Communicating online can be somewhat confusing to the new PC user, or someone unknown to what the Internet has to offer. This entry is about messenging via the Web. Next week will be more centered on chat rooms.
Messenging online consists of being able to send real-time messages back and forth between you and a friend. This can be done through a number of different messenger program; many of which come with the PC or your Internet Services Provider. Here are some of the more well known ones but there are tons more out there on the Net;
AOL Instant Message is integrated into the AOL program allowing AOL member to chat in realtime with other AOL members. America Online also offers AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) which is a stand alone program that anyone, even non-AOL members, can use. They also now provide an online version (no download necessary) called AIM Express for anyone wishing to connect with AOL users. All you need is a browser.
MSN Messenger is another messenger that works similar to AOL where you chat with MSN members. There is a requirement to download the software that includes collaboration whiteboard, files, pictures, and even web browsing sharing. You can also share your web cam.
Yahoo Messenger also includes online chat rooms, radio, and voice chat with the PC to PC phone calling.
ICQ is yet another chat program you can use.
Many of the messaging programs include
File transfers
Graphical Smilies
Logging of your conversations
PC to PC phone calls and/or some form of voice chat
Internet Cam support (not all)
Chat support (Talk to more than one person)
Friends lists that you can edit into groups
Online alerts to tell you when a friend is online
Game sharing (not all)
Whiteboard you can share (not all)
Web browsing sharing (not all)
Don’t want to choose between them? Maybe Trillian is what you need. This free program allows you to connect to ALL the forementioned communities at the same time. You give up on some of the features the individual programs have such as IMVironments that Yahoo offers, or the Whiteboard MSN has. It does allow you to communicate with all members of those groups.

Do you love music? Your computer with the right speakers or head phones, can provide an excellant means to listen to your favorite CD! Simply pop it in the CD tray and the computer should automatically start to play. If not, use MS Media Player, or any number of music player programs to listen.
You might find the CD also contains video and interactive buttons to click much like a DVD. I’ve discovered a number of music CD’s I bought had these features.
But that’s not all!
You can ‘rip’ the music to your hard drive, then assemble your own playlist with music you want to hear. Media player has this function as do most music playing programs. Simply open the program and find the rip features in the command line of the program. This copies to the hard drive, and adding itself to the library the program will use to create and edit playlists.
With a high speed Internet connection, you can also watch music videos (see links), or listen to radio. There are millions of web sites that offer this for free at no cost. You can even listen to samples of music before purchase through www.amazon.com, often many CD’s offer a free sample tune to download.
These links all include both music and radio. You will need to join in order to make playlists and create settings of preference. You’ll be able to listen to radio stations specific to your tastes such as Blues or Country, or even World music or go further and find radio stations in other countries.
http://music.yahoo.com/
http://music.msn.com/
http://music.aol.com/
Your computer also has a ‘recorder’ program in the operating system. You will need a microphone in order to use this. Go to START>Programs>Accessories>Entertainment>Sound Recorder or go to START>All Programs>Accessories>Entertainment>Sound Recorder. Its fun to make the voice to slow or fast.
I often create playlists or listen to online radio while working on my PC. Enjoy!

Welcome to the blog about Virtual exploration online. Here; you will find a number of links and essays about web sites, programs, and technology of the Personal Computer. My intention is to share what I learn along the way.
Most people tell me they use the computer only for email or word processing. I generally tell them; “Its only because you don’t know what the computer can do for you!”
Here are just a few things the typical computer can do:
Play music CD’s. Some of the newer models play and even record DVD movies
Play online radio (too many radio stations to count)
Edit pictures (Paint under accessories)
Hear you speak and type the words for you (Windows XP)
Chat with people all over the world, often letting you hear or see them through microphone/web cams. (Microphone, speakers, and web cam needed)
With a few programs you can…
Create and edit movies
Learn a language that will actually listen and run a conversation with you.
Play any number of games, even with people all over the world. (http://games.yahoo.com/games/front, Everquest, Neverwinter..there’s tons more out there too)
With the Internet you can also….
Make phone calls through the phone line, or even through the Internet (headset needed)
Watch TV, movies, shorts, all sorts of video and animations (high speed is preferable)
Look up maps and get printed directions to and from, as well as learn what sites you can see along the way, what motels are close by that fit your needs, as well as gas stations, resturants and more. (http://maps.google.com)
Have weather alerts sent to your email, as well as track the weather yourself by watching current radar maps.
Look up tv listings, movie showtimes, and get up to date information on everything.
Look up recipes to print out. Millions to choose from databases that are easily searchable! (www.allrecipes.com www.bhg.com, www.kraftkitchens.com)
Use search engines to find just about anything about everything www.google.com, www.wikipedia.org, www.yahoo.com
And sooooo much more.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg to what you can do with the computer, and this blog will share with you how to do it. So come along for the ride.
Be sure to visit www.learnthepc.net for computer education, training, and services.

Second Life is basically an online virtual community some might describe as ‘chat’. I find that this fascinating world is far more than that. Yes, you can literally ‘talk’ to others online through this 3D chat program, speaking in a microphone while your avatar (the character which is you) stands looking at them. You can also type out words to people, or send ‘emotes’ which animates your characters to illustrate expression. (Burp, fart, high-five, or clap- among other gestures). So yes, there is the avenue of making new friends online through Second Life, however being there is a 3D environment to which you can explore and interact, this offers a virtual vacation or adventure to those who want it.

What can you do there?

I’m simply overwhelmed with the amount of things you can do here. Exploring an endless list of worlds on topics of reality or fantasy, visiting clubs where you can dance and socialize, play games video games, join in a free-for-all killer spree with guns and ammo, go shopping, build houses (or anything else), listen to streaming music, watch streaming media, and so much more. This blog is going to be about all that; about my adventures there.