• Download and install one of the newest browser. Both Netscape 6 and Internet Explorer 5 are now FREE for everyone.  Don't waste your time with the older versions; there is so much that the newer ones can do to make surfing easier.
• Get in the habit of using the right-click mouse button whenever possible; there are  zillions of functions built into those right-click pop-up menus.
• Instead of left-clicking to visit a hyperlink,  always right-click on hyperlinks and "open in new window". You can have a half dozen links loading while you click back to read a page that is already loaded.  I usually have ten or fifteen browser windows open at a time, and a few are always loading or updating.  No more waiting for a slow page to load.  My two modem lights are always flashing green!
• Download and use the programs I've put on my software page.  Graphics viewers like ACDSee, Quick View Plus, etc., are invaluable.  The free communications programs (NetMeeting, PowWow, FreeTel) and the search programs (WebFerret) make life on the 'net a lot easier.
• Probably the most important thing for searching the 'Net is to install a good Search program like the Free WebFerret.  I used to think that AltaVista, Yahoo, and the other search engines were so awesome.  Now I realize that they are Junk!  They all dump so many advertisements on you, take so long to work, and give you so many irrelevant results.  The free WebFerret (and others) simultaneously utilize a dozen or so of the popular search engines, utilizing the Windows95 "Find" interface, eliminating all the advertisements and BS.  Try the free WebFerret.  You'll never use anything else!
• Get More RAM.  Physical memory is quite cheap nowadays.  My local computer store sells 32Meg for about $62!

this page Created by Tim D March '98