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R.M. Diamond, Sidewalk
Statistically speaking, and much to your employer's chagrin, you're probably viewing this page from work. When you finally get around to buying that home computer, you'll need an Internet service provider to indulge your Web surfing habit. Following are some of the items you'll want to consider during your search for the perfect ISP. Speed At the top of everyone's wish list, speed depends primarily on your modem and connection type. For the fastest connection over regular phone lines, you'll want to be running some flavor of 56Kbps technology: V.90, X2 or K56 Flex. V.90 is the standard, but most ISPs will support some combination of the three. If 56K doesn't quench your thirst for bandwidth, find out if your cable or phone company offers Internet service. Cable modems and digital phone services provide connections two to 20 times faster than standard modems — and leave your phone line free. ISP service is usually (but not always) included in the monthly cost of the connection. National vs. local National providers offer local dial-up lines in most major cities — a must for laptop travelers. Even in rural areas, some national ISPs will have a toll-free number for access without long-distance charges. National providers also tend to offer toll-free 24-hour technical support, which comes in handy when you try to connect from a motel in Topeka at 2 am. If you plan to access the Internet exclusively from home, a local provider may be the better bargain. They usually offer prepayment discounts and may work with you on special services like extra e-mail addresses, additional Web space or domain-name hosting. E-mail If you're looking for an account for the family, consider how many e-mail addresses you'll need. Some ISPs offer only one or two per account, while others offer as many as six at no extra charge. If you need more e-mail addresses than your ISP supplies, consider using a free e-mail service, such as Hotmail or Netscape WebMail. Web Space If you want a home page, consider that ISPs offer anywhere from five to 50 megs of free Web space. A very simple Web page, consisting mostly of text, will fit in one or two megabytes. Showing off your graphic design talent or posting photos of the entire clan will require more. Price For most, choosing an ISP comes down to economics. Depending on the services required, a dial-up connection will cost anywhere from $10 to $25 per month. Make sure you compare each provider's "unlimited use" package, which lets you surf as long as you like for one monthly fee. Avoid metered packages that look inexpensive up front but hit hard after a certain number of hours. Prices listed with the providers below are for the least expensive unlimited use dial-up package and may include a prepayment discount and/or an activation fee. National providers:
Local providers:
Click here for a complete
listing of local Internet
services. And if you haven't purchased your computer yet, our Buyer's
Guide may be of service.
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