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`Facebook's Exhibit No. 1007
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`The Official America Online® for Macintosh Membership Kit & Tour Guide
`Copyright© 1994 by Tom Lichty
`
`All rights reserved. This book may not be duplicated in any way without the express written
`consent of the publisher, except in the form of brief excerpts or quotations for the purposes of
`review. The information contained herein is for the personal use of the reader, and may not be
`incorporated in any commercial programs, other books, databases or any kind of software
`without written consent of the publisher or author. Making copies of this book, or any portion
`for any purpose other than your own, is a violation of United States copyright laws.
`
`Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
`Lichty, Tom
`The official America Online for Macintosh membership kit & tour
`guide I Tom Lichty. -- 2nd ed.
`p. em.
`Rev. ed. of: The official America Online membership kit & tour
`guide. c1992.
`Includes index.
`ISBN 1-56604-127-9
`1. America Online (Videotex system) 2. Macintosh (Computer)
`I. Lichty, Tom. Official America Online membership kit & tour guide.
`II. Title.
`QA76.57.A43L523 1994
`004.69--dc20
`
`94-1492
`CIP
`
`Book design: Marcia Webb
`Cover design: IMAGE Communications; adaptation: John Nedwidek
`Index service: Dianne Bertsch, Answers Plus
`Technical review: Tim Barwick, Ed Ferguson, Kelly Richmond, Marshall Rens: America Online
`Editorial staff: Angela Anderson, Laura Bader, Eric Edstam, Tracye Giles, Pam Richardson
`Production staff: Patrick Berry, Cheri Collins, John Cotterman, Dan Koeller, Dawne Sherman,
`Marcia Webb, Mike Webster
`Proofreaders: Eric Edstam, Sharla Green
`
`Second Edition
`Printed in the United States of America
`
`98765432
`
`Ventana Press, Inc.
`P.O. Box 2468
`Chapel Hill, NC 27515
`919/942-0220
`FAX 919/942-1140
`
`Limits of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty
`The author and publisher of this book have used their best efforts in preparing the book and the
`programs contained in it. These efforts include the development, research and testing of the
`theories and programs to determine their effectiveness. The author and publisher make no
`warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, with regard to these programs or the documenta(cid:173)
`tion contained in this book.
`The author and publisher shall not be liable in the event of incidental or consequential damages
`in connection with, or arising out of, the furnishing, performance or use of the programs,
`associated instructions and/ or claims of productivity gains.
`
`Facebook's Exhibit No. 1007
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`

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`About the Author
`Tom Lichty is Senior Consultant and Instructor for the University of
`Oregon Portland Center, and author of six computer books, including
`Desktop Publishing With Word for Windows, Mac, Word & Excel Desktop
`Companion and The Official America Online for Windows Membership Kit &
`Tour Guide, all published by Ventana Press. An enthusiastic member of
`the online community, he may be reached at MajorTom on America
`Online, or majortom@aol.com on the Internet.
`
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`Trademarks
`Trademarked names appear throughout this book. Rather than list
`the names and entities that own the trademarks or insert a trademark
`symbol with each mention of the trademarked name, the publisher
`states that it is using the names only for editorial purposes and to the
`benefit of the trademark owner with no intention of infringing upon
`that trademark.
`
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`Acknowledgments
`Oh sure, I want to acknowledge people like Laura Bader, Tim Barwick,
`Patrick Berry, John Cotterman, Mary Daffron, Ed Ferguson, George
`Louie, Luis Montiel, Marshall Rens, Pam Richardson, Kathy Ryan, Matt
`Triplett, Matt Wagner, Jennifer Watson, and Elizabeth and Joe
`Woodman: they're the heart and soul of this book's production and
`editorial teams and without their assistance there would be no book.
`But most of all I want to acknowledge the thousands of readers
`(nearly 5000 at last count) who have written to me with comments and
`suggestions for improvements to the first edition. I read every message,
`and many of the suggestions are woven into this book's manuscript.
`Thus, this book is truly a community project. We all have reason to be
`proud of that.
