Some old business. I asked for comments about internet providers on
tweeters back in December, and several people responded. Others asked at
that time and subsequently if I would summarize the comments. Sorry, I
don't have time to summarize, but I collected them at the time, and I'll
route them back onto tweeters as a single package.
From: senturia at scn.org (Brenda Senturia)
The Seattle Public Library runs a free access service. That's how I'm able
to access Tweeters when Compuserve became too expensive. A call to the
Library can put you in touch with the proper people. It's called Seattle
Community Network. All they ask is a contribution when you open your
account.
---------------
From: Jim Elder <jime at eskimo.com>
My provider is Eskimo North
$96 / year (rate structure discourages shorter subscriptions)
367-3837 (modem number which allows signing up for 2 week trial)
I have been happy with them with the following 3 cautions:
1) I would not recommend them for someone who was not somewhat
comfortable with computers as they are not like AOL that provides their own
software that does everything that can be done in an easy (supposedly) way.
2) They are local only so cannot be accessed by a local call if you
are traveling.
3) Every once in a while there is a short interruption in service
which requires resubscribing to Tweeters. I don't know if this happens on
other services or not.
---------------
I just went through this exercise to get my wife an email account. Most
providers have a $20/mo minimum. Computer Users exchange (cuix) charges by
hour (50cents for email typ things). Their number is 206 547-4950. I have
successfully set up account but haven't had experience using it yet.
Bob Vandenbosch
VAND at uwchem.washington.edu
-----------------
From: Susan Collicott <camel at serv.net>
Regarding internet providers, I would reccomend Serv Net, whom I use.
Their number is 789-4155, but they are Seattle only. They're a small,
friendly company.
-------------
From: jburch at tscnet.com (John Q Burch)
I use TSCNET a local provider it is very good!! it is a SLIP/PPP
CONNECTION TYPE
whatever that means, all I know is I gave them $50 ($25 setup fee and $25
for time) the time charges are $1.00/hr used by the minute. I still have
over 19 hr. left from 5 months usage. TSC net gave me a bunch of programs
and I use eudora for my e-mail all in all a very good deal. I am in
Silverdale, Kitsap county. I call TSCNET retrieve my mail and read it
off-line.
The local Library has a limited intrenet dial in capacity it uses PINE
e-mail software not
as good as EUDORA as all of your mail is kept in the Library computer so
you need to use your modem program to retrieve it off-line but it is
totally free a very good point. a not so good point is your address--it is
a very long address.
Thats all for now
---------------
From: lstrom at halcyon.com (Leslie Strom)
I have a SLIP/PPP account with NW Nexus. I pay $21/month for unlimited
time online and my account allows me to use Mosaic, Netscape, Eudora,
anything I want. If she buys a book called Internet Starter Kit (it used
to be at Costco), there's a disk to get started with and so on.
-------------------
From: James West <jdwest at u.washington.edu>
Depending on what kind of computer your friend uses... Compuserve, which
distributes member access software for just about every kind and age of
computer, is quite cheap ($8-something a month for basic services) and now
provides Internet access. If your friend uses Windows or Windows-95, the
Microsoft Network is cheaper still. The access software is downloadable
from the Microsoft site, and is an integral part of Windows-95.
------------
From: Anna Coles <acoles at u.washington.edu>
Dennis, if your friend is in the Seattle area, does she know about the
Seattle freenet? If she wants only an email account, that might be the way
to go--and the price is right :) I think she must fill out an application
and then must wait around three weeks to get her account.
I don't know if she wants access to the web and if so, if the freenet
provides that.
Steven and I use Serv.net, a new provider; We have nothing to compare it
to, so I don't know how it ranks among commercial providers. We are
reasonably happy with it, but not ecstatically so. For instance, we still
don't have our web access set up, partly due to our ineptitude but also
partly due to the system admin's slowness to give step-by-step help.
If you want to know more about either service, I'll try to get more; I
don't know off-hand how to contact Seattle freenet.
-----------------
From: Arlene Sopranzetti <cpelog at halcyon.com>
I recently joined halcyon.com for my internet browsing, email, and news
reader functions. They also allow construction of homepages. So far they
have been fantastic. I had a lot of technical suppport questions in the
beginning, which they answered quickly.
The cost is 30.00 per month for a direct SLIP/PPP account. Unlimited use
per month.
Technical support is support at halcyon.com
The company name is Northtwest Nexus in Bellevue, WA.
----------------
From: salix at isomedia.com (Scott Richardson)
Isomedia is as good a deal as one can get in Seattle area and is comparable
to Northwest Nexus (halcyon) and Wolfe. I have used the service for two
months for $19.95 per month (unlimited). Software provided is Trumpet
Winsock, Eudora Light, Netscape, and FTP.
Unfortunately, I have run into several problems with the service, including
difficulty connecting and unanticipated suspension of sessions. Isomedia
has not been unresponsive to my complaints, but it has been frustrating to
receive poor service. If I hadn't spread my address around so much, I would
probably switch providers.
--------------------
From: halroth at teleport.com (Hal Roth)
We're in Portland. We have a stright ppp account with Teleport.Inc They
have account in Washington too. With premium coverage of unlimited access
we pay 125.00 for 6 months. They have given us excellent service.
------------------
From: alanr at ednet1.osl.or.gov (Alan Richards)
I am late w/ this, for various reasons -- anyhow, my friends in Seattle all
use either halcyon.com or eskimo.com, and seem very satisfied.
---------------------
Dennis Paulson phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416