Software and Hardware Required to Use the Internet; Internet Addressing

by Brad Ryder, May 1996

Hardware: Home users need a computer with a modem connected to a telephone line to use the Internet. The specific hardware requirements are not as clear, for this depends on the user's expectations. According to Harley Hahn [1996] the only acceptable computer is a Pentium. He says that to buy a 486 computer at this time would be "a foolish choice" [p. 38]. This position is supported by the millions of computer users who must have the fastest computer as soon as it hits the market. This is one reason the microcomputer chip industry is booming, the semiconductor industry growing 41.7 percent in 1995 [Cohen, 1996].

Hahn also specifies a fast modem of 28,000 baud or bits per second. His lofty stance on this is similar to his insistence that a user buy nothing slower than a Pentium computer. Hahn correctly states that a slower modem will cost less but cause "agonizing minutes of waiting...." I know many people, usually computer neophytes, who say they are willing to wait if it will save them a few bucks. However, once they get more computer savvy and anxious to access the Internet and browse and read mail and all that, they may see that speed is of the essence.

Still, there's another point of view. Go simple and for $500 get WebBoy, a stripped-down computer that is good for nothing ... nothing, that is, except for accessing the Internet [Zilber, 1996]. Actually WebBoy doesn't exist, but companies are promising to reveal prototypes soon. This computer and others like it may be suitable for the Internet, since many people don't take advantage of the power of their computers anyway, and some of us do things with the computer simply because we can, not because we need to or should [Doran, 1996].

Software: TCP/IP software is needed so the computer can speak the Internet's language. The user must install dialing software and the client programs to do the desired functions. First, however, the user must have someplace to call. This requires an Internet Service Provider (ISP). These can be found all over the country now, some large ones serving hundreds of cites, some small serving only one community [Hahn, 1996]. After an Internet account is established, the user makes a phone connection. There are many dialup programs, and Windows 95 even comes with its own dialer, browser, and telnet applications.

Once connected, the user launches software to browse the World Wide Web, send and receive email, and download files, among other things. Users can also do off-line tasks with some software, such as mailers. Compose mail and send it later, or download it and read it once you're disconnected. A new program called FreeLoader allows users to access Web sites and then look at them off line. You have to stay online while FreeLoader retrieves the Web pages, but you can be doing other things in the meantime [Hutheesing, 1996].

Networks: Since these are maintained by system administrators whose job it is to simplify and facilitate Internet access, I will just mention that the client software used on home computers was adapted from network programs. One of the most popular is electronic mail (email), which led to more and better network connections as ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) scientists found it valuable for consulting with colleagues [Sproull & Kiesler, 1995].

Addressing: Standard Internet addressing is accomplished through a combination of the user's username and domain name. The username is whatever name the user requested, or in some cases had assigned. My username is BJRyder. This is case independent.

Domain names follow the "at" sign (@) and is broken into a minimum of two sub-domains [Hahn, 1996]. The domain name top.monad.net derives from our local terrain: the top of Mt. Monadnock; the net is the top-level domain indicating a networking organization. Other top-level domains are com (commercial organization), edu (educational institution), gov (government organization), mil (military), org (non-profit organization), and int (international organization).

REFERENCES

Cohen, W. (March 25, 1996). Business & Technology: Why the Chip is Still the Economy's Champ, U.S. News & World Report, 120, 12.

Doran, K. (1996). The Internet: Its Impact, Import, and Influence. Computers in Libraries, 16, 3.

Hahn, H. [1996]. The Internet, Complete Reference, Second Edition. Berkeley, Calif.: Osborne McGraw-Hill.

Hutheesing, N. (April 8, 1996). Antidote, Forbes, 157, 7.

Sproull, L., Kiesler, S. (1995). Computers, Networks, and Work, Scientific American, The Computer in the 21st Century, Special Issue, 6, 1.

Zilber, J. (April, 1996). Prime-Time Player, MacUser, 12, 4.