Finding software on the Internet has never been most people's idea of an evening's entertainment. However, times have changed and now it's not only easy but fun to see what kinds of programs you can get out there!

Though there are several collections of free software and shareware on the Internet, one of the easiest places to visit and select from is Jumbo. Jumbo uses a circus theme to get across the point that it has the "Biggest, Most Mind-Boggling, Most Eye-Popping, Most Death-Defying Conglomeration of Freeware and Shareware programs on the Known-Web!"

Indeed, what you will find here ranges from resources that are essential components to your exploration of the Internet to delightful and curious add-ons to popular word processing programs to resources that are simply fun.

The homepage at Jumbo includes several general categories: "Business," "Games," "Home & Personal," "Programming," "Utilities," "Words & Graphics," and "Unclassified." Once you pick a category, you are offered a list of operating systems that you can browse to find software available for the system you use. Once you choose an operating system, you are next presented with a list of categories. Choosing "Business," for example, and then "Windows," you are presented with a list of subjects for the software provided. Under "Business," these include "Astronomy," "Fonts," "Internet Files and TCP/IP Software," and "Windows Fax Software," among others. From this list of subjects you can proceed to a list of the available software programs.

The best qualities of Jumbo include how logically it is organized (given the wide mix of possible software) and how easy they make it to get what you need. Once you are presented with the list of available software, you can either click on the name of the program you want-and download immediately-or click on a descriptive phrase that leads you to a several-paragraph description of the program. When you decide to download, Jumbo presents you with a simple, clickable list of available FTP sites. Once you select from these, your software begins downloading.

Because of sites like Jumbo, the days of trying to decipher unintelligible screens of FTP sites are gone! And the choices at Jumbo, though not "Death-Defying," are truly rich, varied, and easy to access. There are thousands of programs here that are yours to own or to try, available through a single URL.

The URL for Jumbo is http://www.jumbo.com. You can access the site through your electronic computer account by typing wings at the system prompt, then G for Go to. In the box provided, simply type the URL given above. Those of you with access to a graphical browser such as Netscape would, of course, use the same URL. For help with logging on to the Internet, call the CIT Help Desk at 645-3542.

-Loss Pequeno Glazier and Nancy Schiller, University Libraries