Start Me Up!
Packages that Promise the World
While starter packages can be good deals, making a smart purchase is
tricky. A word to the wise: Don't let disks alone be your guide. Here's
why.
If you've been to a bookstore lately, you've probably seen the racks brimming
with Internet books. Most come with one or two disks of Internet software,
and some include sign-up offers from Internet service providers. Others
dispense with the book altogether: "All you need to surf the Net!"scream the covers of floppy disks sitting next to the cash register. "Be
on the Internet in minutes! Hundreds of dollars in free software included!"
One of the great things about books is that you can flip through the pages
to see what you're getting. But when software and Internet services are
included, you'll find that making a wise purchase is a bit trickier. Some
packages are good deals, but often useful books are bundled with software
that misses the mark, and few packages, if any, are worth buying just to
get the disks.
Living Up to Expectations?
Sometimes the software isn't quite what you'd expect. A few Internet books
come with sign-up kits for WinNet or Delphi, for example. WinNet provides
offline e-mail and Usenet news feeds, while Delphi is a conventional online
system with some Internet access. These aren't bad services -- they're just
not what most of us have in mind when we think about connecting to the Internet.
Other packages offer more complete access but are tied to a single Internet
service provider. Netcom's Netcruiser and PSINET Pipeline's
Internaut, for example, require you to sign up with their default providers.
The software is fine, but the providers' range is limited. Netcom has a
presence in a couple dozen large cities, while other small providers are
local only to their particular areas. If you don't live in those places,
you'll have to make a long-distance call or use a packet network such as
Sprintnet. Either option adds to your hourly Internet cost.
For total Internet access that isn't tied to a single service provider,
Trumpet WinSock and the Chameleon Sampler are the low-end standards for
Windows users. They're widely available online and are also included in
many book/disk combinations. Trumpet WinSock is shareware, unpolished in
appearance but quite powerful. The Chameleon Sampler is a freeware demo
of Netmanage Inc.'s Internet Chameleon, but it's usable in its own right.
Both programs handle SLIP and PPP connections to the service of your choice.
Another set of WinSock-based Internet tools is available with Angela Gunn's
Plug 'n Play Mosaic (see review, page 73), which comes with a software bundle
that includes Distinct TCP/IP and Enhanced NCSA Mosaic. On the other hand,
Mortice Kern Systems' Internet Anywhere book contains little more than instructions
for the software, which is a very limited trial version of the company's
commercial product.
Finding Bargains with Small Providers
What you pay for Internet service and what you get for your money both depend
on the provider you choose. Some book/disk kits try to make that choice
for you, with software that's tied to one provider or that automatically
calls up a cooperating service. But in many parts of the country, the best
Internet deals often come from smaller providers. A local company may be
the only provider with its own modems in your local dialing area, particularly
if you live outside a big city. That can make a big difference in your monthly
bill, but a small provider isn't likely to offer its services in books that
are sold all over the country. If an Internet book looks like something
you want to read, buy it, and maybe you'll get some useful software as a
bonus. But unless you already know that the software and services are your
best bet, don't let the included disks guide your decision about services.
-- Tim Victor
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