You've heard about it. Everyone is doing it. You can't scan the newspaper without seeing it advertised. Finally, you decide it's time to try out the Internet for yourself. Who do you call to get an account so you can start surfing the 'net ?

Whoa! Not so fast. Let's switch places for a minute; you be the consultant. A lawyer you know has just bought a brand-new computer and several pieces of software. He has no experience using computers whatsoever, and none of the software has been loaded. He comes to you and says, "I've bought everything I need. Tell me how I start doing some word-processing."

What would you say? After all, a few steps are missing here. It doesn't make sense to start by explaining how to load the software, configure the operating system and set the preferences, since none of that will make sense to the beginner.

At this stage what this lawyer really needs is to learn some word-processing using a package already loaded and configured. Even though the installation program will require at a very early stage that he choose a subdirectory to hold macros, it's too early to try explaining what that means, since he won't know what a subdirectory is, much less what macros are all about. This lawyer wants to run before he can walk.

Okay-let's switch back: you want to know how to "get Internet on your computer." If you don't know a lot about it yet, it doesn't make sense for you to start with connection, program installation and setup; none of the options it asks about will mean anything to you.

What you need to do is learn about using the Internet first. Later, you can set out to arrange some form of connection to it through a service provider.

It's not a simple matter of learning how to run an e-mail program, or how to use Netscape. First, you must learn the difference between clients and servers. You must be able to interpret addresses like bdl.wong@crim.minors.ca and URL=http://www.server.com/pub/intro.html.

You must be comfortable working around some of the eccentricities of the UNIX operating system. You must learn to differentiate newsgroups from mailing-lists, and when to reach for one of the various programs that make up the Internet: Telnet, FTP, Gopher, Archie and Veronica, to name a few.

This all assumes, of course, that you can already navigate the convoluted world of modems and telecommunications. The large volume of information on the Internet and attendant lack of organization make finding some things a challenge. No centralized roster of users exists, and there's no single starting point.

You may know that most of the software you need can be downloaded free from somewhere on the 'net. (Not just software, but fonts, sounds, movies, documents, electronic journals, consumer product information and Supreme Court judgments, too.) You can get it all by Anonymous FTP. Does that mean anything to you yet?

Well, you'll need to call up a program to serve as an FTP client, know how to use the anonymous login convention, know how to search for the software you want, and then how to bring it to your machine once you find it.

Even the World Wide Web, the fastest growing sector of the Internet and the simplest to navigate, involves understanding many basic details. To summarize, there are three different sets of things to learn:

1. how the Internet works and what its components are;
2. what kind of information is out there, where it is and who supports it; and
3. how to connect your computer to the Internet, set up the software programs and use them to your advantage.

My advice: start with the first two, and work on the last one when you're ready. The best way to learn about the Internet is to take a course. Learning what's available and how to avoid the traps right from the start will save you hours of frustration later.

A number of courses are offered throughout the country, and some are even hands-on. A good course is time well spent.

Still want to go it on your own? Try the following suggestions:

1) Join a Freenet

A freenet is an independent, non-profit on-line service offered to the public, usually sponsored by corporations and government grants along with donations from its users.

Some freenets even provide free public access terminals in libraries. The freenet offers many but not all Internet services, although this varies from city to city. A Freenet is a great place to get started on the Internet, since it offers so much new user support.

Freenets tend to have excellent documentation explaining many aspects of Internet life. They also keep many Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) files handy so you can download and peruse them at your leisure. (And you are well advised to do so: asking a question which is answered in a FAQ file immediately exposes you as a rank amateur, and gives everyone a poor impression of you.)

2) Buy a Book

Many books are well-written and come with software to start you off. I especially like Adam Engst's Internet Starter Kit. The most complete list of Canadian Internet providers is the Canadian Internet Handbook by Broadhead and Carroll. The Internet for Dummies series is also simple and readable.

3) Join a BBS or User Group

Some organizations offer Internet access exclusively. Others, such as local bulletin board systems (BBSs). across the country-e.g., Canada Remote Systems, Mindlink, Synapse-and the large U.S. user groups-e.g., CompuServe, Prodigy, AOL-offer Internet access as one of their many and varied member services.

Choosing an Internet Provider

If you already know what the Internet is about, you are in a position to find a service provider. Unless you absolutely have no choice, be sure that the call to your provider is either a local call or toll-free long-distance.

Make sure you distinguish shell access from serial access. A shell account may allow you to use Telnet, FTP, Gopher and similar text-based programs, but will not suffice to support graphical Web browsers. For that you need a full-time direct connection, or a SLIP or PPP account.

Your choice of access provider should depend upon:

• the extent of your communications needs;
• the technical effort each system requires you to put in;
• the amount of user support offered;
• the amount of money you are willing to spend;
• where you hope to get access from (one location or many);
• the hardware platform and operating system you work under.

Access providers all charge different amounts but within the same types of schemes. Each has a personal plan, a corporate plan, a home plan, a retirement plan and so on. The cost is usually a flat rate for a minimum number of hours (for example, $25 for 30 hours/month) and a per-hour price for any time over that. There may also be storage costs, startup costs and other costs as well.

Be wary of any provider advertising what seems to be unusually low rates. Some providers undercut the cost to gain marketshare; but just like your business and mine, you can't undercut too much and still deliver the same quality of service.

© 1996 Lewis S. Eisen

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