Choosing an ISP

Okay, so you bought (or found a way to access) a computer, and you’re
ready to surf eBay. Hold on a minute — before you start surfing, you need
access to the Internet. (Details, details. . . .) The way to access the Internet
is through an ISP, or Internet service provider, such as Earthlink, MSN
(Microsoft Network), or RoadRunner. If you don’t already belong to one of
these, don’t worry; joining is easy.

To join a telephone dial-up ISP (because dial-up requires no additional equipment
or connections), just load the freebie software that comes with a computer
(or free at the computer store) into your CD drive and follow the
registration steps that appear on your computer screen. Have your credit
card and lots of patience handy. With a little luck and no computer glitches,
you’ll have an active account and instant access to e-mail and the Internet in
less than an hour.

When you go to a computer store or buy a computer, you’re hit with all
kinds of free trial offers that beg you to “Sign up now, first month free!” You
can find free introductory deals everywhere! (They used to just come on
CDs. I have a friend who painted all her free CDs and hung them on her
Christmas tree. Another sawed them in half and made a very unattractive
cyberbelt.) If you’re new to the Internet and not sure which ISP to go with,
your best bet may be to start with NetZero HiSpeed. NetZero has been
around for years and offers accelerated speeds on its dial-up connections.

If you have a need for speed, and your time is worth a bit more than an
increase in ISP cost, you may want to look into getting a broadband connection.
The quality of the different types of broadband (DSL and cable) can
vary greatly from area to area and even from street to street.
Before you decide what kind of broadband connection you want, go to the
following: www.broadbandreports.com

Broadband, or high-speed, connections can be a boon to your eBay business.
Here’s the skinny on the different types:
✦ DSL: Short for Digital Subscriber Line. For as little as $19.95 a month,
you can get rid of your pokey, analog dial-up connection and always be
connected to the Internet. A DSL line can move data as fast as 6 MB per
second — that’s six million bits per second, or 140 times as fast as a 56K
modem. At that speed, a DSL connection can greatly enhance your eBay
and Internet experiences. For more information about what DSL is and
how to get it, visit www.dslreports.com.

✦ Cable: An Internet cable connection is a reliable method for Internet
access if you have digital cable TV. Your Internet connection runs
through your television cable and is regulated by your cable TV provider.
With the advent of digital cable, this reliable and speedy Internet
connection is an excellent alternative. (See my speed report from my
wireless network in Figure 1-2.) Most cable accounts include several
e-mail addresses and space to store your images.