`
`Tom Lichty
`Gresham, Oregon
`
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`Contents
`
`A
`
`Chapter 1
`
`Foreword ..................................................................... xix
`
`Starting the Tour .......................................................... 1
`
`What Is America Online? ..................................................... 2
`It's a Telecommunications Service • It's One Big Thunder-Lizard
`Computer • It's Software Installed in Your Computer • It's a Resource
`• It's a Community
`How to Use This Book ........................................................ 16
`How to Use This Book as Documentation • How to Use This Book
`as a Book
`
`Chapter 2 Making the Connection ........................................... 25
`
`Things You'll Need ............................................................. 26
`The Computer • The Telephone Line • The Membership Kit
`The Modem • The Money • The Screen Name • The Password
`Installing the Software ....................................................... 32
`
`The Initial Online Session ................................................... 37
`Configuring the Telephone Connection • Selecting Your Local
`Access Numbers • The Temporary Registration Number & Password
`• Your Name & Address • Providing Your Billing Information
`• Choosing a Screen Name & Password • A Letter From the President
`Where to Go From Here .................................................... 46
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`X
`
`.A The Official AOL Tour Guide
`~ Chapter 3 Online Help & the Members ................................... 49
`
`Getting Help ...................................................................... 49
`Off-Line Help• On line Help
`Guides ...........................•.................................................. 67
`Members ........................•.................................................. 69
`The Member Directory • Member Profiles
`
`Chapter 4 Electronic Mail ............................................................ 75
`
`What Exactly Is Electronic Mail? .......................................... 75
`Why Use E-mail? ..............•.................................................. 77
`A Circular Exercise ............................................................. 77
`The Mail Menu ................................................................... 81
`Composing Your Mail • A lternative Mail Sources • Checking Mail
`You've Sent • Buttons in the Mail You've Sent Window
`• Reading New Mail • Buttons in the New Mail Window • Printing &
`Saving Mail • Forwarding Mail • Replying to Mail • Checking Mail
`You've Read • The Address Book
`Gori II a Food ...................................................................... 98
`Mail-Filing Strategies • Formatting Messages • Internet Mail
`Attaching Files to Messages .............................................. 111
`E-mail Alternatives
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`Contents
`
`xi
`
`[If]
`
`Chapters Computing ................................................................. 123
`The Beginners Forum ........................................................ 124
`Industry Connection ........................................................ 128
`The Forums ...................................................................... 131
`The Music & Sound Forum • The Utilities Forum
`• The Graphic Arts Forum • The Online Graphics Viewer
`Downloading Files ............................................................ 140
`What Is Downloading? • A Downloading Session
`• File Compression & Decompression
`Uploading Files ................................................................ 159
`The Uploading Process • Concluding the Uploading Process
`
`Chapter 6 Today's News ............................................................ 165
`Top Stories . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
`Saving Articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
`Printing Articles • Searching the News • U.S. & World News
`• Business • Market News • Top Business • Entertainment
`• Sports • Weather
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`Contents
`
`xiii
`
`~~
`~
`Chapter 1 o Personal Finance ...................................................... 219
`Your Personal Stock Portfolio •••.•••..••..••.•.•••••••.••••••...•.•.•.•• 219
`Quotes & Portfolios
`Morningstar Mutual Funds .•••.•.••..••••••....•.••..........•.•.•••.••.•• 228
`The Decision Point Forum •••••••••..••..•.•..•.•.••.••.•••••••••.••.•.•.•• 230
`Real Estate Online ..•.••..•.•••.••.•.•••••..•••••••.•••••••••••.•••••••••.•.• 232
`
