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Technical Requirements
The following steps explain the core requirements that you will need to meet in order to connect to the Internet.
- Obtain the necessary equipment. The minimum requirements to access the Internet include a computer, a telephone line, and a modem. These three components have different specifications and will determine the speed at which information on the Internet can be retrieved. For example, a 200 Mhz Pentium processor with a 56 Kbps modem will collect information faster than a 486 processor with a 28.8 Kbps modem. Why? Because the Pentium processor is faster and the 56 Kbps modem has a larger Bandwidth. The table below displays some recommendations for you to consider. Remember, the newer the technology, the faster and more compatible it will be with the Internet and other software programs.
Necessary Computer Equipment Type of Equipment Minimum Requirements Equipment Recommendations Other Options Computer 486 PC Computer
Macintosh System 7Pentium Processor (In Mhz): 75, 100, 133, 166, 200, 233, 300, 333,
Macintosh System 8,
Links to other Mac upgrades: (http://www.apple.com)For faster processing speed, a Pentium Processor is preferred. Modem 28.8 Kbps 33.6Kbps, 56 Kbps 28.8 is the standard Telephone Line Regular Telephone Line ISDN Line: four times the speed of a 28.8 modem but very expensive. Install a second telephone line so you do not tie up your regular line.
- Choose an Internet Service Provider (ISP). An Internet Service Provider can give you access to the Internet for a fee. The fee usually ranges from $15 to $25 per month depending upon the amount of time used and services offered. Additional fees might include start-up costs for extra e-mail accounts. Many ISPs offer e-mail access, free space to build your own Web site, and even the daily news. To view a comprehensive list of both local and national Internet Service Providers, check out The List (http://www.thelist.com). The List is a free customized online service that displays both national and local ISPs. The table below lists some of the major ISPs:
Major Internet Service Providers Company Name Web Site Address Telephone Number America Online http://www.aol.com 800-827-6364 AT&T WorldNet Service http://www.att.com/worldnet 800-967-5363 CompuServe Interactive http://www.compuserve.com 800-848-8990 Concentric Networks http://www.concentric.net 800-745-2747 Earthlink Network http://www.earthlink.net 800-395-8425 IBM Internet Connection http://www.ibm.net 800-821-4612 The Microsoft Network http://www.msn.com 800-373-3676 MCI Internet http://www.mci.com 800-550-0927 Prodigy Internet http://www.prodigy.com 800-776-2449 Sprint Internet Passport http://www.sprint.com 800-747-9428 Before choosing an ISP, it is important to do some research. Ask your friends or other organizations what ISPs they use. As noted in PC Magazine (http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag), some important questions to ask when researching an ISP are the following:
- Do you have telephone access numbers in my local calling area?
- Do you have a fixed monthly price for unlimited use? What is it?
- Which browser and e-mail reader do you provide?
- Do you offer more than one e-mail account per subscription? How many?
- Do you offer 56 Kbps access? Do you charge a premium?
- Do you offer free Web page postings? How many megabytes of server space do I get?
- Do you offer wizards, Web editors, or other software to help me set up a home page?
- Do you offer toll-free phone access in case I am on the road and not in my billing area? How much extra do you charge for this service?
- Obtain and install the necessary software. To access the Internet through an ISP you need a Web browser. Web browser software interprets and displays Web sites that have text, graphics, video, sound, and hypertext links to other information and Web sites. Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Explorer are the two most popular browsers. Most Internet Service Providers supply you with these programs. They can also be downloaded for free or purchased. Listed below are two popular Web browsers:
- Netscape Navigator (http://www.netscape.com)
- Microsoft Explorer (http://www.microsoft.com)