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Thanks to everyone who have submitted questions to us, these are some of the questions and answers.

 
What sort of computer do I need to access the Internet?

You can run the Internet off almost any computer but some will be slower than others. To get good access you require a 486 or better (Pentium preferred) and at least 8 megabytes of ram.
What speed of modem do I need to access the Internet?

You only require a 14.4kbps modem to connect to most service providers, however, most service providers will supply for 56kbps modem for greater speed.
Basically, the speed of the modem reflects the rate the modem transfers the data from digital to analogue signals. Your computer uses a digital signal, yet information flows through some of the existing phone lines as an analogue signal so the modem has to transfer this information from one to the other and back again. The speed, at which this occurs, depends on your modem.
How do I pick an Internet Service Provider?

Here are some things you should consider when selecting an Internet Service Provider (ISP):

  1. Local Phone Access: as your phone line is used to access the Internet, it would be smarter if your chosen ISP has a dialup number that is the cost of a local call.
  2. Easy Setup: the Starter CD / disk provided by the ISP should be simple and quick. It should include all the major components of your Internet connection. It should install a browser, email, and a newsgroup client if they're not already on your system, then build the appropriate dial-up connection and configure your mail and news accounts.
  3. Busy Signal Policy: an ISP requires a port for every person subscribed with them to enable their Internet access. If there are not enough ports, you might sometimes have trouble logging on to the Net and have to wait till a port is free for you. It's best to have an account with an ISP with a "no busy signal" policy.
  4. Variety of Payment Plans: you should be able to pick from paying a straight hourly fee or fixed monthly fees which provide access for a certain amount of hours. You need a plan which matches your online time and that can vary if your use expands or reduces.
  5. Technical and Customer Support: a support resource that is available after hours is important. You can access the Internet is 24/7, so should your ISP's customer and technical support. It should be toll-free or at most a local call. You should be careful when considering companies that only offer online support as you may not be able to get online!!
  6. Strong Content: less experienced surfers should look for a homepage (start page) that contains a variety of content and well-organised hotlinks to all the rest on the Internet.
What is a website?

The Net is organised into millions of websites. A website is like an online brochure of a company, organisation, person or any other entity that provides information to others on the Net. Some may be used to simply provide contact information, some are more interactive and allow you to purchase or discuss / share information.

Each website is divided into pages like a book, the number of which can run into thousands. Each webpage has its own Web address and is indexed as a separate file under the website. The main page of a website is called its homepage. The homepage is usually the first page of a website that your browser displays.
How do I find things on the Internet?

Searching the Net effectively is important. If you do not know the address of the information or website you need to use, your best bet is to use a search engine.

Search engines are a fantastic resource, whatever your interests. These engines help find and isolate desired information by searching for user-specified keywords. Keywords are either programmed into a website or are contained in the body of the website.

A program that receives your search request, compares it to the entries in the index and returns results to you. For example: Dogpile, Webcrawler, Excite, Yahoo Australia and Altavista.
What is Email?

Electronic mail, better known as email, is one of the most popular Internet resources. You can send it any time of day (with just the click of a button) to any electronic address in the world and it's delivered within minutes.

Similar in many ways to conventional mail, an email consists of a letter that must be addressed and posted. Virtual post offices transfer the email to the appropriate recipient and leave it in their mailbox, ready to be checked, opened and read.

When you sign up with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) for an Internet account, you should be provided with an email programme and an email address. The program will then take you through the appropriate prompts to send and receive mail.
What is downloading? Is it safe?

Downloading is the transmission of a file from one computer system to another. From the Internet users point of view to download a file is to request it from another computer (or from a web page on another computer) and to receive it.

To ensure that you are downloading a file safely, you should ensure that you have virus protection on your computer. Ensure that you update your virus protection regularly, at least twice a month.
How do I protect my children from Pornography?

Implementing an Internet filtering software will help exclude objectionable sites from your kids' viewing - besides supervising the kids' access, regulating their online time and shielding them from these sites. These software solutions can also provide different options for the different age groups.

Access Internet filters can be found anywhere, and like viruses they need to be updated regularly. Popular ones include Net Nanny, Cyber Patrol and CyberSitter.
12-04-2002