`Chapter 11 Travel ......................................................................... 235
`
`The EAASY SABRE Gateway .•••••••.•.•••.•....•.....•.••...............• 236
`Finding a Flight • Finding the Cost • Booking the Reservations
`The Travel Forum ........................................•........•....••.....• 241
`Travelers' Corner •.•••.••.•.•••••.•..•••.••••.....•..•.•••••••.•••...•••.•.•••• 243
`Auto Vantage .•..•••....••.•.•.....••••..•.•..••..••.••••.•.•••••••..•••••••••.• 245
`Pictures of the World •.••••..••.•.•••...•••••••..•••.......••••••••••••.•.•• 248
`
`~ Chapter 12 People Connection ................................................. 251
`
`The Lobby .• .-..•..•............•.••.........•.........•..•.•..•.••.••......•..•.• 252
`Entering the Lobby • Guides
`Exploring Other Public Rooms .......................................... 256
`The Event Rooms Guide • The Event Rooms Schedule
`• Finding Other Rooms • The New Member Lounge
`
`Private Rooms ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.••.••.•••••••••••••••••••••••• 266
`
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`xiv
`
`The Official AOL Tour Guide
`
`Chat Room Technique ..••••••.....•..••.•.•••.•••••••••.•••••.••..•.••.•••• 267
`Cut & Paste • Getting Information About People in a Room
`• Sending an Instant Message • Highlighting & Ignoring Members
`• Chat Room Sounds
`Instant Messages ••••••••••••..••••••••••••••••••.••••.•.••.••••...••••••••••• 271
`
`Center Stage & Rotunda .••..•••••••••••••.••••••••..•••.••••••.••••••••••• 275
`
`[jJ
`
`Chapter 13 Clubs & Interests .................................................... 279
`
`Clubs Defined ••••••.•...•••..••••••..•.•.•••.•.•••.••••••••••••.••••••..••••.•• 281
`Reference Materials
`
`Searching Online Databases ••.•••••••••.••.•...••.•..••.•••••••••.••.••. 284
`Message Boards •.•.••••••.••..••••••••.••••••••••••••.••••••••.••.....•.••••. 290
`Reading Messages • Browsing, Finding & Reading Messages
`• Posting Messages • Threaded Boards
`
`Libraries .•••••.•.•.•••..•.•..•••••.••••••.••••..••••••...•••..••••.••.•......••••• 306
`Multitasking ..••.••.••••••••••••••••••••••.••.••••••••••••••••••.••••••••.••••••• 308
`
`SeniorNet Online ••••..••..•••.•••...••••••••••.•••..•.••..•.•••••••.•...••.•. 310
`
`Chapter 14 The Internet Connection ....................................... 315
`
`A Superset of AOL •.•••.•..•••.•.•••••.•.••••.••..•••••••••.••.••.•••.•.•.•.• 317
`
`Military Paranoia •.••••••••••••••••••..••.••.••.••..•..•.•••..••••.•..•.•..••.• 318
`Academic Anarchy ..••••..•••..••••..••....•...•.....••..••.•.••••••••••..••• 320
`Internet Addresses .•...••••...•.••.••.••••.••..•..••.•••••••••••..•••••••••• 322
`International Top-Level Domains • US Top-Level Domains
`• Domain Names & Computer Names • User Names
`Mailing Lists .•••••....•.••••..••.••..•••••.••••••••••••.••••••••.••••.•••••.•.••• 325
`
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`Contents
`
`XV
`
`Newsgroups .................................................................... 327
`Newsgroup Help • Netiquette
`WAIS Databases & Gopher ............................................... 337
`Gopher • WAIS • Conducting a WAIS Search
`
`Chapter 15 Kids Only .................................................................. 345
`
`The Boards ...................................................................... 347
`The Libraries .................................................................... 348
`Hatrack River ................................................................... 349
`The Tree House .. · ............................................................. 351
`lrl~l: c:>r~li11e •....•.......•••.•..........•...•..•..•.........••........•...•••.•.• ~!51
`A Word to Parents ........................................................... 352
`TOS • Instant Messages • Online Time • Parental Control
`
`Chapter 16 Education ................................................................... 355
`
`Education for Everyone .................................................... 356
`National Geographic Online • The Library of Congress Online
`• The Electronic University Network • Smithsonian Online
`Learning & Reference for the Student ............................... 364
`Princeton Review/Student Access • The Academic Assistance Center
`• College Board Online
`Learning & Reference for the Teacher ............................... 371
`Teachers' Information Network • CNN NEWSROOM O nline
`• NEA & ASCD Online
`Learning & Reference for the Parent ................................. 376
`The Broadcast Media ...•................................................... 377
`National Public Radio Outreach Onli ne • C-SPAN Online
