The software end of networking is every bit as important as the hardware. There are minimum performance standards that must be met if you are to be able to work comfortably and efficiently on the Net, and the basic skill levels must be there as well. The following is intended to provide a rapid overview of the main products and standards needed to be able to handle this.
With the notable exception of most of the Microsoft products (other than Internet Explorer which is free), most of the following are freeware and are thus available for downloading at no cost. We suggest that you carefully note the instructions for downloading and installing in each case. They are all simple enough, but it does help to follow them step by meticulous step.
Since these are in some instances rather large files which may take as much as 30 minutes to download at 28.8, you may wish to time your visits to take advantage of off-peak traffic and phone rates.
Microsoft Comments and Reflections
I think we dislike the downsides of Microsoft as much as anyone. They are too expensive for most people, the company is predatory and are generally lousy neighbors. On the other hand -- sigh! -- we tend to use their stuff because we find that it most often does the job for us -- and also because we are maybe not smart enough to make efficient use of the options. Paul Hewson who is a Data Analyst and Research Officer at the Devon County Council in lovely Exeter reminds us tat we coudl and should be doing better, software-wise that is: "I disagreed with much of what you state under your page "Software Tools and Utilities". I believe that Free Software (e.g. www.fsf.org) or (www.linux.org) offers almost as much as the facilities offered by Microsoft, but without the inequalities implicit in a commercial monopoly. I believe that encouraging this format is more sustainable, and more in keeping with your ethos."
Yup. Fair enough, and we certainly should do better because open software is exactly in line with our "ethos" (though to be frank I had never thought about it in quite those terms before) Thank you Paul.
Web Browsers
As indicated the site is at present optimized to Internet Explorer 6.0, but the latest versions of Netscape works about as well (not quite as pretty, that's all). In any event download the latest versions of either; they're free, useful and make a big difference in terms of quality, speed, versatility and convenience of use.
Internet Explorer
For better or worse, this site is optimized to IE 5.0 of better The latest version, Internet Explorer 6.0, works well for us, and of course is free too.
Netscape
Netscape Communicator 6.0 is of course a great piece of software and also, why not?, free. The present Communicator package includes Navigator browser, Messenger email, Composer, AOL Instant Messenger, multimedia plug-ins and other utilities. It works well on this site (though for some reasons not quite as prettily as I.E. 4/5).
Opera
Another favorite of our is Opera, which you have to pay for but which has considerable advantages of speed, disk economy (and the fact that it doesn't belong to either MS or AOL). You can try it for 30 days before paying. Recommended.
Firewalls and Anti-Virus Protection
Firewalls:Firewalls provide network security for all your communications, as well as for your desktop system's operating system, network and applications. The firewall inserts itself beneath the operating system, allowing it to investigate all network packets before those packets are delivered to or from any network or dialup device. Offending packets, incorrect information or network attacks are automatically discarded.
This one is simple: If you are on an open line (cable modem, LAN), be paranoid. Get one. Get two! Set them up in a line to block and identify anyone who might want to "play" with your computer. Do it today! We here use Bonzi Intruder Alert '99 and Conseal FC Firewall. If you need suggestions, you might start with the SoftSeek firewall page, or turn to your favorite search engine.
AntiVirus
As to AntiVirus, we are equally paranoid and ourselves keep both Norton and McAfee loaded at all times. Recommended.
Office Support Software
For better or worse, Microsoft Office is pretty much the international standard these days (Which should not be taken as saying that we actually are pleased with or endorse this state of affairs.) As a result of their popularity these tools are generally compatible with those of the other major software vendors.
Adobe Acrobat (Portable Document Format)
We are making increasing use of the Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format. and its reader which you can freely obtain at http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html . The Acrobat format is bug-free (which is not always the case with Word) and quite agreeable to work with.
Adobe Acrobat Reader - for PDF files.
Microsoft Word Viewers
Microsoft Word Viewer 97 allows people who already use any version of Microsoft Word to share documents with users who do not use Word. It also allows users to view and print documents created in the Word native file format, even if they do not have Word. You can download this viewer directly and at no cost from here.
Microsoft Word Viewer 97 for Windows 3.x, is a freeware product that allows users of the Windows 3.x series to view and print Microsoft Word 97 documents. You can download this viewer directly and at no cost from here.
