Linda: just noted your mention of interest in chats, as being one
reason you like AOL..if you have a direct ISP..go to TWOCOWS
and get mIRC...or Pirch..and tune into the world of IRC (free)
( Internet Relay Chat ) you will find about 1000 times more
chat channels on the internet via an IRC server..and you can find
one that's free..and in most cases your ISP..will have cut a deal
with one and will tell you were to log on..CHATS, the internet has
so many of them that I can't begin to tell you about them..it's
called IRC..as for Bulletin boards your local ISP should have the
name of the news group he is tied to..this is the same as the
Bulletin boards on AOL..except again its so vast that to compare
the two would not be right..with IRC..your in real time chat mode,
with a news group your like in off line chat mode..
if your really wanting to explore the web..you'l have to get
away from AOL , that's sort of like people who make a trip
to see the world but take a guided tour..and never really see
the heart of the county they visited..
I have a "NICK" on IRC..I'm called trudger..if I'm on line and an
IRC user has me in their notify list then they are is told I'm on line, ( and can do a whois to find out what room, or rooms I'm
in ( sometimes 4 or 5 at once ) like wise when I go on IRC..
I'm told of all the people in my list that are on line..this
thing is internet wide..not just limited to an AOL circle..look around..it's all here..and a lot more of it..( but some ISPs don't rent time on a news server for their clients, most do, but you have to ask..and find one that does..it don't cost a cent more..now I'm a dog about wanting to get hooked up when I want to, so I'v got 3 ways to hook up..and can switch on the fly..( using a program called TCPSW ) so even if the sprint backbone goes down, I jump to the ISP who is on the MCI backbone..or The uunet backbone, I notice some times people say SI is slowed down, but when I'v found that..I'v oftened break the TCP/IP connection, switch backbones via another ISP..come right back up and never lose my place..and bingo SI is running it's fool head off..as the problem was really
the particular backbone I was on getting over loaded..I use
three ISPs ..each one rents time from a different fiber network,
all them are tied together..but sometime the one your "going out
on" gets loaded up and slows to a crawl..I forget which one AOL uses..but I can find out..think it's uunet..any way so much for all this, if you ever really get into finding your way around on the web
( and that seems to be an unending learning curve ) so let me put this way, AOL is to the internet what a daisy is to girl scouts,
u ever been in the Girl Scouts Linda ?
I have an honorary award sitting up over my computer given to me by the local GS council..for free work I did for them they bestowed
upon my unworthy soul the Title.." Computerese Captain " that was
back in 88, when I was just beginning to learn net working..I'd say once you pass the Brownie stage..in respect to the internet..you will likely toss rocks at AOL for having brain washed you..
Jim
<G>
second address
jhopkins@gator1.brazosport.cc.tx.us
Snal Mail: P.O. 1766 Brazoria, TX 77422 |