`Just Desserts ................................................................... 379
`
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`Contents
`
`xvii
`
`~ Chapter 20 Ten Best ...................................................................... 431
`
`Ten Best Tips •••.•.•.••.•....••.•.•.•....•.••.•......••...•.......•••••..••••••• 432
`Ten Best Downloads ...•..•.....•••.••..•......•.•.••.•..•••..••..•••.•••••.. 436
`Ten Most-Frequently Asked Questions of
`Customer Relations .............••...........•..•..•..••..•..•••...•...••.... 439
`Ten Best Ways to Make Friends Online ............................. 443
`Ten Best Sm ileys ••..•••.••••••.••..••••••..••••••••.••.•••..•••.•.••.••••••••• 445
`Everybody Out of. the Bus! ..•.....•.••.........•.••.•.•..•••••••••.••.•• 446
`
`Appendix A Keywords .................................................................. 447
`
`Appendix B Command Keys ......................................................... 477
`
`Appendix C Modems, Localities & CCL Files ........................... 479
`
`Appendix D On the Road ............................................................ 489
`
`Appendix E Preferences ............................................................... 493
`
`G I ossa ry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 501
`
`Bibliography ............................................................. 525
`
`Index .......................................................................... 527
`
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`xviii
`
`The Official AOL Tour Guide
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`.A The Official AOL Tour Guide
`
`2
`
`You can take this tour without ever leaving home or fraternizing
`with miscreants; and though I'm a tour guide, I'm here for your singu(cid:173)
`lar employ. I will endeavor to inform, entertain and enlighten-forever
`vigilant and always sotto voce_ When the tour has concluded, you're
`welcome to explore on your own, secure in your familiarity with the
`territory and the attractions therein.
`Best of all, the territory we're about to explore is every bit as diverse
`and wondrous as the San Diego Zoo. It's always at your fingertips, and
`about the most threatening creature you'll find here is a mouse.
`
`What Is America Online?
`This question isn't as easy as it seems. A term like "America Online"
`doesn't give many clues as to its composition. We can safely deduce its
`country of origin (it's in America, all right: Vienna, Virginia, to be
`exact-just outside Washington, DC; see Figure 1-1). But what's this
`"online" business? The word's not even in the dictionary.
`
`Figure 1-1:
`America Online
`nestles snugly in
`this office
`building in the
`Virginia forests
`just outside
`Washington, DC.
`
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`Chapter 1: Starting the Tour
`
`3
`
`You can define America Online in many ways. It is, after all, a great
`many things. It offers abundant resources: the latest news, weather
`reports, stock quotes, movie and book reviews, databases to research
`things as diverse as wine or hardware prices, online discussions of
`everything from politics to system software-even a service for reserv(cid:173)
`ing airline tickets, rental cars and hotel rooms.
`America Online (AOL) is also an electronic mail (e-mail) service. You
`can use AOL to exchange e-mail with nearly anyone who uses e-mail,
`regardless of whether they are a fellow AOL member. If they don't use
`e-mail, you can use AOL to send them a fax. If they don't use fax, you
`can use AOL to send them printed mail via the US Postal Service.
`America Online is an Internet gateway. The Internet is a vast
`superset of AOL itself, incorporating thousands of other communica(cid:173)
`tions systems from around the world similar to AOL. The extent of a
`thousand AOLs is almost incomprehensible, but that's what the
`Internet is, and AOL offers an elegant way of getting there.
`America Online is also a community. In Chapter 9, "Entertainment,"
`I compare AOL to the small Oregon town where I live. People are
`friendly here. They say hello when they pass you on the street, they
`invite you to their house for a chat, and they go out of their way to be
`of assistance. AOL does all these things: Instant Messages allow people
`who are online at the same time to say hello and hold "passing on the
`street" conversations; Chat Rooms are electronic "rooms"-public or
`private-where groups of members hold real-time conversations about
`subjects of their choosing; and Members Helping Members is a message
`board where members help one another with questions regarding AOL.
