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      The King Hall USENET FAQ [ASCII/Multipart] (Version 1.1) Part 6 of 6
      Frequently Asked Questions at and About King Hall (c) Copyright 1995

                                       by

                             David F. Prenatt, Jr.
                            King Hall, 1995 Alumnus
                            U.C. Davis School of Law
                            University of California
                              Davis, CA 95616-5210

                             dfprenatt@ucdavis.edu


The King Hall USENET FAQ may be comprised of more than one part.  If it is,
please see the TABLE OF CONTENTS in Part One for a complete list of the
questions I have attempted to answer and for other important legal
information.  Caveat emptor:  I assume no obligation for anyone through the
publication of the King Hall USENET FAQ.  Furthermore, all versions of the
King Hall USENET FAQ are my personal property and are protected by
applicable copyright laws.  All rights are reserved except the following:
I hereby give my permission to anyone who has access to this version of the
King Hall USENET FAQ to reproduce the information contained herein for non-
profit purposes, provided that proper credit is given to me as the author
of this FAQ and that I am notified of any use other than personal use.
Permission to reproduce any version of this FAQ may be revoked by me at any
time.

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      The King Hall USENET FAQ [ASCII/Multipart] (Version 1.1) Part 6 of 6
      Frequently Asked Questions at and About King Hall (c) Copyright 1995
                                       by
                             David F. Prenatt, Jr.


11)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPUTERS AND LIFE ON THE INTERNET
     FROM MEMBERS OF THE KING HALL COMMUNITY.

11.1)  BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPUTERS.

11.1.1)  Why should I use a computer?

     It is easier and faster to accomplish certain tasks by using a
     computer.

11.1.1.1)  Do I really need to use a computer?

     No.  You don't need to use a computer, but many tasks are very
     difficult or even impossible to accomplish without a computer.  You
     will also find that a modicum of computer literacy is required of all
     members of the King Hall community.

11.1.1.2)  Isn't it difficult to learn how to use a computer?

     No.  Learning to use a computer is very easy, but this is a very well
     kept secret.  People who know how to use computers are very
     intimidating to people who do not know how to use them.

11.1.1.3)  How can I get the computer training that I need?

     Admit your ignorance, both to yourself and to the people who offer you
     help.  Teaching people how to use computers is extremely difficult,
     but it doesn't have to be that way.  Many people erroneously assume
     that they understand how computers work, and this makes teaching these
     people extremely difficult.  Of course, people who know what they are
     doing may not be able to communicate with you or they may not be
     interested in helping you.  Avoid these people.

11.1.1.4)  What will I use a computer for?

     Most law students find that using a computer for word processing is
     much easier than typing a paper.  While this is not the only
     application for computers, it is quickly becoming one of the most
     common and most popular (second only to computer games).  Once you
     become familiar with word processing, however, you may want to check
     out some of the other applications for personal computers.  Stop by
     any store that sells software and do some window shopping.

11.1.2)  Do I need my own computer?

     No.  Computers are as ubiquitous as telephones.  The only reason you
     would want to own a computer is for convenience, much like owning a
     cellular phone.

11.1.2.1)  What kind of computer should I buy?

     You should buy a computer with the features that you want at a price
     you can afford.  If you are reading this FAQ, then you probably want a
     MacIntosh or an IBM/IBM Clone.

11.1.2.1.1)  What is the difference between a MacIntosh and an IBM/IBM
             Clone?

     MacIntosh computers are much higher quality technology than IBM
     technology.  However, IBM is the standard for computer technology and
     is much more affordable than MacIntosh.  Thus, if you are on a limited
     budget, you probably want an IBM/IBM clone, especially because
     whatever you do buy will be obsolete when you buy it.

11.1.2.1.2)  What is an IBM clone?

     IBM assembles its computers from technology that is available on the
     open market and sets the standard for other computer companies.  Many
     companies build IBM clones with technology that meets or exceed that
     standards that IBM sets.

11.1.2.2)  What kind of features should I have on a computer?

     There is no easy answer to this question, but as a general rule buy
     only proven technology and avoid all the bells and whistles.  New
     technology is inherently unreliable because many bugs are found only
     after a product has been released.  Members of the King Hall community
     have access to a variety of computers through Information Technology--
     Campus Access Point (IT-CAP), so find out for yourself what features
     are the most useful and reliable.

11.1.2.3)  What kind of accessories should I get on my computer?

