An Introduction to the Internet

Computers is a fast growing technology that is improving, upgrading, and coming out with crap everyday. For older people or for those who just do not believe in the PC or Mac company philosophy, learning about the computer is a struggle against ignorance. But once that person educates his or herself, then life becomes much better due to the fact that they can access the internet and understand how to use it. Here at Computer Geeks we see the dilemma of people who are maybe not as educated in the computer field, so here is an easy to understand blog about the internet.

Dial-up Internet access

Dial-up Internet access is basically an?analog access method using the standard telephone system with a maximum speed of 64,000?bits per second (bps). Typically the fastest actual access speed is closer to 52,000 bps.

If all you do is email and the occasional web site, a?dial-up Internet access is sufficient.?In the early days of the public Internet (1970-1990) most users accessed through this method with?Internet Service Providers(ISP’s) like?Compuserve,?Prodigy,?WebTV,?AOL and?Mindspring (now?EarthLink).

With today’s media rich Internet dial-up is not able to provide sufficient access speed.

Broadband Internet access

To provide faster access?Broadband became popular in the early 1990’s with?ISDN service from the local telephone company.

ISDN provided speeds of about 144,000 bps and was soon replaced by more efficient methods providing even greater speeds.

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Internet Service

The?Digital Subscriber Line or DSL replaced ISDN in the mid 1990’s and is now one of the most popular Internet Access Methods. DSL typically provides Internet access of 1,500,000 bps to 4,000,000 bps.

DSL is available from AT&T, which can be found on the Internet at?att.com.

The speed you achieve with a DSL Internet connection is dependent on distance from the closest?DSLAM. Generally if you are within 60,000 feet with copper wire service will get excellent results. AT&T is actively laying?fiber optic cable?around the country to improve DSL service even more. Those big orange cables being laid all over are fiber optic cables.

Cable Internet Service

Not to be out done local cable companies began offering Internet service in order to entice customers into the lucrative cable based telephone service.?Cable Internet Access uses the existing broadband?CATV cable and adds Internet access using a?cable modem attached between a?cable jack and your computer or or router.

In the Atlanta area cable Internet service is provided by:

  • Comcast Cable
  • Charter Cable
  • Cox High Speed Internet

If you are not in the Atlanta area, you can locate your local U.S. cable Internet provider?here.

Cable Internet service provides speeds up to 32,000,000 bps.

T-1 and T-3 Internet Service

T-1 Internet Service is a formerly popular service with businesses. It provided Internet service at only 1,500,000 bps at a high price. Cable and DSL now provide faster service at a lower price. T-1 is rapidly becoming obsolete.

T-3 service provide Internet access at speeds up to 44,736,000 bps, slightly faster than cable and it is still used by large companies.

VoIP Telephone Service

If you opt for DSL or other broadband Internet without telephone service, there are services available on the Internet to provide you with a telephone number. The telephone companies have been charging you to place long distance calls for years using the Internet.

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