Internet Surfing Home Page

Downloading Files

Exploration

The simplest form of "download" is to copy text and pictures from the web into a word processing file on your computer by using Netscape's copy commands.

Search

There are many sites on the web where you can find files to download. Here are just a few examples:

Shareware.Com, Download.Com, and ZDNet are all sources of free or inexpensive software.

In many cases, you can download software programs and other types of files by simply clicking on a hypertext link.

Most files that are available over the web are compressed so that they will download faster. Suffixes at the end of the file name often provide clues about file type.

hqx - A file that has been compressed using the BinHex compression program typically used for Macintosh files.

bin - A Macintosh file that has been encoded by MacBinary. Less common than hqx files, but often smaller. Can be decompressed with Stuffit Expander.

sit - A file that has been compressed or "stuffed" using Stuffit and can be decompressed with Stuffit Expander.

zip - A file that has been compressed or "zipped" using a PC compression program and can be decompressed with programs such as WinZip or PKZip.

txt - Usually a simple text file that can be read by any Mac or PC word processing program.

jpg, jpeg, or gif - compressed graphics files that can be opened by many programs including Netscape.

Your version of Netscape may already have the plug-ins you need to download files. If not, you can download the software needed to uncompress files from the web.

The most popular program for uncompressing files on a Macintosh is the free version of Stuffit Expander by Aladdin Systems.

There are also programs (including a Windows version of Stuffit Expander and WinZip ) for uncompressing (or unzipping) files on a PC.

If you download a lot of files from FTP sites, you may find it easier to use software that was specially designed for this purpose.

Fetch is a shareware program for Macintosh computers that is used to download (and upload) files. The program is free for users affiliated with educational and non-profit organizations.

ZDNet provides ratings and links for some of the most popular FTP programs for PCs.

Exploration, URLs, Search, Bookmarks, ISPs, Email, Newsgroups,
Safe Surfing, Plug-ins, Downloading Files

©1998-2002 Lisa Baci. All rights reserved.
Please send comments to Lisa Baci at lbaci@mac.com

This site was created for a Lexington Community Education course and does not provide authorized support for any of the software products discussed. Throughout this site trademarked names and icons are used. Rather than put a trademark symbol in every occurance of a trademark, the site uses these names and icons only in an editorial fashion and to the benefit of the trademark owner with no intention of infringement of the trademark.

Exploration		The simplest form of "download" is to copy text and pictures from the web into a word processing file on your computer by using Netscape's copy commands.
Search
		There are many sites on the web where you can find files to download. Here are just a few examples: Shareware.Com, Download.Com, and ZDNet are all sources of free or inexpensive software. In many cases, you can download software programs and other types of files by simply clicking on a hypertext link.
		Most files that are available over the web are compressed so that they will download faster. Suffixes at the end of the file name often provide clues about file type. hqx - A file that has been compressed using the BinHex compression program typically used for Macintosh files. bin - A Macintosh file that has been encoded by MacBinary. Less common than hqx files, but often smaller. Can be decompressed with Stuffit Expander. sit - A file that has been compressed or "stuffed" using Stuffit and can be decompressed with Stuffit Expander. zip - A file that has been compressed or "zipped" using a PC compression program and can be decompressed with programs such as WinZip or PKZip. txt - Usually a simple text file that can be read by any Mac or PC word processing program. jpg, jpeg, or gif - compressed graphics files that can be opened by many programs including Netscape.
		Your version of Netscape may already have the plug-ins you need to download files. If not, you can download the software needed to uncompress files from the web. The most popular program for uncompressing files on a Macintosh is the free version of Stuffit Expander by Aladdin Systems. There are also programs (including a Windows version of Stuffit Expander and WinZip ) for uncompressing (or unzipping) files on a PC.
		If you download a lot of files from FTP sites, you may find it easier to use software that was specially designed for this purpose. Fetch is a shareware program for Macintosh computers that is used to download (and upload) files. The program is free for users affiliated with educational and non-profit organizations. ZDNet provides ratings and links for some of the most popular FTP programs for PCs.
		Exploration, URLs, Search, Bookmarks, ISPs, Email, Newsgroups, Safe Surfing, Plug-ins, Downloading Files

		©1998-2002 Lisa Baci. All rights reserved. Please send comments to Lisa Baci at lbaci@mac.com

		This site was created for a Lexington Community Education course and does not provide authorized support for any of the software products discussed. Throughout this site trademarked names and icons are used. Rather than put a trademark symbol in every occurance of a trademark, the site uses these names and icons only in an editorial fashion and to the benefit of the trademark owner with no intention of infringement of the trademark.