     It depends upon what type of applications you are using.  If you are
     reading this FAQ, you probably only need a printer and/or modem (if
     that), and you can probably get by without either one.

11.2)  What computer facilities are available to law students at U.C.
       Davis?

     U.C. Davis provides computer facilities for all registered students,
     including word processing and Internet access.  In addition, King Hall
     provides computer resources specifically for law students, such as
     LEXIS and Westlaw.

11.2.1)  How do I obtain access to the computer facilities at U.C. Davis?

     Open an ez-account.  You can do this at the LEXIS/Westlaw room in King
     Hall or at any of the computer rooms anywhere on campus.

11.2.2)  Will I lose access to computer services at U.C. Davis after I
         graduate?

     No.  Your computer privileges will remain unaffected when you graduate
     (this is a very well guarded secret).  However, this does not mean
     that your ez-account will remain active.  If you have a problem with
     your account, such as with your password, you will have to prove that
     you are still enrolled or employed by the University to get someone to
     fix the problem for you.

11.2.3)  What should I do to make sure that I still have access to computer
         services at U.C. Davis after I graduate?

     For a small monthly fee, the Davis Community Network (DCN) will give
     you access to the dial-in computer services that U.C. Davis provides.
     See the davis.dcn USENET newsgroup for more information on how to join
     the DCN. There are also a number of companies that will provide free
     access to similar services.  However, you will probably have to buy
     your own computer, your own modem, and your own software.

11.3)  What is the Internet?

     The Internet is a worldwide computer network.  It is used primarily as
     a medium for the communication and free exchange of information and
     ideas.

11.3.1)  How can I obtain access to the Internet?

     You can use your ez-account to "telnet" to one of the computers at
     U.C. Davis from King Hall, from one of the computer rooms on the U.C.
     Davis campus, or from your home computer via modem.

11.3.1.1)  How do I obtain access to the Internet from King Hall?

     Go to the LEXIS/Westlaw room or the Computer Room downstairs.  In the
     LEXIS/Westlaw room, you will find several IBM clones with the Windows
     program running.  Use the mouse and "double-click" the Win/QVT icon on
     one of these computers; then click the button marked "Terminal" that
     appears on the screen.  If it is your first time signing on to the
     Internet, you will probably need some help.  Steve Langford, Computer
     Specialist, works in the office adjoining the LEXIS/Westlaw room, and
     it his job to help the members of the King Hall community with all of
     their computer needs.

11.3.1.2)  How do I obtain access to the Internet from one of the computer
           rooms on the U.C. Davis campus?

     Every computer room is different.  Check with the site attendant.

11.3.1.3)  How do I obtain access to the Internet from my home computer?

     You will need special software.  Check with Steve Langford
     (sdlangford@ucdavis.edu) at (916)752-SLOW for more information.

11.3.2)  How do I communicate with other people on the Internet?

     Communication between individuals on the Internet usually takes place
     through the institutions of e-mail and the USENET newsgroups.  These
     are the most straightforward and easy to use Internet applications.
     Live time conversations also take place with the Internet Relay Chat
     (IRC) and the World Wide Web provides multimedia communication.

11.3.2.1)  Are there any rules for e-mail and the USENET newsgroups?

     Yes.  U.C. Davis imposes regulations for e-mail and the USENET.  There
     are informal rules of conduct that are enforced by the Internet
     community, fondly referred to as "netiquette."

11.3.2.2)  What is the difference between e-mail and the USENET newsgroups?

     The primary difference between e-mail and the USENET is privacy.
     While an e-mail message is not completely private, it is directed to a
     particular individual or set of individuals; a USENET article is
     directed at anyone who has access to any newsgroup where the article
     is posted.

11.3.2.2.1)  How do I use e-mail?

     The most straightforward and easy way to use e-mail is by using a
     program called "pine," which is an acronym for "pine is no-longer elm"
     ("elm" was an e-mail program on which pine was based)  To use pine,
     type in "pine" (without the quotes) once you have signed on to the
     Internet.  Pine is menu- driven, so just follow the instructions.

11.3.2.2.2)  How do I access the USENET newsgroups?

     The most straightforward and easy way to use the USENET newsgroups is
     by using a program called "tin."  To use tin, type in "tin" (without
     the quotes) once you have signed on to the Internet.  The tin program
     is menu-driven, so just follow the instructions.

11.3.2.2.2.1)  How many USENET newsgroups are there?

