Perspective: Cyberia

Cyberia

By DAVE GUSSOW

GETTING STARTED: Unfortunately, the world of computers is still a mystery to many people, particularly those who will be getting their first computer as a holiday gift. It takes more than just opening the box, connecting the cables, plugging it in and turning it on. The First Week With My New PC: A Very Basic Guide for Mature Adults and Everyone Who Wants to Get Connected ($12.95, Capital Books) by Pamela R. Lessing might make a good side gift for someone getting a PC. It offers helpful tips in understandable language. Chapters include "Out of the Box: What You Should Do Whether Help Is or Is Not on the Way"; "Everything Is Connected So Now What Do I Do?" and "The Time Has Come: I Am Really Ready to DO SOMETHING." Lessing dedicated the book to her 85-year-old mother.

GOING ONLINE: As if learning the PC wasn't hard enough, new users also have to cope with the Web. And it's a jungle out there. People will find no shortage of books to help guide them to good sites, such as The Rough Guide to the Internet 2001 ($9.95, Rough Guides) by Angus J. Kennedy. It covers everything from getting connected to the browser to, of course, listing of sites for everything from shopping to music.

E-BOOKS: Electronic books haven't yet caught everyone's imagination, but it's not for lack of resources on the Web. eBookNet (www.ebooknet.com) covers all aspects of e-books, from hardware to software. Its "Things to Read" section includes new content in a range of genres, and it also has discussion groups.

BOOK TALK: If the Web doesn't have exactly what you're seeking in a literary site, maybe you should create your own. In fact, that's one of the ideas behind www.talkaboutbooks.com, a site that bills itself as a destination for literary enthusiasts to discuss and review favorite works and authors. One of the recently featured authors was Piers Anthony from Inverness in Citrus County.

STINE ONLINE: Goosebumps author R.L. Stine has come out with a new series of children's books,The Nightmare Room. The first two books, Don't Forget Me! and Locker 13 ($3.99 each, Avon Paperbacks/Parachute Press) were released a few months ago. Along with the books, a Web site (www.nightmareroom.com) also was created. It features an online story, chat, and games. Some of the activities require registration, and the site has a posted privacy policy. The books are suggested for kids 10 and up.

- Dave Gussow is the Times personal technology editor.