Do you want to connect to the Internet?

Do you want to connect to the Internet?
July 1995

I receive dozens of requests for assistance each week from people who have been hearing about the Internet and are interested in connecting, but don’t know where to start. Here’s a 10-minute guide to help you get started.

1. Call Softaid Internet Services, Inc. at 410.290.7763. I recommend this Internet Access Provider (IAP) because, after careful research, I found them to offer the greatest number of features and the friendliest service. They also keep their user-to-modem ratio at 6:1. In short, you should never get a busy signal when calling Softaid.

2. Purchase Internet in a Box software. This all-in-one package includes electronic mail (email), World Wide Web (WWW) browser, and newsgroup reader programs. These are the three most requested Internet applications. The software is available at most computer stores for less than one hundred dollars.

3. Purchase a fast modem. I recommend that you ask Softaid for their suggestion. It’s best to match your modem to the their modem because you’ll get the best performance. Get the exact same brand and model, if possible.

4. Start using the ‘net as soon as possible. Typically, your Internet account is up and running within two days. Practice as soon as possible. If you don’t know where to start, use the Air Mosaic (part of Internet in a Box) program to call URL http://dgl.com/coolsite.html.

I keep a list of “cool sites” on the WWW. This list is updated every day, and it is partitioned into areas of interest for local activities, ‘net searching programs, job seekers and recruiters, business information, free software, and others.

Getting connected to the ‘net is not as difficult as many people think. The secret seems to be finding an IAP with whom you’re comfortable and using the right software from the very start. Once you’re on the ‘net, you can download specialty software programs that will make your new virtual life easier. But first, get connected.

Once on the ‘net, you will find that you’re not the only one out there.

The Howard County Chamber of Commerce, has established effective multimedia communication with its community. An Internet committee has created a homepage on the WWW, and one of the chamber’s goals is to have all businesses online. The chamber’s email address is howardco@softaid.net. Their homepage is located at URL http://www.softaid.net/howardco.

The business marketplace has embraced virtual business. As an example, we met a new customer from South Africa this morning. He read our product information on our homepage and responded to us via email.

Here’s a shocker: new sites appear on the WWW at the rate of at least 200 per day. The total user base of the Internet is growing at the rate of 15% per month! As of last year (the latest statistics that I can confirm), the total number of Internet sites is in the multiple millions. And each site could have thousands of individual users who use the site as their access point.

If you would like to learn more about the Internet and how you can use it for pleasure or profit, please contact me.

David Stephen Murphy is President and CEO of Damar Group, Ltd. which presents computer training classes, publishes computer learning guides, and helps organizations do business on the Internet. The website is http://dgl.com, and Mr. Murphy may be reached at dave@dgl.com or 410.567.5366.

updated November 2, 1996
http://dgl.com/tbm/tbm9507.html