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Learn Internet Explorer Quick and Easy 
Software Review by Lou Harris

Box photoLearn Internet Explorer Quick and Easy is the complete multimedia guide to Microsoft's web browser. 

Step-by-step lessons guide you through the features of Internet Explorer and teach you tips and techniques. The simple-to-use interface and hands-on interactions make the lessons entertaining At the end of each lesson is a review and you have the option to pause and repeat at any step along the way. Internet Explorer 3.0 is provided on the CD ROM but you do not have to have it installed to use this guide. 

 There are roughly twelve interactive "screens" per lesson to work through illustrating what the lesson is covering. There are ample instructions, each of which is backed up with audio as well as visual cues and written instructions on the screen. Sometimes the program moves the curser and other times the "student" is instructed what to do--always with visual cues. No worry about making a mistake clicking or typing as an error message appears with instructions. The status bar on the bottom of the screen has the following "tabs": Pause, Repeat, Topics, Back, Next, Main and Help. You may move around these freely from each screen. 

The eight lessons follow this outline: 

Lesson 1: Describes the Internet; what you can do; explains clients and servers; on-line services; how to access the internet; what you need to access the internet; how Internet Explorer works; and explains URLs and e:mail addresses. 

 Lesson 2: "Opens" Internet Explorer; shows the screen components; explains linking to another document; demonstrates navigation tools; gives an explanation of the buttons, tool bars, etc. and offers the option to download a copy of Internet Explorer. 

 Lesson 3: Defines the World Wide Web; shows how to create a list of favorite places including saving and organizing web pages; shows common error messages and how to print a file. There are screen captures of actual web sites. 

 Lesson 4: Explains e:mail; how to send and receive messages; attaching a document to a message and working with the address book. 

 Lesson 5: Explains newsgroups; how to open Internet News; accessing a newsgroup; reading articles; replying to articles; and subscribing to a newsgroup. There is a good explanation of what newsgroups are, how the are named and the primary interest of the group. 

 Lesson 6: Addresses FTP and Gopher sites--what they are; accessing a site; downloading FTP files and saving documents. As usual, an excellent explanation of terms. 

 Lesson 7: Is on searching the Internet--demonstrates Explorer's search page and search tools for finding sites on the www. This lesson explains "Archie" for finding FTP sites and "Veronica" for finding gopher sites and demonstrates Explorer's Autosearch feature. 

 Lesson 8: Demonstrates "extras"--the popular features of the web including entering information on forms (as when ordering merchandise, etc.); working with frames; Java applets on web pages; and listening to sounds using Real Audio.

 This is a valuable way to get a "look" at what the internet is about without actually being "out there". It could be great confidence builder for someone contemplating going on-line. The option to work through the lessons without actually "connecting" is a very positive aspect of this tutorial. It allows the hesitant folks the opportunity for experiential learning "off-line" and then go back, download Internet Explorer and go "on-line" when ready. 

Learn Internet Explorer Quick and Easy, Version 3.0 is available from: 

Individual Software Inc., 
5870 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 1, 
Pleasanton, CA 94588-9900, 
phone 1-800-331-3313 
The ISBN number is 0-918617-53-7 The price is $19.00 plus $4.00 when ordered from Individual Software. It is available at Comp USA, Computer City and Best Buy. 

 System Requirements: 

     
  • 486 based 33MHz PC or higher 
  • Microsoft Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups 3.11 or Windows 95 
  • 8 MB RAM 
  • 12 MB Hard Drive space available 
  • Double-speed CD-ROM Drive 
  • 256 Color VGA or Higher 
  • Sound Card 
  • Speakers or Headphones 
  • Mouse 
Lou Harris is a retired university instructor and a former Air Force Officer. She operates a graphics design and desktop publishing business and is active in several hereditary organizations.