Search Engines -- there are two different types, spiders and directories. Directories only show you the sites that they have listed in their directory. This is fine if you are dealing with a particular subject (such as medical listings), but if you want a wide range, a spider is better. Spiders, go out on the net and search for everything they can find using the keywords you provide. Of course this means you get a lot of information you don't need as well. It is important to note is that the World Wide Web is growing so fast that even the best search engines only cover about twenty percent of what is available.  Here are some good search engines:

Browsers -- This is the program on your computer that reads what is out there on the net. Netscape and Explorer are two examples. Different versions of the same browser have different capabilities and appearances, and the type of computer and screen you have will affect the appearance of the sites you view.

Cookies -- a special text file that a website puts on your hard disk that tells the site something about you when you return to that site, usually preferences. Some sites use cookies so that they can follow your usage patterns and use that info to either tailor editorial material, or to market products to you, or to be sure that you don't see a big long list of bulletin board messages you have seen before. Some sites do not use cookies but their advertising sales network has to use them so that you do not see the same ad over and over again. Your browser can be set to reject cookies, but the site may not work as well without them.

Cupcakes -- a file you create yourself with personal info that you will allow websites to use. It is a better version of a cookie, but you have to download the software.

Viruses -- a piece of programming code inserted into other programming that causes undesirable results for the user.

Virus warning -- these come in e-mails forwarded from well-meaning friends. They will say something about don't open this or that e-mail because it will do something dreadful to your HD (hard drive). You can check out how valid they are at: http://www.av.ibm.com/BreakingNews/HypeAlert/

Server -- this is the physical machine that stores the site you are viewing.

Java -- a computer language specifically designed for the internet.

Java Warning -- Older browsers cannot handle java and will give you an alert that the page you wish to view has a java script (that's a small program) that it can't run.

E-mail -- the ability to send text to a specific recipient using the internet.

Video E-mail -- The ability to send video and audio to a specific recipient over the internet.

Chat -- talking to other people who are on-line at the same time you are. This is done as an exchange of typed in messages.

Monitored Chat -- A chat in which there is a person responsible for seeing that the discussion stays on track and well mannered. The monitor has the power to edit comments deemed unacceptable and to exclude people.

Site -- Otherwise known as a Website, it is a collection of web files on a particular subject.

URL -- stands for Uniform Resource Locator. It's an internet address.

Usenet -- a collection of notes on various subjects posted on the internet. 

On-line -- Being connected to the internet via phone line or cable modem.

Downloading -- to transfer an image, sound byte, text or a program from a location on the internet to your HD.

Attachments -- Sending an image, text, sound byte, or program along with an e-mail. You may or may not be able to open attachments (or have your recipients open them) depending on the program in which they were written. Don't open attachments if you don't personally know the person who sent them.

Cache -- Your browser will store images and text from web pages to reuse when you return to a website address (URL). It will not completely update the page, so it is a good idea to clean out the cache periodically.

Other sites with great information about the internet:

http://www.pcwebopaedia.com

http://dir.yahoo.com/computers_and_Internet