HTML Basic Tutorial 7

"Learn as much as you can, as fast as you can, and then use that knowledge to to the best that you can for everyone you can possibly touch, especially with one's heart!"

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Basic HTML: Tutorial #7

You Graduated!

Hooray!!!

You Passed!

May all your HTML dreams come true.

So you know it all, huh? Well, not quite. It's literally impossible to know everything. I don't even come close, I learn something new each and every day. HTML is a growing and ever-evolving art. You have the basics.

Now go on and tackle other HTML tutorials. You'll understand them now. Six days ago, any one of them would have made you quit.

Now What?

Now you need to find a place to post the page you wrote for the World Wide Web. But where? You can choose any one of a million places. ISPs (Internet Service Providers) are popping up everywhere. Just graze through your Sunday paper. You should be able to choose from a bunch.

How Much Should I Pay?

Depending on what you want, you could pay a great deal or a little bit. I own an entire domain, serenitys-treasures.com, (plus 3 other domains) that services thousands of visits a month so I pay a bit. You shouldn't pay more than between $10 and $30 a month. Some say you should pay nothing, but I'm not overly sold on FREE page sites. I think you're better off paying a little so you can do more. I'll talk about FREE sites in a moment. First off, here are a few things you should get for your money if you decide to buy some space from an ISP:

Here are my suggestions:

You should pay a flat monthly fee for your time on the Net. Do not pay for every second you're using your computer.

You should be able to dial a local number to connect via phone line.

You should get free connection software.

The connection should be a SLIP, PPP, or another TCP/IP connect allowing you to use a browser on your computer.

You should get at least 5 Megabytes of space on which to place your own HTML documents.

You should get e-mail, Telnet, FTP, and Newsgroup access.

Finally, you should have access to Help where you can actually talk to a person, not just via e-mail or a help line answering machine.

What About AOL?

It's a great service. And they do allow you to post Web pages. It may be for you. I like going with local ISPs more myself because I can talk to the tech there at the server site if there's a problem. AOL is huge and might not have time to help you specifically. But if that's not a concern of yours, then AOL may be the way to go.

What About Free Sites?

Well, first off, you don't have to shell out any cash. You get a meg or two of space with which to put up a page. Many offer e-mail, too. The two most popular free home page sites are Geocities.com and Angelfire.com.

But if you take a free page with either service, you will play by their rules and you'll have to show their banner ads. You will have limited abilities to do anything other than post pages and images. It's their server, you're a guest. And since what you are getting is free, you don't have much of a leg to stand on to complain.

Plus, as I noted above, they are not completely free. Geocities and others make their money by selling ad banners. Every time someone pops into your page, an ad banner pops up. Now, I don't mind ad banners, I love that they keep my site free for you to use, but if ad banners bug you, then free sites are not for you.

Where to post your pages is a tough choice. Weigh all your options before jumping in with a service provider. Don't make cost your only factor. I cannot recommend or downplay any provider. I think getting a connection to the Net should be a personal choice. Just make a point of getting what is above as you can get it all fairly easily.

How Do I Get My Pages On The WWW?

You need to learn how to use an FTP program. FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It's a small program that allows you to place files from your computer to your service provider's computer. You sometimes get an FTP program from your service provider along with directions on how to use it. If not, go to Yahoo's FTP program pages, and look at some that are available. Most are free.

WHAT?! There's free software for you over the World Wide Web? You had no idea!! There is so much you'll simply go bonkers filling your hard drive. I did. Most is what's called shareware. That means you use it for a while and if you like it you send the author a couple of bucks. I have a few times. It's only fair.

Now Go Get 'Em!

You Can Do It!

Good Luck, Net-Head! (That's a compliment)!

Let me know if you run into trouble. I'll do my best to get you through it. Write me by clicking here and let me know what you thought of this set of Tutorials.

That wraps it up for the entire Tutorial session. Have fun and enjoy your new skill!

You Can Do This!

"Learn as much as you can, as fast as you can, and then use that knowledge to to the best that you can for everyone you can possibly touch, especially with one's heart!"

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