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Even if you already have an internet account, you might be
considering changing to another Internet Service Provider, (ISP).
If you're not familiar with all the different options you have,
here are some general highlights and a few things to consider.
Making ISP Comparisons
You have several choices these days in the way of an internet
provider. It is definitely worth shopping around for. Some of
the basic things you want to ask for are:
- Does the carrier have several local access numbers? You want
to know how much you might have to pay your phone company for
long distance connections. You also want to know if how many
access numbers are available to you locally. If you try to login
from home during peak times, the access numbers might be over
burdened and you can't get connected. With access to multiple
numbers, you at least will have an opportunity to dial in through
other communication lines.
- How reliable are the access connections and access to the
provider. In the past, many new services have had some terrible
problems keeping their networks up and running. But if you're
going to be paying out $10, $15 or $20 a month, then you want
to make sure your provider is up and running when you want to
be surfing the internet.
- If the service provides you with a web browser, you want
to know what level of support it maintains. Does it support the
latest HTML, does it support Java, ActiveX, image mapping and
so on. If the browser can't support Java for instance, then you
won't be able to gain access to many corporate web sites. Many
services now offer you the ability to run your own browser with
their customized service. This is often the best of both worlds.
- If you want your own web page(s), does the carrier provide
the space? If so how much space, and does it cost extra. Most
services will include this feature in their package. If you have
to pay extra for the space, then you should find another provider.
At a minimum you want 2meg of space for your site. But if you
plan on using extended graphics or applications, look for a provider
who offers a minimum of 10meg or more.
- If they do support this feature, does the provider review
your pages before their published or are you free to implement
what you like? You want to be able to publish your own pages
without review. After all freedom of speech applies to the internet
and you have the right to say what you want.
- If your single or married without children, there are a number
of services that offer well priced and economical programs for
internet access. But if you like a little creativity or if you
have children, you might seriously consider a membership with
America On-Line (AOL).
- An AOL account, allows you to create multiple sub-accounts
(what AOL calls screen names) on a single account. This is equivalent
to paying for 1 account with email and you automatically get
4 additional accounts with their own email addresses. You can
use the main account name, JSmith@aol.com, and then create 4
additional names that are all accessed independently; such as
MoonHawk@aol.com, Smittykid@aol.com and so on. You can create
a fun name, set-up a name for your children or create a personal
screen name and a business name.
- If you have children, this maybe a choice you like. AOL does
keep the "adult" type material to a minimum and what
is there can be managed and restricted from your child's account
by you. When you set up a screen name for your kids, AOL will
prompt you for what type of access you want this account to have.
You have your choice of unlimited, teen or child. This is a great
way of protecting your children from online hackers, adult material
and even adult web sites. Allowing you to feel safe about what
they have access to.
- AOL also provides users with the ability to use Netscape
or some other internet browser with their service. It's a simple
process of copying the winsock.dll from the AOL library to the
Netscape library.
Outside of AOL and MSN, there are a gizzillion internet providers.
From local providers such as Erols in the Mid-Atlantic, to larger
nationwide providers such as MindSpring, AT&T, NetCom and
so on. |
