tools of the internet
To communicate on the Internet you need certain tools - some of the tools are hardware, some are software. The hardware you need includes:
- A computer. You should have a 386, or better, computer with as much RAM as you can afford (4 Meg will do it, but 8 is better and more is even better).
- 5 megabytes or more of free space on the hard disk drive
- A modem - the faster the better
Note: If you were to buy a new computer today, you will get more than enough as part of the package. If you are in any doubt, ask the salesperson if the computer can be connected to the Internet.
Modem
The method of communication on the Internet uses a connection into the telephone system. The item that does this is the modem - it transfers digital information from your computer onto the telephone lines, and then receives information from the telephone line and converts it into digital signals your computer understands. You connect the modem into a plug in the back of your computer and then into the telephone socket. You can use a double adapter for the phone socket but you meed to make sure that nobody will use the phone while you are on the Internet.
The most important aspect of a modem is its speed and, as usual, the faster the better. The speed is an indication of how quickly information can pass into your computer through the modem. The current crop of modems is rated at about 56,000 baud. This is a fancy measure for bits of information per second (or almost).
Internet Service Provider
You need to have some way of connecting correctly into the phone system. This is where you need to subscribe to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). This is the bit that costs a steady stream of money. There are several on the North-West coast.
Their charges vary and they usually have a variety of subscription types. You can purchase a set number of hours per month and then pay for any 'overtime', or pay for the number of hours you actually connect to the Internet. You usually pay a few dollars per hour (the cost may vary on the time of day - for example half price from midnight to 7:00 AM). So it's worth your while shopping around, experimenting with different companies, until you find one that suits your needs.
Another way of getting on the Internet is to use the connection at an educational institution such as a university, TAFE or Adult Education, or public library, or Online Access Centre. In some places there are even restaurants and cafes that cater for the Internet crowd. So, you can lunch and browse at the same time. However, these notes will concentrate on how to use the Internet at home.
When you subscribe with an ISP you will be provided with a logon name (like smithj or jsmith or johns or something else). Usually it's based on a combination of surname and first name. You will also be given a password. It is important to keep your password secure because misuse of it by others can be expensive.
You might consider keeping a little notebook for your logon information. Over time you might subscribe to many different sites on the Internet. Sometimes it's difficult to remember all the logon procedures.
Dialler
Next you need some software that lets you dial up a connection between your computer and your ISP's computer. This software is called a dialler. A dialler is supplied with Windows.