     There are several thousand USENET newsgroups (more than anyone could
     ever hope to read), and there are more being created every day.  Thus,
     you have to decide which newsgroups you want to read.

11.3.2.2.2.2)  How do I figure out which USENET newsgroups I want to read?

     The USENET newsgroups are organized into a hierarchy that includes
     regional and other domains.

11.3.2.2.2.3)  Which USENET newsgroups are of interest to members of the
               King Hall community?

     It depends upon the individual, but at the very least members of the
     King Hall community would probably be interested in a number of the
     regional domains that are available through the U.C. Davis USENET;
     people who are new to the Internet would also be interested in a
     number of newsgroups found in the news.* domain.  You should subscribe
     to news.announce.newusers until you feel that you know more than most
     of the people reading that group.  You will also find FAQs on every
     conceivable topic in the news.answers USENET newsgroup.

11.3.2.2.2.3.1)  What regional domains are available through the U.C. Davis
                 USENET?

     The ucd.* domain, the davis.* domain, the yolo.* domain, the sac.*
     domain, the ba.* domain, and the ca.* domain are all regional domains
     that the U.C. Davis USENET can access.

11.3.2.2.2.3.2)  Does King Hall have its own USENET newsgroup?

     But of course!  The ucd.king-hall newsgroup was founded by Joel
     Siegel, King Hall Class of 1997.

11.3.2.3)  How do I use the IRC?

     To use the IRC, type in "irc" (without the quotes) at the Unix prompt.
     There is online help available for the IRC and most of the people who
     you meet on the IRC will be willing to answer your newbie questions.
     You will also find a FAQ on the IRC in the news.answers USENET
     newsgroup (among other places).

11.3.2.4)  How do I access the World Wide Web?

     You can access the World Wide Web by using a text-based program, such
     as "lynx," or by using a web browser, such as "Netscape."

11.3.2.4.1)  How do I use lynx?

     Just type in "lynx" (without the quotes) at the Unix prompt, and
     follow the instructions you find on the screen.

11.3.2.4.2)  How do I use Netscape?

     See Steve Langford in the Lexis/Westlaw room for help with using
     Netscape.  Netscape is easy to use and has many revolutionary and
     exciting multi-media/multi-protocol features, but you will probably
     need help from someone who knows what he or she is doing to learn how
     to use it.

11.3.3)  What other resources are available over the Internet?

     In addition to the communication and exchange of information that
     people accomplish using e-mail, the USENET, and the IRC, people can
     download archived information from the Internet using "file transfer
     protocol" (ftp).

11.3.3.1)  What is ftp and how does it work?

     The ftp function resembles the telnet function (the basic method of
     gaining access to the Internet for e-mail and the USENET), but ftp is
     only used for downloading or uploading information.  There are
     generally two ways to access a computer via ftp, anonymous and
     privileged.

11.3.3.1.1)  How do I use anonymous ftp?

     When you know which anonymous ftp site has the information that you
     want, you can then log onto it and get that information using using
     the ftp program:

          *    Type in "ftp" (without the quotes) at the Unix prompt,
               followed by the name of the ftp site that you wish to
               access.  For example:

                    ftp ftp.site

               where ftp.site is the name of a hypothetical ftp site that
               you want to access.

          *    You will be asked to provide your username, type in:

                    anonymous


          *    You will be asked to provide your password.

               DO NOT TYPE IN YOUR PASSWORD!  *ANONYMOUS* FTP IS SUPPOSED
               TO BE *ANONYMOUS*!  If you wish, you may type in your
               Internet address as a return address, but you do not need to
               do so.  Virtually any response to the password request will
               give you access to an anonymous ftp site.

          *    Type in the GET command, followed by the exact name of the
               file that you want to obtain.  For example:

                    get ftp-document

               where ftp-document is the name of a hypothetical document
               that you wish to obtain.  This procedure will retrieve an
               ASCII document.

          *    If for some reason, there is something wrong with the
               document that  you obtain, start over and set the code to
               binary by typing in "binary" (without the quotes) after you
               have opened the anonymouse ftp site.  Specifically, type in
               the following:

                    binary

               This should fix the problem so that you can GET the document
               that you want.  If it doesn't, then the file you have is
               probably compressed or encrypted, so you will need to find
               out what program you should use to decompress or decrypt the
               file.  Check with King Hall Computer Specialist Steve
               Langford (sdlangford@ucdavis.edu) at (916)752-SLOW for more
               information.

