Introduction
to the Internet
... for Family Historians
by Eddie Spackman
|
Introduction
to the Internet
|
|
by Eddie Spackman |
return to Contents (Getting Started)
Need:
Computer |
|
Telephone line |
|
Modem |
|
ISP (Internet Service Provider) |
get CD - from ISP, front door-mat or computer magazine cover |
To be willing to Learn |
4 styles: ‘dive in’, use a friend, read a manual, go on a course |
Money |
to pay for telephone calls! Phone cost at different times of the day/week while on-line vary. |
You will need Help. Where do you get it? |
|
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Almost all modern computers from the last 5 years or so are OK. Must have:
Modem 'modulator/demodulator' |
to convert analogue signals received over telephone line to digital signals used in computer |
'Browsing software' |
for Web-pages usually MS Internet Explorer (v5) or Netscape Navigator (v4.7) also Opera gets good reviews |
Email software |
usually MS Outlook Express (v5) or Netscape Messenger (v4.7) |
Modern PC Computer spec:
500 MHz processor, 32 Mb RAM, 4 Gb Hard Disk, 3.5 in floppy disk drive, 14/15/17/19 inch monitor, keyboard, mouse etc
Most are 'IBM compatible' PCs running MS Windows. There are others (e.g. Apple iMac) - with operating systems that are often said to be better!
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Todays PC is very powerful: about 6 times ‘better’ than 3 years ago!
| Processor | Memory (RAM) | Hard Disk | Monitor | ||
Today (Dec 2000) |
750 MHz | 32 Mb (or 64Mb) | 10 Gb | 15/17 inch | |
Jan 2000 |
500 MHz | 32 Mb (or 64Mb) | 6 Gb | 15/17 inch | |
1996 |
75 MHz | 8 Mb | 1 Gb | 14 inch | |
Early 90s |
~10 MHz | 1 Mb | 20 Mb | 14 inch | |
First PCs in early 80s |
~4 Mhz | 64 Kb | none | 14 inch | |
1970 fastest mainframe: |
slower than today’s PC | 1Mb | less than today | no monitor, keyboard, mouse programs and data input using puched cards (or paper tape) Required: large air-conditioned room, £1M or so, several staff to run it, engineers on-site to maintain it and used custom-written software! |
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Wherever you are happy to do so. Consider:
Local Computer Shop |
- can build to your specification and use components from your 'old' PC. | Variable support, personal attention possible |
High Street Store (Dixons, Tiny, ...) |
- several fixed specification machines. | Good support |
Department Store (John Lewis, ...) |
- range of fixed specification machines. | Good support |
Specialist Computer Store (PC World, ...) |
- range of fixed specification machines. | Good support |
Mail Order (see Computer Magazines) |
- range of fixed spec or build to your spec. | Good support |
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All computers should come with 'system' software (such as MS Windows98). There should be little need to buy additional 'system' software to that supplied with the PC. Your ISP will provide any additional software needed for connection to the Internet.
New/update software can be downloaded from the Internet (be aware that large software can take several hours to download) or obtained from cover CDs on Computer Magazines.
You will require specialised software for other tasks (e.g. Family History software for recording details of your ancestors in a data-base, and for creating web-pages to put on the Internet).
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Wide range of choice - over 100 in UK. Many with no monthly/annual subscription. Here are a few:
Portal sitesi.e. those with a starting point with 'own' web pages and links available to subscribers |
Compuserve, AOL - not free, long-standing, have their own customised software |
| Which? | |
| LineOne, Virgin, Dixons (FreeServe), Bun (Sun) | |
Others |
Demon, Global Internet |
| Waitrose, Boots, Smiths,
M&S, Tesco to induce you to use e-commerce? |
|
| MSN, Clara Net, BT Click, BT Internet, CIX, Force 9 |
Reviews and performance assessment.of ISPs can be found in Magazines (e.g. InterNet magazine, Which, ...)
Some say ‘free ISP’ = ‘something irritating somewhere’ eg speed problems or lack of server available. This is debatable.
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The Internet |
Getting started |
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How to ... |
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Other issues |
Background information |
| prepared by Eddie Spackman | wrtten
2 February 2000 |