The Internet for Dummies [Paperback]

John R. Levine (Author), Carol Baroudi (Author), Margaret Levine Young (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0764506749 | ISBN-13: 978-0764506741 | Edition: 7

The #1 bestseller — more than 2 million copies sold!

Includes updated information on instant messaging, auctions, browsers, and more

Your goof-proof guide to a great time online ISPs. URLs. 56K. If you're new to the Internet, all that cyberspace lingo can be confusing.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Even if you're not a dummy, the sixth edition of The Internet for Dummies is one of the best user's guides to the Internet now available. Many so-called Internet books are nothing more than printed collections of Web addresses, but John Levine, Carol Baroudi, and Margaret Levine Young recognize that deciding to use the Internet involves financial commitments and computer-hardware decisions as much as it does looking at neat pictures. That said, don't expect to set up your own e-commerce site with this book, and don't expect to find step-by-step instructions for starting your computer. But do expect to get some good advice about picking an ISP (Internet Service Provider), protecting your privacy (and your kids), and connecting with Windows or a Mac. The authors also do an exceptional job of explaining such terms as PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) and what it is for, and they even talk about the old Unix shell account (with a Lynx text browser) for those not getting a PPP account. You'll find tips for optimizing your browser for speed, building your first Web page, managing e-mail, subscribing to mailing lists, and, yes, shopping. What is most impressive, however, is the balanced approach the authors take in evaluating Web sites (they do give some Web addresses), online services, and browser software. They offer the pros and cons and let you sort it out. They also include their own Web address so you can look for updates to the book and check on their latest favorites. --Patrick O'Kelley --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"...this is a cracking read for anyone with an interest in the Net, regardless of ability." --Internet Made Easy, Book of the Month

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 7 edition (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764506749
• ISBN-13: 978-0764506741
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,841,787 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 53 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 7th Edition of the Great Internet Dummies Book ! April 27, 2000

By Irvin Goodman HALL OF FAMEVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

360 pages of all the facts you'll need about the Web, e-mail, service providers, and search engines. An encyclopedia of the easy to locate information you'll need to surf like an "expert." Provides a complete table of contents and an index of more than 2,200 entries. Topics range from The Net at Home and Work, Your Kids, Web TV and Shopping, to Your First Home Page, Mail, Messages, Chats, and Swiping Files from the Net. Written in the fun, but informative style of the "Dummies" series. At $ 15.95 you'll find a wealth of information to help you. I keep this book on my desk and refer to it often. My two sons are systems analysts and programmers, but I find the things I need faster in this book, than trying to understand what the boys are saying with their technical jargon ! After they answer my question, I still look it up in the book so I can understand the "practical" steps I need to take to get what I want.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Good Start-up August 18, 2000

By A. Petrotchenkov

Format:Paperback

I hope, almost everyone has heard of the "For Dummies" books. The series' direct method and clear (sometimes playful and fun) language make learning easy. It is also a well-known computer book series in Russia. "The Internet For Dummies" is the chance to find out in a simple, clear and fun guide which takes the horror out of meeting the Internet for the first time.

As a computer writer, I am always delighted to discover new great book that makes understanding the computer. Many so-called Internet books are nothing more than printed collections of Web addresses. "The Internet For Dummies" is a guide designed just for newbies. Authors do an exceptional job of explaining a large number of Internet terms. You'll also find here a lot of tips for optimizing your browser for speed, building your first Web page, managing e-mail, subscribing to mailing lists, and go shopping on-line. "The Internet for Dummies" is a great start to learning the Internet.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The book was extremely useful and not intimidating September 12, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Internet for Dummies was an extremely useful book which is now a little dog-eared: take that as a good sign. It showed how to get online and do things like create web pages without intimidating beginners with jargon, and this book cured my schizophrenia.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The Internet for Dummies (--For Dummies) May 12, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Probably the hardest books to review are those that have the potential to be the very best and just don't make the grade. The authors have impressive backgrounds in the subject. The "For Dummies" series offers the potential for superior editorial guidance. Yet I felt that this book fell substantially short. Although many subjects were covered in depth the book consistently left me wondering "where's the beef?" For example many topics were often covered in just a perfunctory way leaving me thinking "I need more information on this subject just to begin the subject." Two examples of this are the coverage of downloading software off the WWW and ICQ. What if the authors would have not told their continual little cutsey jokes and puns and supplied more information? What if the publisher had not left so much unprinted space on each page and supplied more text? Perhaps then they would have delivered a superior book. As it is it is just mediocre.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Top of my List March 30, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I bought Internet for Dummies first, at least as far as the Internet is concerned, I really am one; second, it was highly recommended by my server when I signed up.

I expected to use it as a reference work, and still have that expectation, but I was surprised (I don't know why; too many over regimented do-it books I suppose), but I found it eminently readable - so I read it. All of it.

Interesting. Informative. Entertaining. Educational.

In my view, it should be required reading for every tyro cybernaut

Great job

RPVP

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars AT LEAST I KNOW WHATS GOING ON!!!!! September 1, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU, THIS BOOK IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. NOW I DON'T FEEL LIKE A DUMMIE!AFTER THE FIRST CHAPTER, I COULDN'T WAIT TO GET TO MY NEW COMPUTER & REALIZE WHAT A BROWSER BAR WAS AS WELL AS A TOOLBAR. I DO INDEED PLAN TO BUY WINDOWS 98' FOR DUMMIES. THANKS AGAIN FOR MAKING ME FEEL ABIT WISER.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars More useful for a newbie March 14, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I love the "Dummy" books, although I think they are a bit overpriced. Maybe I was a dummy, but I purchased this book after being on the internet for over a year. I guess I was hoping to learn things I had no prior knowledge about. For me, this book basically contained info I already knew. Don't be a dummy like me. Purchase this book while you are a newbie, otherwise you will be wishing you had better spent your money.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introductory guide to the internet August 3, 2000

By AleasureEveMagdalene

Format:Paperback

Internet for Dummies is a great start to learning the internet. As a computer trainer, I am always delighted to discover comprehensive illustrative material that makes understanding the computer. This is such a book. I recommend anyone learning the computer to start out with this very down-to-earth publication. You may be asking why would a Mind Recovery Trainer want to review a computer book. In my research, I also find it vital to understand basic computing principles. This book will do to you what it did for me.