INTERNET OFFERS VIRTUAL LIBRARY OF ONLINE MAGAZINES

In a day when so much emphasis is placed on the visual, the Internet has had an interesting impact. More people are reading.

Words are an important part of the Internet. Sure, images are great, but they may take longer to load than words.

So it only makes sense that sites with reading material are popular on the Internet. This includes online magazines, or e-zines as they're called.

I have noticed an interesting trend in online magazines. Once they included only teasers of articles in their printed versions, but today most include entire stories. Many also include articles exclusive for their online editions.

There are lots of computer-related magazines online with great information.

But the range of other magazines is as broad as the Internet.

www.magazinesatoz.com

This site is simply a link site to hundreds of magazine sites. You'll see most of the big names here, along with lesser-known e-zines.

From horses to finance, from entertainment to fishing, from jazz to Martha Stewart -- there's something for everyone, young and old. I found several magazines I enjoy, and I'll probably revisit them online.

Like most surfers, I'm rather impatient and want my information when I want it.

www.newyorker.com

While most magazines jumped onto the Internet before they really had a plan, some waited and watched. The New Yorker was one of those magazines that finally ventured online late last year.

They have many of the special features you'll find in print, such as About Town, the Talk of the Town, the Critics, Fact and Fiction. And you'll find those satirical cartoons. There are biting cartoons by category. You can even send an e-card cartoons. Some you can even personalize, which they call vanity cartoons.

They also have an "on-line only" feature Monday was a look back at New Yorker Easter-time covers.

While The New Yorker may have had a belated Web start, it's making up for lost time. Its new e-book edition is "publishing" three mini-anthologies for Microsoft's Reader. E-books are becoming big business because they're cheaper than printed books. For now, e-books can only be ordered online and downloaded to your computer.

But while words are important on the Internet, images are eye-catching. The National Geographic online nicely translates its stunning photography onto the Internet.

www.nationalgeographic.com

National Geographic has been on the Web nearly five years. I was very empathetic to their sad tale of the launch. "Launching a Web site is easy," said National Geographic Editors. "It's so easy, in fact, that we did it three times." Apparently, the site was so inundated with traffic that it crashed three times the day it debuted. Today, however, they have the technology down pat.

The site is a mixture of their magazine, field expeditions with television crews and virtual visits of museums or lectures. There are also interactive features, along with articles on travel, adventure and exploration, maps, photography and news. There's also top-notch stuff just for kids.

www.readersdigest.com

I've never subscribed to this magazine, but I've read it plenty as I waited in offices. The online version gives me many of the great feature stories along with the humor that is so appealing.

There were some interesting stories about honesty, safety on campuses and a guide to a good night's sleep. You can also get the Reader's Digest in large print online.

Another neat feature of the site is the Laugh Bank. If you're giving a speech or just need a lift, you can search their database of more than 4,000 funny stories. You can search by topic.

www.time.com

Of course, you'll find all the traditional magazines online, such as Time.

Many weekly and even monthly magazines use the Internet to keep themselves more timely. The editors of Time.com point out their Web site is updated several times a day with analysis of the day's news. They also change out their photo essays and features such as Person of the Week or book excerpts.

They also give you advice on using Time newsfiles to conduct research for a school paper. Among their most popular are those concerning abortion, guns and violence and drugs.

From the front page, you'll find many of the sections and columnists you'll find in the regular magazine. The site is also easily searchable.

Many magazines have also found that information has a longer shelf life on the Internet than in a printed version. So many of the special reports can be found online.

Of course, entertainment and music take a front seat on the Internet, so publications like Rolling Stone are popular online.

www.rollingstone.com

You can read the cover story or check out the latest music news. You can also look up an artist by an easy A to Z search.

You'll find information easily divided into music or movies. The site offers a lot of polls, games, contests and reviews. There are also boards to chat with other music fans.

You can search CD reviews, digital music, discussions, news/features, photos and video under the Music Heading. Under movies, you can check out people, discussions, news/features, photos, reviews and trailers.

They also offer an option called "My RS," which allows you to keep track of your favorite artists and boards.

While most online magazines are shadows of their printed versions, some are original. That's the case with Salon, is strictly an Internet publication.

www.salon.com

Salon offers 10 original content sites as well as two online communities. In 2001, Yahoo Internet Life named it one of the best online magazines.

David Talbot founded it in November 1995. Its content is updated daily and includes such subjects as news, politics, technology & business, arts, books and comics. They also offer a digital audio hub where you can download interviews and commentary from well-known writers and performers.

Last month, Salon announced it plans to add a subscription service for an ad-free format. Although the site is losing money, it's often described as "one of the best all-around reads on the Internet." Don't count out the old standbys on the Web. You can find such familiar titles as Popular Mechanics on the Web.

www.popularmechanics.com

Again, the Internet is a way for magazines to keep more current. PM boasts that its news is updated every 20 minutes in the categories of automotive, technology, home improvement, science and outdoors.

The stories are short, and probably not the version that appears in the magazine.

But the information is interesting -- especially the fact that the war between Advanced Micro Devices and Intel is lowering the prices of faster computers.

You'll also find the 2001 edition of the Popular Mechanics New Cars & Trucks Buyers Guide online, along with the used car and truck guide.

Popular Mechanics also has a special area just for kids.

And don't forget to access all the computer and Internet information online.

www.zdnet.com

You can access 13 online magazines through ZDNet, if you scroll down to the bottom of the home page.

For example, you can read both PC Magazine and Macworld online, which may be especially helpful to answering questions about your computer. I enjoy Yahoo Internet Life, because it's a quirky mix of advice and sites that range from practical to downright weird.

I find YIL's Surf Guru and "Useful Site of the Day" especially helpful.

Check out the Best Sites for 2001 at the Yahoo Internet Life, along with the Gold Star Sites. I bet you'll find a lot of new favorites. What's your favorite online magazine? E-mail me at jonia@sehosp.org.

See you in Cyberspace.

Joni Adams is the Webmaster at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, www.southeastmissourihospital.com.