Farmers Guide to the Internet

Rating:
Summary: Great starter guide!
Review: Plowing New Turf on the Net by Gary Schneider Associate Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources University of Tennessee, Knoxville

From its title, you would correctly assume that this publication is directed primarily toward farmers and rural residents. The Farmer's Guide to the Internet is intended both for farmers who don't own a computer yet and want to learn about the Internet and for those who are seeking Internet access or new Internet sites.

However, almost anyone could profit from this easy-to-read book. Although many of the Internet sites listed are agriculturally based, many would also interest a larger audience. The sites Include topics as varied as arts and science, business and finance, computer resources, health, history, home and garden, law, sports and recreation, and tax information, to name but a few.

The first section of the book lays the foundation for using the Internet. In a non-intimidating way, it guides the reader through an explanation of the Internet and the way it works. It then explains the five basic Internet services that most people use: e-mail, mailing lists, news groups, chat rooms, and the World Wide Web.

For Beginners, this guide covers everything from purchasing the computer and modem to securing telephone connections and obtaining the appropriate Internet software. It offers helpful tips along the way, such as which electrical surge protectors to choose, how to deal with noisy telephone lines, and how to keep long-distance charges to a minimum.

The second part of the book lists more than 2,000 Internet addresses. These are indexed by subject, such as crop resources--covering everything from fruits to nuts to vegetables--and livestock resources, encompassing beef, dairy, goats, poultry, sheep and swine.

The guide also lists agricultural companies, magazines, organizations, and news groups, as well as land grant universities in every state. Readers can find information on agricultural markets and prices, pesticides, precision farming, and soil and water. The book also lists sites for accessing current weather conditions. Having all of these topics in one handy text saves a great deal of time and allows the reader to bookmark favorite sites.

The final section of the text contains material on Internet service providers, rural Internet access, PCs and Macs, and Internet software for Windows 3.1, 95, and 98.

If you are looking for one book that will help you get started on the Internet with the least possible pain, choose The Farmer's Guide to the Internet. If you are already an Internet user but would like to get a quick update on new Internet addresses, look no further than this manual. It will serve you well.