Cranbrook Computing
Internet Guide
This Guide is a personal statement. Please check the services offered by your intended Internet Service Provider as prices and availability are constantly changing!
Introduction to World Wide Web
The Internet started as a military information and control system that, by linking a number of computers in different locations, would be able to continue working even if one or more computers were destroyed. In essence each machine is connected to at least one other. It broadcasts requests for information and listens for the replies. This network was quickly hijacked by other departments and computer enthusiasts across the World who established the information and electronic mail network we now call the Internet.
To gain access to the Internet you need only to gain access one of the millions of computers (known as a server) which is connected to this network.
To access the Internet is to obtain unlimited information on any topic ever conceived and have to ability to communicate around the World, quickly, cheaply and securely.
The Internet is fast changing the way we live. We Work, shop, play and communicate across using the Internet. Unfortunately it has proved very attractive to sellers of "adult" products and illegal goods. Most worringly the Internet is the single most common way by which personal identities are stolen. Every Internet user should ensure they use their computer and the Internet is a safe manner. Please see security web page for further details. Return to top
Internet pages arrive at your PC in coded format. In order to present them on you monitor you will use a browser program. These programs can display all common types of picture, text, sound etc.
The most widely used browser is Microsoft's Internet Explorer. This program is provided free with Windows 95 / 98, much to the annoyance of Netscape who would like to be able to sell their browser program called Navigator. They are equally good products with only minor differences.
Compuserve and AOL provide their own browsers
Return to topThere are over 300 organisations in the UK providing access to the internet www.ukfreeisps.abelgratis.co.uk gives a full list. Choosing the right one for you is not therefore easy.
Compuserve and AOL stand out as being amongst the first organisations to provide on-line information services. When they started their services the Internet was populated largely by academic and specialist companies and there was limited software available. Compuserve and AOL provided both and made a charge accordingly. Many users are more than happy with the package and willingly pay the monthly service charge.
About two years ago, the Dixons Group of companies upset the status quo by launching Freeserve; a service offering access to the Internet without any monthly charge. Since then several hundred companies followed their lead.
The majority of ISPs (Internet Service Providors) now operate in this way. There is no joining fee and no monthly charge, you simply pay for a local rate telephone call from which the ISP receives a share. These pay-as-you-go services provide little if any software and support is normally via a premium rate phone call. If you select a large ISP (eg freeserve) and you will get a satisfactory service; select a small, little unknown ISP and you may get a great service most times but may find connecting at peak times frustrating....
Some ISPs have experimented with low-cost or totally free (0800 or 0808 phone number) connections. This is normally achieved by sponsorship / advertising or by packaging internet access with cable or telephone services (eg NTL or Line-One). You knew there had to be a catch!
Unmetered acces is provided by several ISPs usually in return for a monthly charge of around £15. BT curently allow their customers unmetered access to most ISP evening and weekends with "BT Surftime"
Recommendation: BT - not normally known for being quick off the mark - currently offer perhaps the cheapest pay-as-you-go service (1/2 the cost of normal local rate calls) and unmetered access (£5 Surftime, £15 Anytime).
Return to topMany websites (eg shopping sites) allow you to save personal details by reqistering with that site. The details you give are stored on the remote computer and may be access by you regardless of which ISP you are using. Some websites allow anyone to post messages on the site for your personal attention. This is hotmail. Provided you are on-line, you may access your mail from anywhere in the world by using a browser program such as Internet Explorer.
Most ISPs provide conventional email. This has nothing to do with web pages so does not require you to use a browser program; instead an email program, such as Outlook Express, is used. When using conventional e-mail it is normal to connect to your ISP, request your mail then hang-up the phone while you read your mail and compose your reply.
Remember to send your email you must be on line. Others can send email to you at any time. It will be stored by your ISP or hotmail server until you go on line to accept it.
email is fast and secure. You can use it to send pictures and other files but you should ensure that the reciptient wants the file in the format in which it is being sent (ie do they have a suitable program to handle it).
One cheat used by many is a service offered by www.Freecheck.co.uk who allow you to check if you have any mail waiting without being charged for a phone call. See their web site for further details.
Return to topPasswords
Much confusion is caused by the need to have several different passwords.
Windows 95/98 makes life easier for you by offering to remember passwords, but in order to do so you must first log on to your own machine using a password! Most home users will leave this initial password blank.
To connect to the Internet, most ISPs require you to identify yourself with a user-id and password.
To access your e-mail you will again need to give a password.
When registering with some information or shopping services you will be asked to provide some identification (usually your email address) and a password.
Most users quickly find they have a number of situations where a password is required and simplify things by using the same password in all situation - until they find a service which requires a longer or differently formatted password. To aviod future frustration most users choose to write their passwords down. You must of course keep these notes secure! One way of doing so is to incorporate them into false addresses and phone numbers in an address book.
Return to topFor further information and advice please contact Cranbrook Computing
Telephone: 01580 712773