| Chapter
2 Connecting to the Internet Overview of chapter Up until a few years ago the task of connecting a computer to the Internet was highly complicated and one that was best left to computer whizz-kids. Indeed, paediatrician Tim David, in a letter to the British Medical Journal remarked that 'only serious computer enthusiasts with plenty of spare time should access the Internet from home'. In the years that have passed since this letter was published the task of connecting to the Internet has been significantly simplified. Anyone who can install a computer game or a piece of office software has the necessary skills to connect a computer to the Internet. At the same time, however, the connection choices available to the home user - dial-up access, cable modems, ADSL, unmetered calls etc. - have multiplied. The purpose of this chapter is to explain, in a non-technical way, the options available and highlight the issues that need to be considered before you hook your computer up to the Internet. Key topics |
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Getting started | |
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Up and running in 10 minutes | |
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Computer | |
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Software | |
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Software | |
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Dial-up and broadband access: some comparisons | |
| Useful URLs discussed in this chapter |
| Website | Description | Address |
| ADSL checker | Via this site you can determine whether ADSL services are available in your locality. | http://www.dsl.pipex.net/adsl/sales/availability/ctrl-page.html |
| Unmetered ISP's | Use this site to find an up-to-date list of ISP's who provide unmetered access to the Internet. | http://www.net4nowt.com/unmetered/index.htm |