't found an online editor I truly love– the
journalism grad is too spoiled by word processors! 🙂
–Beth
Just to add my $0.02 … in my line of work (computer consulting), i find
that vi is the *BEST* editor as it is portable … i can run it under any
particular flavor of UNIX that you want to name as well as MS-DOS, OS/2 or
AmigaDOS … if necessary, i can bring it to my clients machine and i am up
and going in a matter of moments … i have tried learning new editors as i
move to each new system and i find that the time spent doing that is
completely wasted …
jake
– via Whap!
I completely agree. Besides, my hands are hopelessly programmed for "vi".
🙂
Steve
Well, it is pretty nice once you learn it – just a real bear to learn. But
easier than TROFF!
Betty
One of the better "Intro to UNIX"-type books I've seen is called
"Introducing the UNIX System"….can't remember the other though…
Steve
Kathy –
University Internet connections are typically handled through either a
computer center and/or a computer science department. If you want to tell
me where you're on faculty, I can look up whether or not the school has a
registered connection with the Network Information Center.
Jeff Schweiger
Dear Jeff, Thanks. This year I'm at Cleveland State University–hope
they're registered. Kathy
Kathy –
Cleveland State University is connected to the Internet, you can contact
CSU Computer Services for details. Of interest the Cleveland Public
Library is also connected to Internet. I don't know if either of these
sites participate in Usenet (the newsgroups), but Cleveland is also home to
the Cleveland Freenet, which I believe does participate on Usenet (I don't
have details handy on the Freenet, but it is University related).
Jeff Schweiger
Thanks, Jeff. I'll trot myself over today and see what they'll allow me
access to! Kathy
Kathy –
In amplification of by public response to you, the points of contact I have
listed for CSU Computer Services are:
David Chatfield, (216) 687-2154
Angelo Santilli, (216) 687-3881
Hope this helps.
Jeff Schweiger