Tips on Technology By: Bill Michling

Welcome back. Last week we talked about backing up those important files, and Apple’s media technology, Quicktime 4.

This week we are going to talk about uploading your web page, for those of you ready to set up your corner of the Internet. We will also discuss about the latest release of Mac OS 9 and why you need it.

Remember, this article and all past articles are available online at: ( http://www.mespn.com/techarticles ) as well as the online version of the Saipan Tribune, which you can access by clicking the banner on this page.

OK, lets get started. Lets start with how we can get our web page uploaded to the Internet.
** Uploading your webpage

There is more than one way to upload or get your information uploaded to the Internet.
First of all you need to have a place to upload it to. Some Internet Service Providers provide space on their servers for personal web pages. There is usually a limit of a few megabytes, but there is usually no charge for this personal space.

Then there are the so called “free web space” offers that you see on the Internet. They are usually free because they include some sort of advertising that is sent along with your web page information, everytime someone accesses your web site. If you do not want to put up with these restrictions there is an alternative. We at mespn.com offer web space of 20MB for only $10.00 per month. Anyway more about that later.

** What is FTP

If you have been using the Internet for a while you may have wondered how did all those pages get there. I am sure you know the pages are written in the webpage language called HTML. After the pages are written, they need to be uploaded for the world to see. This is where FTP comes in. FTP stands (F)ile (T)ransfer (P)rotocol, a standard way to transfer files using the Internet.

** How to use FTP

So how can you use FTP? Most browsers allow FTPing files, there is also other software designed provide FTP. One such program is “Fetch”. It can be downloaded from the Internet at: (
http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10207-100-864128.html?tag=st.dl.10005-1 03-1.lst.td )

** Another way not using FTP

FTP is one of the most common ways to upload your pages to the Internet. There is another way to get your files on the Internet. If you are using a Macintosh computer. We at mespn.com can set up a directory that you can just use the “click and drag” method of putting your webpage files onto your web space.

The way it works is very simple. After we set it up. All you have to do is go to the Chooser, click on Appleshare, then click on the Server IP Address button. You then type in the server name i.e.; mespn.com and click OK.
You then type in your name and password. What will happen next is your webspace that we have setup will appear on your desktop just like an external hard disk drive. You can then open it like any other drive and copy to and from it by clicking and dragging. In this way no FTP software is needed. You have complete control of your space. From here the only limitation is the size of your space allocation. Coping files, deleting files, creating new folders, and deleting folders can be all done with this method.

If you need more information on how to do this just drop an email to:(bill@mespn.com) and I will be happy to help you.

** Mac OS 9 Update

Apple has recently released the latest version of their operating system, Mac OS 9.0.4. This is must get upgrade. For all you Mac OS 9 users, it is a free download from Apple. It is about a 13 megabyte download, but it is well worth it.

** Where to get it

If you are already using Mac OS 9, and have updated your Software Update control panel with ver. 1.1.1 then you can update your version of Mac OS 9 via the Internet and the control panel. Otherwise you can download Mac OS 9 from: (http://a1536.g.akamaitech.net/7/1536/52/20000403/download.akamai.com/apple/ 9.0.4/Mac-OS-9.0.4-Update.smi.bin)

If you need help, just call Marianas Electronics and ask for Jun, or Joseph. They will be happy to help you.

** I recommend it

I highly recommend this download. I have notice a more zippy, snappy operation, as well as the most stable system available.

Remember that whenever you update your operating system some older and not well behaved software may not work. So make sure you make a backup of your important information before you update.

If you have a DVD you might want to get the new version for that as well. You can find it in the Software Updates at Apple support.
So there you have for this week. I hope to see you again next week here and on the web.
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Bill Michling is a computer professional and welcomes any comments or questions you may have. Just send email to: bill@mespn.com or michling@usa.net.

You may also go to Marianas Electronics and ask help from the friendly staff there, or call them at: 234-5424, Just ask for Annie, Jun or Joseph.

For world access this Wednesday column is also on the Saipan Tribune website at: (http://www.saipantribune.com) or at the mespn.com site at: (http://mespn.com/techArticles/ ), now connected to the Internet via broadband T1+………..