JANUARY 4, 1999:  "Where do you want to go today?" ask the Microsoft commercials, but really that's the big question on the Net. Search engines are what make it possible to find what you want. Search.Com (http://www.search.com) is a good starting search because it also links you to the other main engines.

HotBot

http://www.hotbot.com

A personal favorite, HotBot allows searching by keyword, name, phrase, or several other methods.

Yahoo!

http://www.yahoo.com

One of the first search engines and still one of the most popular.

Excite!

http://www.excite.com

Excite is now partnering with Netscape to provide embedded searches using Navigator.

InfoSeek

http://www.infoseek.com

Lycos

http://www.lycos.com

AltaVista

http://www.alta-vista.net

An open-text search engine, AltaVista is one of the more powerful engines.

DejaNews

http://www.dejanews.com

A searchable database of virtually every Usenet post, DejaNews is also a good place for new user information and pointers to the guidelines for popular groups.

• The Net - So you got a new computer for Christmas ... lucky you! Here's a beginner's guide to the Internet to lessen the culture shock of first-timers.
• Quick Tips - Quick tips for beginners.
• Common Internet Terms and Protocols - How well do you know some of the more common internet terms?
• Software - URLs of software sites to check out.
• Austin Chronicle's Screens Feature - Side Archives