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Cyber 911 Tiplines The Internet
Getting online
Choosing the right service for you and the right company can be confusing, to say the least.
An ISP (Internet Service Provider) provides the tools necessary to access the Internet. Usually for a flat monthly fee, with a choice of access packages from "pay as you go" dial-up to Broadband. Connections are getting faster, prices are dropping and it pays to shop around for the best deals.
ISPs provide the user with the requisite software and an Internet account. The account will include the basic elements of Internet communication: an e-mail account, the ability to access other computers (telnet), the ability to transfer files from and to different networks (FTP or File Transfer Protocol) and the ability to communicate "live" with others on the Internet.
The ISP's server functions as the primary computer that stores the Internet accounts of the ISP's clients.
How do you select the right service for you? Ask about:
- Local access numbers
- Amount of expected usage
- Cost
- Availability of customer tech support
- Ease of usage
- Choices of Web browsers
You'll want to best combination of price, easy setup, good tech support, local access numbers and Web browser selection. While you're at it, you should also check and see if they offer newsgroup, ftp and compression software.
When you choose an ISP, remember that you'll probably need lots of tech support in the beginning. That means you want an ISP with lots of patient people to answer all your questions. If they're not patient with your questions now, it's unlikely that they'll be patient with them later. So courtesy should play a large part in your decision.