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Net Gains (Nov 05, 97) |
Raj has since worked on the book, updating it, and adding some
support for TCP/IP accounts (which VSNL is paying more attention
to). The book can be accessed through a shell account, but the
graphical account has a few frills, making it easier to access.
Other new features include a downloadable text version of the
book for off line use, links for the beginner, and regular updates.
The unique feature of this entire project is the fact that the Net has been used for Networking - Raj used chat and ICQ (a collaborative software package) to co-ordinate the site development with two young students.
17 year old Peter Doshi ([email protected]) from Philadelphia,
and 20 year old Mumbaikar Malav Ravel ([email protected]). Both
these cyberdudes spent months developing the site for Raj - design,
layout, javascript et al. The Internet allowed them to work together
even though physically separated by thousands of miles !
VSNL will finally be hosting the Guide to Internet Services
(http://guide.vsnl.net.in) while Raj will also maintain a copy
on his home page: http://www.bayside.net/users/rajm.
While going through Raj's favourite bookmarks, it's not surprising
to find a tilt towards sites that cover Internet technology, what
with his life revolving around the Net. His top three bookmarks
are mainly related to web site design and new technology - take
a peek ;
The first is CNet (http://www.cnet.com). The site is one of
the more useful sites around today - a real treasure trove of
computer and Internet related information. One very useful section
is the "How To" section that offers simple tutorials
to doing various things right from "getting your own domain
name" to "creating a web site". Incidentally, CNet
has a whole family of specialist sites - browsers.com, shareware.com,
news.com, download.com, activex.com etc.
Dejanews (http://www.dejanews.com) comes a close second, with
its offering of searchable newsgroup postings. Raj has used the
search facility available on Dejanews to solve many of his computer
related problems from solutions already available in newsgroups
! Of course, you could also use it to learn more about a toe sucking
fetish that you may have, but that's upto each user …
Finally, Raj used Project Cool to learn more about optimising
graphics, and javascript while he was developing a website. Project
Cool (http://www.projectcool.com) however has much more than just
loband graphics, it being dedicated to good website design and
the latest in Web technology.
Incidentally, Raj has also been working for quite some time
now to put up a website for our Museum. A sampler for an exhibition
at the museum on "Ahimsa" is currently available at
: http://www.indiawatch.com/bombaymuseum/ahimsa/
Dr. Raj is serious about the Internet - check for the following
symptoms to see if you're really serious about the Net too !
- If your fingers quit moving because you've been online for 36 hours.
- When you find yourself engaged to someone you've never actually met; except through e-mail.
- When you log-off from a session in your favorite newsgroup... and your log reads: Online time: 56 hours 24 minutes.
- If VSNL decides to get you a special dial up line because you're exceeding 300 hours a month, connect time.
- When you add your third modem and dedicated phone line.