`But how does all this communication take place? I can recall when I
`bought my first CD player. It offered more features than a 1973 Cadillac,
`and it sounded like the Boston Symphony on the bridge of my nose.
`At first I was enamored with its technology. CDs were new to me.
`The player's booming bass and crisp treble commanded my respect; its
`aurora borealis of indicator lights illuminated my curiosity, and its
`scores of controls rivaled those of the Starship Enterprise. In the end,
`however, it's the music I enjoy. Mozart, Haydn, Vivaldi-these are my
`companions, and I treasure their company the most.
`America Online is much the same. At first, ignoring the technology
`is difficult, but AOL is people-and in the end, you will treasure their
`company the most.
`
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`4 A. The Official AOL Tour Guide
`
`I am going to pursue the definition of AOL much as one might
`pursue any new technological acquisition. Over the next few pages,
`we'll allow its technology to dazzle us, but in the end it will be the
`community-the people who await us on AOL-who are the true
`reward.
`
`It's a Telecommunications Service
`Now there's a polysyllabic mouthful: "telecommunications." As the
`term is used here, telecommunications refers to two-way communica(cid:173)
`tions via telephone lines. A phone call, in other words, is a form of
`telecommunicating. Telephone lines are good for things other than
`phone calls. Fax machines use telephone lines to transfer documents;
`video phones use them to transmit pictures; and modems use them to
`transfer computer data (more about modems in the next chapter). I'm
`not talking about expensive, dedicated telephone lines here-I'm
`talking about the very same telephone lines that are already in our
`homes and offices.
`Now we're getting somewhere. If you have a computer and I have a
`computer and we each have modems, we can use our existing tele(cid:173)
`phone lines to connect our computers to one another. Once connected
`this way, our computers can exchange data: text, graphics, sounds,
`animation-even other computer programs.
`Of course, you have to be at your computer and I have to be at
`mine-at the same time-and we have to know how to make our
`computers talk to one another, and we have to check for errors encoun(cid:173)
`tered in the transmission, and I'm just me and you're just you, and
`there's only so much computer data two people can exchange with one
`another before the whole thing gets to be pretty dull.
`What we need is a service that will store our data so that we don't
`have to be at our computers at the same time. Instead of calling your
`computer, I have my computer call the service and store my data and
`messages there. When you're ready for that data, you can instruct your
`computer to call the service and retrieve the data at your convenience.
`As long as we're imagining a service, we might imagine it to auto(cid:173)
`mate all the electronic technicalities as well. If we imagine it right, the
`service can mediate communications between the two computers,
`check for errors (and fix them when they're encountered) and even dial
`the telephone.
`
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`Chapter 1: Starting the Tour
`
`5
`
`And who's to say that you and I should have the service all to
`ourselves? We can let everyone else with a computer in on it as well,
`regardless of the type of computer they own. Carried to its extreme,
`this scenario might result in hundreds of thousands-millions, actu(cid:173)
`ally-of people utilizing the service, exchanging and storing thousands
`of computer files. Most of this data can be public rather than private, so
`the exchange becomes multilateral.
`Which is precisely what telecommunications services-and AOL(cid:173)
`are: a vast network of "members," each of whom uses a computer, a
`modem and a telephone line to connect with a common destination-to
`"go online." Members can exchange public and private files; they can
`send and receive e-mail; and members who are online at the same time
`can "chat" in real time-they can even play online games with one
`another.
`And what does this service cost? The economies of scale allow
`expenses to be distributed among the members. Moreover, even
`though AOL is near Washington, DC, few members pay for long(cid:173)
`distance calls. America Online has local telephone numbers in more
`than 800 cities in the contiguous United States. Even if you live in the
`sticks, chances are you can find a local number you can call, or one
`that's a "short" long-distance call away.
`
`It's One Big Thunder~Lizard Computer
`Another way of defining AOL is by describing its hardware. Coordi(cid:173)
`nating thousands of simultaneous phone calls and storing tens of
`thousands of files requires one Thunder Lizard of a computer complex.
