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Technet FAQ - General Information Return to FAQ Table of Contents
The Internet is a global network of computers that all share the same communications protocols and can exchange information with one another. Built on top of this infrastructure is a set of standard services, such as electronic mail and the World Wide Web. The Internet is a way for millions of people to use computers to communicate with one another. Internet users can retrieve and download information and send electronic mail for personal or business purposes. TCP/IP, a networking protocol that enables the current Internet to pass data was widely accepted by the early 1980s. Windows based "browsers" have made web surfing increasingly popular. Technological developments in Internet software continue to improve the connectivity on the Internet. Frequently Asked Questions are lists of questions that have been frequently asked by new users about Internet applications, group topics and other Internet services. Books and magazines often feature question and answer articles covering these topics. Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) can also provide you with a good starting bibliography. The courtesy of having reviewed the FAQs before asking questions is very much appreciated by other users of the Net. The Internet has an informal code of behavior, etiquette for the Net or "netiquette". The rules of netiquette are enforced by admonishment and "flaming." Some helpful hints to keep your use within the bounds include:
"ISP" stands for Internet Service Provider. ISPs sell Internet connections to individuals and businesses, including UNIX (pronounced U-nicks) based "shell" accounts, PPP dial-up accounts, and high speed digital connections. Listings of ISPs can be found in the phone directory, at local computer users clubs, and on the Web. However, a favorable recommendation from a friend or relative should be strongly considered. Many services offer technical support to help you install and configure the software that is necessary to navigate the World Wide Web. The cost of this service can vary; ask before you subscribe. Normally, service rates are based on type of access and the number of hours per month you can be on-line before you have to pay additional fees. ISPs often centralize their technical support operations, and accessing them for support could mean long distance charges will be applied. Be sure to understand all the available service and pricing opportunities before you subscribe. Price, while an obvious consideration, is not the only issue that should be important to you. The range and number of services provided as standard service and included in your regular access fees, the limitations to access, the provider's choice and use of Internet filters, the provider's modem connection speeds and the provider's speed of access to the "backbone" are more important. Many providers have complex networking systems of their own; this could cause some considerable delay in packet delivery and could cause more and longer "down times." Another very important issue, especially for the more novice "surfer, " is technical support. The availability, whether by local or long distance call, the hours of service and the fees associated should be major factors in your choice. Recommendations from reliable sources should be strongly weighed in making this decision. In many locations you will have the option of choosing among several different ISPs and rate structures. The difference among them is not always clear. In general, however, the more expensive the service is, the better the grade of service you will receive. The most important considerations are:
Selecting your ISP will be a trade off of pricing for the type of service you expect and need. On-line companies offer users a "content service" with various services like electronic mail, regularly updated information about sporting events or the weather, live chats from your keyboard, discussion groups or forums, shareware distribution, and more. These companies have gateways to the Internet, and can send and receive electronic mail from the Internet. These gateways let their users access the World Wide Web and other Internet services, but do not let Internet users get to their proprietary content. These services can sometimes suffer from an excess of busy signals and often don't have local dial in numbers outside of major cities. What about Viruses on the Internet? The incidence of virus transmission is actually very small in number and most often contained and destroyed quickly. Media hype has somewhat overstated this issue, but it is true that viruses can be present in ANY download. You're generally much safer when downloading from well known sites such as Microsoft, McAfee, Netscape and the like. Downloading directly from your ISP can also be assumed to be fairly safe. It is advisable to use a reliable virus detector before opening or executing any downloaded software. Spam is e-mail or newsgroup articles sent to hundreds or even thousands of unwilling recipients. Not only does this waste people's time deleting it, it is probably illegal if any money is involved. Most, but not all, spam is unsolicited commercial e-mail; other spam may be politically motivated. The key point is that spamming is not acceptable behavior on the Internet. This behavior also violates New Mexico Technet's Acceptable Use Policy, and Technet, as a responsible member of the Internet community, will not allow its customers to send spam. Sending spam is grounds for deletion of an account. Note that mailing lists are not spam, because everyone on the mailing list asked for the mail to be delivered. See the Spam abuse page for more information. |
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