Please spend a few minutes with the first annual Book Bytes Awards, a separate article in this month’s issue. My Mac Magazine is proud to be hosting this new program for recognizing the very best books published during the preceding year.
 
 
YOUR MONEY OR YOUR 128-BITS, A TRUE STORY
I rarely visit my local Wells Fargo branch bank, because our Safeway grocery store contains a tiny mini-bank, with two ATMs (automatic teller machines). I use the ATMs for all my deposits and cash withdrawals, and to check my current checking account balance.
It was on one of those visits two weeks ago that I made the mistake of glancing over at Bill, the local bank staffer, who rarely has much to do. He looked back, and walked over to offer whatever assistance I definitely didn’t need. I said thanks, and started to depart, but Bill was not to be dismissed quickly.
“Have you tried the Wells Fargo electronic banking yet, John?
“Nope. Not interested. See you, Bill.”
“You will really like it,” he continued, “for taking care of all your monthly payments.”
“Great, Bill, but we already have them auto-deducted from our checking account from the phone company, gas company, and the rest. So long.”
“But John, at wellsfargo.com you can keep current with every transaction, without having to come here to check your balance.”
“Not necessary, Bill. I’m here anyway a few times each month, and get my running balance then. Take it easy, man.”
“Here’s a flyer. When you go home, call this 800 number so you can log onto the website, because you’ll be amazed at all the great things we offer online. Thanks for coming in, John.”
How do you get rid of a guy like that? Beats me.
I mentioned the non-conversation with Barbara, my wife, who didn’t miss a beat, and suggested:
“He’s right, John. We never know just when all those automatic deductions come through, and our bank ledger is always out of whack. See if you can get signed on. Dinner will be ready in ten minutes.”
Ha!
Three hours later, here is what I accomplished, in order:
1. Called the toll-free number, verified my Wells Fargo account, and was accepted for on-line banking, at no charge to me. I selected a numerical password to access my account for both electronic and telephone transactions.
2. Launched my 68K/Explorer 3.01 browser, and was NOT able to access <http://www.wellsfargo.com>.
3. Ate dinner. Did dishes. Felt like an idiot.
4. Tried getting into KEYWORD: WELLS FARGO on America Online 3. The site was available, but the idiotic AOL browser was inadequate, and the link for upgrading was dead.
5. Called tech support at Wells Fargo. Very pleasant and patient phone helper. I needed to upgrade my browser to 128-bit encryption, whatever that means. A long URL was provided, to help me navigate to the correct download.
6. Back on the Web, the page was titled something like “128-bit Encryption Downloads for Windows Browsers.” Felt like a total blockhead, and called tech support again at Wells Fargo.
7. Was given a precise path for getting to the correct page on the Web, complete with exact clicking instructions for obtaining the exact encryption installer for my browser. Yes, the procedure begins on that “Windows Browsers” page, but buried near the bottom is a link for Macintosh, and I am NOT making this up.
8. Systematically completed each of the dozen steps for the 128-bit download, which I then installed without incident. Along the way I was required to pledge many times that I am an American citizen, using this encryption solely for personal use on American digital soil.
9. Nearing (or well past) bedtime, effortlessly went back to <http://www.wellsfargo.com>, observed the encryption-lock icon lower left in the browser window, clicked the “Online Banking” link, which took me to <http://banking.wellsfargo.com>, and after entering some personal data, there was my bank balance. A genuine time saver!?
Our monthly snail bank statement has arrived, so I plunged back on the Web to confirm all transactions. The system works, and Wells Fargo keeps improving the interface and links. I am satisfied, but how is the average Mac Internut supposed to deal with all that monkey business?
I welcome your comments, with personal experiences on doing secure financial transactions online.
Latest versions of browser downloads come in two flavors: standard and 128-bit encryption. To be eligible for the latter, users must verify their nationality and private use of the special software.
 