Microsoft PowerPoint Viewers
MicrosoftPowerPoint Viewer 97 allows people who use PowerPoint to share their presentations with users who do not. The viewer allows users to view and print presentations, but it does not allow them to edit them. This product also allows users who wish to post full fidelity presentations on the Internet to expand their online audience to people who might not have PowerPoint, or those with different versions. You can download this viewer directly and at no cost from here. You'll note that it is the last file on the list. (Note: This download is for 32-bit Windows® operating systems only. )
Microsoft® PowerPoint 97 Converter for PowerPoint 4.0 allows users of PowerPoint 4.0 and the PowerPoint 4.0 Viewer to open files created in PowerPoint 97. You can download this viewer directly and at no cost from here.
If you do not already have a copy of RealPlayer, which you will need along with a sound card in order to access audio and video files, you can download one free right here. You will find full instructions as you proceed.
For a demonstration of what can be done with video over the Web, may we suggest that you have a look at the Citizen TV site. These are the sorts of tools that any of us should now be considering and, in some cases at least, trying to put to work for the causes that interest us here. It is also possible to set up discussions (and multimedia exchanges) in 1-on-1 or multiparty conferencing exchanges via either or both of a pair of technologies which at least some participants either already have in hand or will chose to acquire and implement for these purposes.
You may need these as well...
RealPlayer - for audio and videos.
Shockwave - for some videos.
It is also possible to set up discussions (and multimedia exchanges) in 1-on-1 or multiparty conferencing exchanges via either or both of a pair of technologies which at least some participants either already have in hand or will chose to acquire and implement for these purposes. Both Mirabilis's ICQ and Microsoft's NetMeeting, offer new multilevel interfaces based on a local telephone call with a fast and loose, user-to-chose combination of audio, video, chat, file exchange and whiteboarding links. They are not identical, by any means, so you will want to have a careful look at their specs in both cases.
(This is kind of special stuff, but for those prepared for it, it can be an effective, low cost means of dynamic conferencing. On the other hand, those with slow modems are advised to abstain. Those with sound cards and mikes will find the audio function a great help. Those with slow lines and poor cameras can have the sort of videoconferencing exchange that only a mother could love.)
That said, we are already trying to make daily use of these technologies and will be pleased to link to you if you wish to give them a try as well. Nothing like using this stuff for actual hands-on work to see what they're worth. (For further information and indications of how to get the needed software and instructions for either/both of these systems at no cost, kindly contact either the suppliers via the above links or postmaster@ecoplan.org)
ICQ:
JFAX:
NetMeeting
The first candidate here is the eForum which we are currently using here. But there is more.
Group & Distance Work Tools
We ourselves are confirmed users of ICQ for the last year or so and find it a very useful tool during the heat of a project where team members are spread out in different sites and time zones. (On the other hand, keep it off your desktop otherwise, since in non-peak work situations the interruptions can be unwanted.)You can incidentally reach us immediately by ICQ# 7147909, page us through: http://wwp.mirabilis.com/7147909 or send E-mail Express directly to our main computer via mailto:7147909@pager.mirabilis.com
Another useful tool if you travel is JFAX, a nifty peice of software that gives you a unique, private phone/fax number in any city on their global network, where all your voice mail and faxes are received and channeled instantly to your email.. Voice mail plays on your computer's speakers, and faxes display on screen. It costs US$12.50 a month, but if you have to travel and work, it's worth looking into. There are other firms that offer this service, maybe better, but this is the one tha twe currently use.
NetMeeting offers a package Internet conferencing solution for Windows users with multi-point data conferencing, text chat, whiteboard, file transfer as well as point-to-point audio and video.
Unzipping, Decompression, Unpacking, etc.
There are a variety of options here.
Our preference is WinZip which is not freeware, but it is cheap (ca. $29.00). And you can try it free to see if you like it first. You can download this utility and its instruction set directly from here.
Mac users can open zip files with StuffIt Expander [copyrighted freeware
software] from Aladdin Systems
StuffIt Expander is designed to be the simplest, most efficient way to
expand compressed files and encoded files. Windows users may use Aladdin
Expander. Available at
here.
For the record, we tend to work most often with Google, Northern Light, Excite, and Lycos in that order. Our goal in most cases: precision, and an ability to narrow or redirect our search field as we go along.
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Each site under The Commons has its own Search engine, which you will find toward the top of its respective menu. See Search & Find here for details.
Tips for Searching The Commons
What have we overlooked? Do you have something better or new to suggest? Do you have a problem with any of these links? If so, get in touch and we can share it with the others. This is, after all, team work. Your contact: postmaster@ecoplan.org.
Missing Tools, Better Tools
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Updated 10 September 2000