This is my collection of Web Authoring tools, accessories and links that I have collected during my countless hours of surfing "DA Net".

First, a short background:

I have been surfing for about 2 years now but I began creating web pages only about 6 months ago. I have a full time job so I don't have a lot of time to get "creative". I have taken a C++ programming course at Bradley University so I am familiar with some of the intricacies of coding stuff (although probably just enough to make me a danger to myself and society). Anyway, because of time constraints, the programs that I choose MUST be easy to master and have very few ways to screw up (although everything is relative).

With that in mind, let's check out the neat-o stuff available on the Web (Mostly Free Too).

First off, get rid of the intrusive profit driven ISP's, remember AOL only cares about MAXIMIZING PROFITS and will only provide services that are profitable. For example last years debacle with modems (how often do YOU think AOL will upgrade 5,000,000 modems); or AOL's decision to SELL YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION (that they said they wouldn't sell). Anyway, you get the picture.

Get yourself a real ISP (Internet Service Provider) and save some money and forget about fighting the crowds. My ISP costs only $15 a month and I have NEVER had a busy signal. If your worried about ease of use, don't be. They will provide you with complete instructions for configuring your dialer and Browser and as you become more sophisticated they might even have extra goodies (IE Free Web Space, cgi and Java scripts or ISDN support). Besides, by choosing a local ISP the money will stay local instead of going to AOL's pocket.

Now that you're ready to surf, pick a Browser There is really only one choice here too:

Netscape Communicator: THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE!

Bill Gates may disagree, but the bottom line is Mark Andressan (CO-Founder of Netscape) invented the Web Browser at the University of Illinois while working for the National Super Computing Center. Can you say MOSAIC! Bill Gates can't so he shoves Internet Explorer and Active-X down your throat. Microsoft has never been an innovator in the PC world and everything IE can do.......Netscape can do better.

Now that you've got your Browser you need what I call THE ESSENTIAL PLUG-INS:

There are well over 100 different plug-ins/helpers available but you only need a few. You need a MIDI player, audio player, multimedia player and a movie viewer this will get you through 99% of all web sites my recommendations are:

Real Audio Player: Pretty cool, but sometimes the files are huge

Crescendo: Here's your streaming MIDI player!

Shockwave: THIS IS A MUST HAVE! It's amazingly fast considering it has full multimedia support. Macromedia is at the cutting edge of web technology.

Apple Quick Time: The best in a limited selection of movie viewers

ICQ: Not a plug-in but an Internet accessory that provides chat capabilities with specific people on your desktop pretty handy. CAUTION: some people think its neat to send spam and virus files so be sure you know what your accepting. ICQ provides the ability to let you only receive who/what you want. By the way I'm at 1573408 if you want to page me.

Adobe Acrobat: Useful for cross platform document reading uses the .pdf format. Very helpful for downloading government documents.

Now your probably wondering where to get all of this stuff. Well, you can click on the links above OR you can go to these sites. Be warned, these sites have bazillions of programs, plug-ins, helpers and utilities so you could be at any one of them for a while:

TUCOWS: If it aint here, it aint nowhere! (Sorry about the grammar mom)

Stroud's Consummate Internet Apps List:  Another Mega files site.

Windows95.com: Internet accessories and more.

Lisa's Link Page: This is link heaven for all sorts of goodies!!! She is surfer extrodinaire!