BECAUSE
<www.CallYourMom.com>
WAS ALREADY TAKEN
The next segment has three components: claiming frequent flyer miles on-line, updating browser software, and registering a Web domain. Hang on for the ride.
Following my “success” with using the Web to monitor my bank balance, I confidently called American Airlines Advantage toll-free number to see if I could use their website to manage my frequent-flyer miles. Barbara and I each have a few thousand miles expiring in 1998, and we have heard rumors that modest awards such as magazine subscriptions can be claimed with expiring miles.
After waiting on hold forever, I finally spoke with an airlines representative who said “Sure, you can do all sorts of things on our Internet site. I will request a numerical password for you, which will be mailed to you in three days. It allows you to make secure transactions on-line.”
I thought: secure transactions = 128-bit encryption = piece of cake. Again, ha!
The snail password arrived, and I enthusiastically went to <http://www.aa.com>, the American Airlines home page. Again, my 68K version of Explorer 3.01 was not able to load the page, and again, the AOL3 browser loaded the page but was insufficient for any transactions.
Nuts. What next?
Okay, you win, I muttered, and I’ll simply get the 4.1 version of Explorer and try again. No dice. My CD version of Explorer 4.1 only works with PPC or G3 Macs, and the Microsoft download page was a disaster, alternately stalling and freezing my current browser.
Did anyone say Netscape? Probably, because I snapped to attention, and downloaded the new 68K/Navigator 4.0.7 “standalone” browser from my local Tucson MUG <http://www.tucsonmug.org> BBS. But, and you guessed correctly again, Nav 4.0.7 requires Mac OS 7.6.1 or higher, and I’m still running 7.5.5 (If it ain’t broke!).
At this point I’m starting to think John, you nincompoop, don’t you think it’s time to buy a G3 running OS8.x, and get out of the bush league? Correct, and I do have enough $$$ saved now for a new CPU and monitor, but what’s the rush? For ALL other applications, my trusty old ‘040 system is a Porsche with wings, given my modest requirements.
Just for fun I went to the Netscape home page. Wow, has it changed, but that is another article. I found everything I wasn’t looking for, and never did locate any links for an older versions (4.0.5, I think) of the standalone 68K browser. Instead, I noticed an advertisement for free registration of Web domain names.
I have been considering creating my own personal Web presence, but honestly don’t have the time to do a first-rate job. Also, I was stuck on the name. With “Nemo” being my family nickname, and <nemo.com>, <nemo.net>, and <nemo.org> all being previously taken, I was at an impasse. Thanks to author Deborah Shadovitz, <http://www.shadovitz.net/deb>, my thinking was expanded.
Seeing this ad on the Netscape page roused my curiosity, so I innocently followed the links, and soon I was registering <http://www.johnnemo.com>. There was no charge for the registration process, and I pay $70 to InterNIC <http://rs.internic.net> to secure the domain.
The intermediary company is TABNet, in Napa, California, <http://www.tabnet.com>. Their address is <sales@tabnet.com>, and my personal contact is Jana Modena: <jmodena@verio.net>. TABNet is a division of Verio <http://www.verio.net>, dedicated to providing Web hosting, site support, and customer service. At first glance, their products appear to be fine, and their fees are reasonable.
For my $70/two-years, I have a dormant unique domain, which I can keep forever to use or not use, as long as I continue to pay my InterNIC fee. In addition, I get one excellent Web-based free custom full-featured email account for a year, with a modest charge for subsequent years.
Jana Modena adds, for clarification:
Your free TabNET registration was a special offer, John. Normally there is a $49 one time registration fee. We will hold the domain name with the "under construction welcome page" until you are ready to create a website. This site cannot be modified in any way. To modify it you will need a web server account for your web pages.
The $70 is to Internic (Network Solutions) and that is for a two year registration of that name. Internic will send a you bill by both email and mail.
Our Business Server account costs start at $29 per month, and comes with a Catchall Unix Email and 30mb of space. When you order your web server we send you a password and FTP instructions (please allow 12-24 hours for instructions), which will enable you to upload your webpages to your website.
I will keep you informed as I progress with my personal Web domain.
 
MORE FROM JOHN’S DAD <lennem@aol.com>
Hello again, readers of My Mac Magazine. I heartily thank Tim Robertson, the talented publisher, for inviting me to contribute to John’s Nemo Memo. I would like to call my part the “LeNeMeMo.” Get it?!
At age 73, I think back over 40 years, around the time of my 30th birthday, to an important decision that affected the rest of my life. Because so many of you are in the 20-40 age group, my comments are offered to give you some perspective on the years ahead.
The good turn I made was becoming involved in a lifetime of community service, helping other people in a small, personal way, as best as I could muster. I found I would get more out of life if I put more of myself into the lives of others who needed help. Not a big deal. No money in either direction.
If just a few of the very bright Mac users who read this magazine will make a special effort to use his or her computer to help someone else, that will be a major achievement in the lives of all of us.
Find one person, preferably a student in high school or junior high, whom you can help in his or her studies. Ask the people in your neighborhood, or the youth group leaders at your church.
Call the school. Find out from the principal if there is one student who can use your help in surfing the Net for information on a school paper or project. Keep asking around, because if you ask you will find.
When you become involved, send me an email message with a CC to Tim Robertson, <publisher@mymac.com>, mentioning what you have done. We all will benefit from just a little bit of effort. Bye for now,
Leonard
 
and, to conclude...
NEMO’S NETWORK BACKUP CONCEPT:
WACKY OR CLEVER?
After enduring yet another endless, boring discussion on the absence of a floppy drive on the new iMac and its inability to use SCSI backup peripherals, I got an idea that is either astute or ridiculous. You can level with me.
Let’s say I have a document or folder with which I am currently working on an iMac, and need to have a secure backup, for a month or two, until the project is complete. Without any peripherals or software whatsoever, I simply attach the compressed file to an email message, which I send to myself.
Using America Online, the message + document will live on the AOL server rent-free for four weeks before it is deleted automatically. If necessary, I can always “forward” it to myself, to extend its life in my pending email box. This procedure works on all computers, not just iMacs.
How long does your ISP email server retain unopened messages? I am curious.
ONE MORE THING
I just finished reading three excellent books, which I want to recommend personally. They are:
 
The Magician’s Tale, by David Hunt, ISBN 0-425-16482-9,
Berkley paperback, $7.50 U.S., a mystery set in San Francisco t
hat does contain some explicit sex and violence.
 
She’s Come Undone, by Wally Lamb, Washington Square Press;
ISBN: 0671003755, $14 U.S., an unusual coming-of-age story about
a troubled young woman, also with some explicit content.
 
Angela’s Ashes, by Frank McCourt, ISBN: 067158037X,
Simon and Schuster Audio Cassette, $50 U.S., an award-winning
bittersweet memoir of the early years of a boy living in Irish poverty.
There you have it, until Nemo is back in ‘99. Happy holiday season, friends, and thanks for reading the Memo.
John
•John Nemerovski• <nemo@mymac.com>
Websites mentioned:
<http://www.wellsfargo.com>
<http://banking.wellsfargo.com>
<http://www.aa.com>
<http://www.tucsonmug.org>
<http://www.shadovitz.net/deb>
<http://rs.internic.net>
<http://www.tabnet.com>
<http://www.verio.net>
 
<http://www.macwebserver.com>
My Mac Magazine ® 1998 My Mac Productions. All Rights Reserved.