`No little Stegosaurus will do. We're talking Brontosaurus here, a beastie
`who relocates continents whenever he gets the urge to sneeze. Forget
`prefixes like kilo and mega. Think giga and terra. When they tum on
`the power to this thing, lights dim all along the Eastern seaboard.
`
`Open Architecture
`I hate to disappoint you, but America Online isn't a single Brontosau(cid:173)
`rus-sized mainframe; it is, in fact, a number of refrigerator-sized com(cid:173)
`puters, each having more in common with the adaptable Velociraptor
`than a leviathan as benign as the Brontosaurus.
`
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`6
`
`The Official AOL Tour Guide
`
`Figure 1-2: A few
`of the many
`systems that
`comprise the
`heartbeat of
`America Online. A
`number of
`manufacturer's
`products are
`represented here,
`each selected on
`the basis of its
`suitability to a
`specific task. The
`homogenization
`factor is open
`architecture,
`which allows all of
`these diverse
`systems to work in
`concert.
`
`By employing a technique called open architecture, AOL is able to
`utilize hardware, software and communications systems from a variety
`of manufacturers, each optimized for a specific task. America Online's
`open architecture permits it to u se the most powerful hardware run(cid:173)
`ning the fastest software. The open communication architecture runs
`on the fastest local area and the most powerful wide area networks.
`The open architecture is AOL's key to the scalability it needs to keep up
`with its meteoric growth and the unpredictable mutations of the tele(cid:173)
`communications industry.
`
`Common Carriers
`If you wanted to send a package to a friend across the country, you
`could probably hop in your car and drive it there yourself. Compared
`to the alternatives, driving across the country would be a perilous
`journey and would cost a fortune.
`More likely, you'd hire a. common carrier- a service such as United
`Parcel Service or Federal Express-to deliver the package for you . For
`a fraction of what it would cost you to do the job yourself, common
`carriers can do it more reliably, less expensively and much more
`conveniently.
`For much the same reason, AOL hires common carriers to deliver
`goods to its members. And typical of AOL, it hires multiple common
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`7
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`carriers to ensure reliability. SprintNet, a service of US Sprint, is the
`common carrier AOL most often uses in the United States. (Figure 1-3
`shows SprintNet equipment at AOL.) Datapac, a subsidiary of Bell
`Canada, serves Canadian members. These common carriers offer
`nodes-local telephone numbers-in most cities in North America.
`They charge AOL for phone calls (placed or received) just as Federal
`Express would charge you to deliver a package.
`
`Figure 1-3: F=~~~~~~~~;;;=~~===~~Li~~~!;-
`High-speed
`telecommunications
`equipment in use
`at America Online
`Headquarters.
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`The Official AOL Tour Guide
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`Amazingly, the software is self-configuring. Whenever you sign on,
`a behind-the-scenes dialog transpires between your Mac and the AOL
`host computer. In effect, your Mac says, "Hey! Do you have any new
`features I should know about?" If new features are available, your Mac
`requests them from the host and adds them to its version of the local
`software (the copy of AOL that resides on your hard drive). This
`capability is significant: At any point, AOL can add features to the
`service and incorporate them immediately. No new software releases
`have to be sent out. No interminable decimal places have to be added
`to the version number. That convenience means the AOL staff can add
`features whenever they please. No disk duplication and mass mailings
`are required. Upgrade costs to you are nonexistent, and they hardly
`amount to anything at AOL either. America Online's staff operates in
`an environment that encourages, rather than stifles, improvement.
`Perhaps best of all, you don't have to lift a finger to take advantage of
`whatever changes or additions AOL makes to its service. Just sign on as
`usual, and you immediately have the most recent version available.
`(See Figure 1-6.)
`Note: I'm discussing minor upgrades here. Major upgrades-from
`version 1 to version 2 for example-are handled with disk duplication
`and mass mailings. Minor upgrades are usually handled as described
`above; often members aren't even aware of them when they occur.
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`Here's the point: AOL is an advanced and aggressive telecommuni(cid:173)
`cations service that grows daily and contains the features necessary to
`accommodate that growth. The software features I described previ(cid:173)
`ously reflect a progressive attitude, and that attitude is a better way of
`defining AOL.