          *    To quit the ftp application, type in "quit" (without the
               quotation marks).  For example:

                    quit


          *    Note:  Steve Langford has set up several of the computers in
               the Lexis/Westlaw with more simplified ftp access.


11.3.3.1.2)  How do I use privileged ftp?

     A privileged ftp site requires an actual username and an actual
     password (as opposed to an anonymous one).  In addition to the GET
     command, you can also use the PUT command with privileged ftp.  For
     example:

          put ftp-document

     where ftp-document is the hypothetical name of the document that you
     want to load to the privileged ftp site.

11.3.3.1.3)  How can I find out what files are available via ftp?

     You can use various "search engines" on the Internet, such as
     "gopher," "archie, "veronica," and "jughead."  Contact Steve Langford
     (sdlangford@ucdavis.edu) at (916)752-SLOW for more information on
     search engines.

11.3.3.2)  What legal resources are available on the Internet?

     There are too many legal resources available on the Internet for me to
     offer a complete catalog.  However, there are two superb resources
     that will help you find out what legal resources are available on the
     and where you can find them for yourself:

     *    The law.listserv.* USENET newsgroups are an excellent resource
          for cutting-edge legal information of all kinds.  The most
          popular of these newsgroups is law.listserv.lawlib, which is
          moderated by Judy Janes (jcjanes@ucdavis.edu) of the U.C. Davis
          Law School Library.  This newsgroup is frequented by thousands of
          law librarians, law professors, and other legal scholars.

     *    Professor Erik J. Heels of the University of Maine Law School has
          written the most comprehensive FAQ on legal resources that I have
          ever seen called "The Legal List:  Law-Related Resources
          Available on the Internet and Elsewhere."  This publication is
          available in electronic form free of charge in its several parts
          on the news.answers USENET newsgroup (among other places); a
          paperback edition is also available from the author.  The Legal
          List is an invaluable reference tool and I unequivocally
          recommend that anyone with any interest in the law or the
          Internet get a copy of the Legal List as soon as possible.


12)  REVISIONS FOR FUTURE VERSIONS OF THIS FAQ.

     I intend to add much more information to this FAQ in the future.
     However, I have made every effort to make sure that the structure and
     organization of this FAQ will not change appreciably.  Version 1.1
     should contain all of the information contained in Version 1.0 with
     only minor editorial changes.  If information is substantially changed
     or deleted in the future, I will make a note of this fact without
     immediately affecting the existing structure of the overall FAQ.  If
     the structure of this FAQ is changed substantially, I will give
     advance notice of this fact and create a new version.

12.1)  CHANGES IN THIS VERSION OF THE KING HALL USENET FAQ FROM PREVIOUS
       VERSIONS.

     The major difference between Version 1.0 and Version 1.1 is the
     division of this FAQ into more than one part.  I considered dividing
     Version 1.0 into more than one part, but I knew that this would hold
     up publication indefinitely, and I also knew that the multi-part
     version of this FAQ would be an option, independent of the overall
     structure of the FAQ.  A complete ASCII Version 1.1 is still available
     (albeit unpublished), and I am working on formats other than ASCII for
     future versions.
          The trend in FAQS seems to be towards large, one part FAQS, but
     the advantages of having more than one part to a FAQ are twofold.
     First, people can select which part of the FAQ they want with greater
     ease.  Second, smaller files can be handled by more computers, which
     increases the distribution of a FAQ.  Thus, more people can get a FAQ
     that is divided into more than one part, and more people can read it.
     A FAQ is useless to someone who is unable to read it.

12.2)  CHANGES THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN FUTURE VERSIONS OF THIS FAQ.

     I will probably leave the structure of this FAQ intact, but I may add
     more subsections, questions, or details.  Your comments are very much
     welcome and appreciated.  If you have any questions that you would
     like to see answered in this FAQ, please let me know by e-mail or
     snail-mail.  I would also like to know where you came across this FAQ
     and where you might want to see it posted.  I am very sorry, but I am
     not able to respond to every person individually.

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End of document:

      The King Hall USENET FAQ [ASCII/Multipart] (Version 1.1) Part 6 of 6
      Frequently Asked Questions at and About King Hall (c) Copyright 1995

                                       by

                             David F. Prenatt, Jr.
                            King Hall, 1995 Alumnus
                            U.C. Davis School of Law
                            University of California
                              Davis, CA 95616-5210

                             dfprenatt@ucdavis.edu

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