The 1-2-3s of ISPs

Computer Life column for January 24, 1998 by
Richard Gordon

Last week, I suggested you try WebTV for an easy way to get on-line.

This week, I've heard the same commercial for a full-service national Internet Service Provider (ISP) blaring from the radio while I get dressed every morning.

Then there's Bell Atlantic's campaign touting their on-line services and the "Internet Guide" in their 1998 phone books. Their Yellow Pages have nearly two pages of "Internet Services" listings.

The Donnelly Directory lists a half-dozen vendors under "Internet Services"--although why I should consult a directory that lists a restaurant called Cluck-U Chicken under "Gutters & Downspouts" is beyond me.

The News Journal often has a raft of ads from local and regional ISPs. Search the Web and you'll find thousands more, many of which are listed by the University of Pennsylvania (www.upenn.edu/computing/remote/net-providers.html) and--without recommendation or condemnation--by the University of Delaware (www.udel.edu/thud/prov.html).

I wish I could tell you that one ISP is best for you and your computer. But you'll have to select your own.

You could visit c|net's rating guide for ISPs, currently being revamped, when it returns (www.cnet.com/Content/Reviews/Compare/ISP). In the meantime, visit their review of bargain ISPs (www.cnet.com/Content/Reviews/Compare/Ispbarg).

To tide you over, here are 10 criteria to help you select an ISP.

1. Choose an ISP with a simple setup procedure. As c|net's reviewer indicated, "There's no excuse for troublesome setup. Even from a discount ISP, you shouldn't accept anything less than a fill-in-the-blanks, fully automated installation and configuration process."

2. Think about the bigger support issues: When is customer service available? If you have a Mac or a Windows 3.1 system, will the ISP support your computer? Does the ISP guarantee to return your calls or e-mail within 24 hours? What, if any, training does the ISP offer?

3. Choose an ISP with a local phone number. If you travel a lot, make sure there is an 800 number you can dial--but watch out for hidden surcharges.

4. Consider the pricing and your on-line habits. Do you really need "unlimited access" or is there a cheaper alternative for, say, connecting 10 hours a month? Want those really cheap "unlimited" rates you hear advertised? Then be prepared to pay up front for 3-4 years worth of service--a bad idea. Who knows what technology we'll be using in 3 years.

5. Is a free trial or money-back guarantee included? A trial period is the best way to judge the speed of an ISP's connection and the frequency of busy signals.

6. Think about the email issues: Do you have to use their e-mail package or can you choose one? Can you get more than one mailbox per account like AOL or WebTV give you?

7. Do you want the ISP to organize what's available on line for you to make it easier to find things or do you want to be free to roam?

8. What software does the ISP give you? Does it include some kind of "filtering" mechanism so you can reduce the number of X-rated sites your kids stumble across?

9. How much room do you have for storing your own Web pages on the ISP's server? You know you'll want to publish some pages eventually.

10. National ISPs like CompuServe, Microsoft Network, and AOL are notoriously bad about ceasing to bill you when you cancel your service. For that reason alone, ask your neighbors about their recent experiences with local ISPs. Local companies like iNet Communications (www.inetcom.net), DCANet (www.dcanet.com), and The MagPage (www.magpage.com) have a vested interest in pleasing you, but a regional or national provider may have more resources. As a result, hybrid services like @delawareonline (www.delawareonline.com) in which a national provider, InfiNet, and a local organization, the News Journal, form a partnership, are becoming more prevalent.

Copyright © 1998, The News Journal Company

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