If you do not have regular Internet access, I hope that you know a true friend who does. It is not a requirement of any of our classroom-based courses yet, but it certainly is a useful tool. In trolling the Internet lately, I have found several sites that may interest you and at least be a starting point for further research. In addition to those listed below, find some others using one of the various search engines on the Web and share them with the class. (By the way, http://www.amazon.com has discount books with cheap, priority mail delivery.)
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) retrieves files with ftp utility program or by accessing URL ftp://<insert desired ftp address> with your favorite web browser. This is a good way to download various shareware and freeware programs as well as updates on commercial programs.
Newsgroup access via newsreader program, preferably set for quick download and off-line reading:
Example:
misc.entrepreneurs.moderated
World Wide Web : See Useful URLs / Links
E-Mail Discussion Groups - access to email is all that is needed to subscribe:
NOTE: There are several types of discussion groups that use a computer as the intermediary (e.g., ListServ, Listproc, Mailbase, Mailserv, Majordomo and probably others). Each has its own protocol but unfortunately are often referred to generically as 'Listserv' groups. While the join and leave commands are similar, the other features (and commands that access them) are different. Each discussion group has an administrative (subscription) address separate from its message posting address (the later address is for sharing with the group as a whole). Please keep them separate and save the joining message your receive so you know how to participate and unsubscribe. Archives of previous exchanges may be available. Below is information about the ones I monitor from time to time. It is a good policy to monitor the group for a period of time before posting messages.
Subscribe to ListServ Discussion Groups by sending an email to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.NET or LISTSERV@ <Host server for that discussion list - everything to the right of the '@'.>. Leave the Subject line blank. Have nothing in the body of the message except the following (turn off any email signature feature) :
Subscribe <mailing List short name - the part to the left of the @ sign> <your email address and name>
For example:
**************
From: phil@richarsn.demon.co.uk
To: LISTSERV@msu.edu
Subject:
Subscribe MFG-INFO phil@richarsn.demon.co.uk Phil Richardson
*********
Alternate ListServ Discussion Groups:
There is an alternate type of ListServ protocol in use that relies more on real people than on computers. Junk mail cannot get through as easily so I like them. Simply send a message to the name of the discussion group plus the word <-request>@<server> with the word 'Subscribe' in the subject line or in the body of the message. (No, there appears to be no way to know where to put 'subscribe' without some fore-knowledge.) When in doubt, write to listserv@<host> with the word <Help> in subject and body of the email.
For example, to subscribe to ienet-l:
**********
From: phil@richarsn.demon.co.uk
To: ienet-l-request@uwwvax.uww.edu
Subject: < blank>
Body: subscribe IeNet-L Phil Richardson
************
Discussion Groups of this type of Possible Interest:
International Entrepreneurship And Smaller Business Network
< ienet-l@uwwvax.uww.edu >
************
Majordomo Discussion Groups:
Send a message to Majordomo@<server> with the subject line blank and the word 'subscribe' followed by the exact name of the discussion group and your email address in the body of the message.
For example:
**********
From: phil@richarsn.demon.co.uk
To: Majordomo@mcb.co.uk
Subject: <blank>
subscribe international-journal-of-operations-and-production-management phil@richarsn.demon.co.uk
************
Still another protocol is used here in England by a list of possible interest to those thinking of working from home here in Europe:
European Telework Online<etw-forum@eto.org.uk and etw-lists@eto.org.uk>
<IeNet-L@UWWVAX.UWW.EDU >
To subscribe, send an email with the words 'subscribe etw-forum' in the *body* of the message to etw-plan@eto.org.uk
*********
The following is not a discussion group but an automated update service on shaddy operators. (There are many autoresponder services.)
Fraudnews < newscaster@silverquick.com >
To subscribe, send an email with the words ' join fraudnews' in the *body* of the message to newscaster@silverquick.com
If you find an email discussion list you would like to join but cannot get help from the host server, please contact me.
Subscription Network services (Compuserve, AOL, Prodigy, etc.): Increasingly the Web itself has services that rival Compuserve and AOL, both of which are available in Europe. But a local Internet service provider in the U.K. will commonly not be available to you internationally whereas Compuserve is world wide, commonly with local access, and AOL offers local access in the U.K. and the U.S. at least. Of course, there is an monthly/hourly charge based on time on-line for subscription services in addition to the base charge (package deals include a pre-paid base amount of Internet access time - for a single, 'all-included' price). Local ISPs commonly charge a flat monthly or annual fee for unlimited access. (AOL has full Internet access with unlimited time for a single monthly charge of $19.95 I think.) The lowest priced UK ISP with good service for Mac's and Windows/DOS platforms I know of is Enterprise plc at £8+VAT per month (£9.40 is you pay for a full year up front). I personally use Demon which charges £10/mo. +VAT but find their performance spotty. On the plus side, Demon is by far the largest of the private ISPs in the UK with over 70,000 customers and often provides excellent support including better WWW page possibilities when you want to develop one.
Telnet: Using a telnet utility program, you make your computer a terminal on a distant computer (mainframe, mini, etc.). Once you log onto the Internet with your regular access program, telnet to your specified host and log on separately there. This is a common way of accessing library's card catalogs such as the UMUC library in Maryland. The disadvantage here is that everything must be done on line and you must remember to set your program to record everything so that you can review it off-line later as needed.
Finally, let me know your email address. Send me a message by email so I can put you on the class 'group address' and share with you any 'tsunami-like brainwaves' I get during the term.
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13 December 1998