Surfing the Internet
Guide for VSNL's GIAS
This book is for beginners and also serves experienced users
for referencing. It attempts to get the readers over the initial
barriers they may encounter in using the GIAS system,
specifically the Terminal account. Even a young reader or anyone
else having only a minimal familiarity with computers should be
able to use this book effectively. The author has found from
experience that, once a user learns a few tasks, he becomes
confident to explore further and discover many other aspects of
the system which serve his needs.
The approach taken is to show and explain the screens displayed
on your monitor when you log on to the GIAS system, so that the
system will look less intimidating when you start to use it. The
steps taken to perform the most common tasks are described in
some detail, and the screens that come up are shown in figures.
This introduces the various GIAS services to the user, and guides
you in learning how to use them.
Such "captured" monitor screens are separated from the
rest of the text by a single-line rectangular box.
Chapters 4 through 13 cover the services available with the
Terminal account, in the same order as they appear on the menu of
the GIAS system in Mumbai. In other cities, as the order of these
services may vary and some of them are yet to be made available,
the reader there is advised to look up the services by their
topic headings.
Each chapter stands by itself. It does not depend on other
chapters in this book nor on any prior knowledge. Thus, it can be
explored right away, as needed. The user is free to open any
chapter and start to explore the service explained therein.
Chapter 14 covers the Newsgroups on Internet. These will be
shortly offered on GIAS, and this chapter is designed to prepare
the users to be ready for them.
Appendix A gives some very practical details which anyone using
GIAS system will need, especially for the TCP/IP account.
Appendix B describes how to configure your software (either
Windows 3.x or Windows 95) for the TCP/IP account. It also deals
with configuring a Netscape browser and Eudora E-mail client.
Appendix C gives some considerations about modems and
trouble-shooting in case of noisy lines. Appendix D gives a
discussion about what resources are needed as well as the
procedure involved in obtaining and maintaining a dedicated
leased data line. Appendix E gives a feedback form. It will be
very much appreciated if, after some use of the book and
consequent exploration, the user takes a few minutes to fill it
out and send it to the address given on the form. This feedback
will help immensely to tailor the future editions of the book to
cater to the users’ needs. appendix You can collect the form
to apply for an account with GIAS from VSNL marketing department.
Appendix or fill out the form given in Appendix F. Appendix G
gives guidelines for searching the information on Internet.
Appendix H on Web Advantage-- gives ways to practically use the
Internet for economic advantage.
TCP/IP account gives the users a better and easier interface. As
a result, they feel encouraged to use the Internet, but this use
remains generally limited to the Web and E-mail, and they do not
tend to explore the other aspects of Internet. However, Internet
has much more to offer. I feel that a familiarity with the
Terminal account and its available services will give the users a
depth of understanding and ideas about different applications of
the Internet, which they may not develop when using only the
TCP/IP account.
Table of Contents