Important! Note that formatting the hard disk will erase all the information on the hard disk! If this a new computer (to you anyway), then this is what you want. A clean slate. If this is your existing computer's hard disk being upgraded, then this is probably not what you want to do.

Choosing an Internet Service Provider

Here is what you need: basic web access, email, and web page hosting--the more space, the better. You need a local phone access number. Pretty much all providers offer this as part of a standard package.

A lot of ISPs offer service like this with pricing generally around $19.95 a month for "unlimited" service. The problem is that ISPs are fighting a price war with each other and their temptation is to skimp on performance in order to cut costs. Namely by not having enough phone lines on their end, so that you always get a busy signal when you try to connect. So the best way to find a good ISP is to ask other local users what their experiences are. In general, small companies are more responsive.

Don't become too married to the idea of $19.95 a month. There might very well be ISPs in your area that have decided to not play in the price war game and provide much better service by charging a slightly higher price. This is the kind of ISP that I strongly recommend. Uh, yes, you can always change to a different ISP at some point in the future, but you will find out when you do that, that your email address (and web page address) will also change. Remember what a hassle it was when they put 911 in and changed everybody's (real world) mailing address?

Make SURE to ask if web page hosting is included with the ISP service. (It is with AOL.) You will be wanting to put up a web page, and can start working on it as soon as you get your own computer. ANY working computer is all that you need to create a web page. The only additional program you need is a FTP program to transfer the page contents to the web site host. (Ask if the previous owner can install one for you, if you are buying a used computer.) And some kind of bare bones text editing program, which all computers usually have installed anyway. (We're leaving graphic programs as a big optional for now.)

Connecting to the Internet does tie up your phone line when you are using the computer, which might require some finesse on your part, depending on how many house mates you have. ("Will you please get off the computer, so I can make a call.")

You might have to adopt a creative sleeping schedule. (To use the computer in the middle of the night, or very early in the morning. Very early in the morning has the added benefit that the Internet is faster then.) We all have to suffer a bit for our art.