`
`It's a Resource
`News, sports, weather-sure you can get them on radio and television,
`but not necessarily when you need or want them. You can get them in a
`newspaper, too; but it's going to cost the environment a tree or two, the
`pictures are fuzzy, and about all you can do with a newspaper you've
`read is throw it away (consult the Environmental Club-dubs are
`described in Chapter 13, "Clubs & Interests"-for recycling informa(cid:173)
`tion). America Online offers the news, sports and weather as well,
`available at your convenience and without sacrificing any trees. It's in
`electronic form, too; so you can file it, search it and include it in docu(cid:173)
`ments of your own.
`This past winter, I kept tabs on China's nuclear testing in Today's
`News (discussed in Chapter 6), tracked the meager investments in my
`portfolio (discussed in Chapter 10, "Personal Finance") and monitored
`the progress of the Israeli/Palestinian peace accord while browsing the
`Newsstand (discussed in Chapter 7). I researched the purchase of a
`new hard disk for my computer in the Marketplace (discussed in
`Chapter 17) and actually bought that hard disk using Comp-U-Store. I
`booked both airplane and auto rentals for a trip to New Mexico using
`EAASY SABRE (discussed in Chapter 11, "Travel"). I constantly search
`the online video reviews before I rent a tape (the Entertainment Depart(cid:173)
`ment is discussed in Chapter 9), and I check Wine & Dine Online
`(Chapter 13, "Clubs & Interests") for recommendations before I hazard
`the racks of wines at the shop down the street. Past issues of Mac World,
`National Geographic and Smithsonian, and even CNN, are online for my
`review, as is Comptons Encyclopedia and the Gray Lady: the New York
`Times. I recently sold my old car after consulting Auto Vantage (de(cid:173)
`scribed in Chapter 17). As a professional member of the desktop pub(cid:173)
`lishing community, I constantly collect graphics (AOL has thousands of
`files online-described in Chapter 5, "Computing"i also see Figure 1-7),
`fonts (see Figure 1-8) and utilities, and the Desktop Publishing Forum
`is one of my favorite haunts.
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`Figure 1-7: Just a
`few of the
`thousands of
`graphics
`available in
`America Online's
`file libraries.
`("Lise2/ by
`David Palermo;
`"Dragonfly," from
`the Graphics
`Forum; and
`"High Tech Laurel
`& Hardy/ by
`Lou Moccia.)
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`16
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`The Official AOL Tour Guide
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`try-as I do conducting research. In Chapter 4, I admit to getting
`despondent if I don't hear the familiar mail notification when the In the
`Spotlight screen comes up. Throughout this book, I'll offer little tips on
`how to make friends online; follow these tips, and you'll become as
`much a part of this community as I am.
`You really couldn't do much better.
`
`How to Use This Book
`The America Online Tour Guide serves two purposes: (1) It's the official
`documentation for the use of America Online; and (2) it's a guidebook
`for the explorer. As documentation, the book should be thoroughly
`indexed, strictly organized and pithy. As a guide, the book should offer
`entertainment, insight and advice. These goals are somewhat disparate,
`but not necessarily incompatible.
`Fortunately, the people at AOL have an altruistic attitude toward the
`documentation for their service. The America Online Membership Kit &
`Tour Guide is a book, not a manual. I'm an independent author, not a
`staff technical writer. And AOL chose a traditional publisher-Ventana
`Press-to produce and distribute this book; it's not an AOL production.
`I therefore have the autonomy and elbow room to explore the subject
`with you independently, thoroughly and candidly. The people at AOL
`are to be commended for their courage in choosing this path. It could
`be perilous. Confidence in their product, however, emboldens them,
`and rightfully so.
`
`How to Use This Book as Documentation
`As you no doubt already know, documentation can be dull. Few people
`take a software manual to the hammock for a lazy afternoon of reading.
`The universe of technical documentation is far from the universe AOL
`inhabits. America Online is diverse, abstract and personable-hardly
`documentation material. Nonetheless, I've included a number of
`organizational and reference tools to serve the documentation need.
`
`Finding Answers
`I want you to be able to tum to The America Online T