WEEK 2
Using Netscape for the second time
9/4/95
Braden Kato
Psy 409
Dr. Leon James
This time around, I had an easier time using the Netscape system. I didn't feel as nervous, or as unknowledgeable I was the first time around, and was confident that I could learn something new. I was more or less familiar with the commands, and was ready to start my journey into Netscape. However, as usual, I ran into some difficulty trying to get to Netscape, so I called one of the attendants in the clic lab to help me. Even at that, it took a mere twenty minutes just to get to Netscape's home page. It kept denying me access. It also didn't help that I was assigned to a 386, which took forever to process the commands that I gave it. Nevertheless, I got in on Netscape's home page, and was on my way into exploring the Net.
I found the Netscape features very useful, especially the bookmark. When called upon, the bookmark refers you back to a specific page that you held. The bookmark is capable of holding numerous page at a time, and has the ability to called up any page that it is storing. I think I'm going to find that command very useful in the near future. As far as the other features go, I didn't really understand a lot of them especially the view command. I clicked on to it and tried to figure out what it is and does, but ultimately got frustrated and gave up.
As far as trying to send myself e-mail, I couldn't figure out how to do it. I'll probably have to ask Kevin Bogan or you on how to use this feature. I would like to know how to use this command though, because I want to be able to have the option of being able to send myself information that might be valuable. I know that there's go to be a lot of information processing that we have to do, and I want to be able to know the ins and outs of the capabilities of the computer so that it will make my life easier.
I was always biased when it came to the subject of search engines. I had always thought that Lycos was the best, but in reality I thought it was the best because I didn't know how to use any other engine! I also thought that one might be faster or more informative than the other. I also didn't make any effort of using these other engines until today. My eyes are opened now, and I can see what I have been missing! Unfortunately, I got to use only two other machines because of time restrictions.
The first machine I used (other than Lycos) was the webcrawler. It had a cute little spider logo and seemed similar to Lycos in the fact that all you have to do is type in your specific search, and work from there. The surprise came when the listing of the topic came up. There were so many other alternatives to look at, other than the standard home page look alike listing that Lycos gives. It also seems much easier to get in touch with a specific topic in the subject. I was having fun!(except for the slowness of the 386)
The other engine I tried was Yahoo, which also gave a standard search of a particular subject. The subject listing there was also different from the previous two Seems almost as if each engine has its own database to work out from, yet all of them are connected. Am I right? Anyway, the next time I'm looking for a particular subject, I'll be sure to try to use all three and then some.
Next task was to view source files. I don't know what this means, and I probably will ask you in class what it means. I'd just like to be somewhat knowledgeable of the Netscape system, so that it will make me more efficient in up and coming tasks. I just hope that this situation isn't the type where if you don't know or can't figure out one thing in the beginning week, you'll be lost later on!
Please don't laugh, but as far as saving an image to a temporary directory on the hard disk, I got confused whether you meant hard disk drive or hard diskette. As you can see I'm VERY computer illiterate, but some how figured out that you meant on the hard disk drive. I wasn't too sure that I did it correctly, though. I just figured that the process of saving was the same for every type of document. I just went to save, and saved it on the hard drive. To be truthful, I'm not too sure if that was correct. Or was it? The frustrations of computing!!
All in all, this weeks' task was a wee bit difficult to me, the non-computer enthusiast, though this class is beginning to spark my interest in computers, and the internet superhighway. I feel that I have only to gain knowledge and to make life easier for myself by being in this class. I didn't realize all the benefits that I have just by being a student here. It is fortunate that they (the administration) let us utilize this valuble source of information that we wouldn't have been able to get otherwise. Seems as if the tedious task of going to the library and borrowing books is becoming obsolete. The age of the computer and the internet is here to stay.
How difficult was this week's task? 8
How much negative emotions did it cost you, all in all? 7
How valuable for later use is this knowledge or skill going to be for you? 10
How likely is it that you'll be getting good at this week's tasks? 8
How satisfied are you with the computer and internet systems? 8
How hard did you try to get through this week's tasks? 7
This week's rating 8