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Chapter 4: What You Need to Link to the Web



Chapter 4: What You Need to Link to the Web

Someday soon hooking into the Internet—and from there the Web—will be easy. Today is not that day.

Today, the newest version of all operating systems includes Internet connectivity and a Web browser. Unix has always had it, OS/2 Warp has it, and Windows 95 recently included it. Even with operating systems coming bundled with Web browsers, you still must have the right mix of hardware and soft-ware to explore the Web. This chapter describes the specific hardware and software you need to hook onto the Web.

Specifically, this chapter focuses on the following points:



Finding the Right Hardware

Most modern PCs are capable of running the software you need for the Web. For acceptable performance, you need (at the very least) the features listed in table 4.1. You can get by with less powerful equipment, but performance will be marginal at best.

Table 4.1. Bare Minimum Hardware Requirements


Hardware

PC

Macintosh

Processor

80386SX

68030

Speed

25 MHz

25 MHz

RAM

4 MB

5 MB

Disk space

8 MB

8 MB

Graphics

VGA

Color

Modem

9,600 bps

9,600 bps




If you're content to use only character-based applications, you can get along by using almost any computer that can talk to a modem and a character-based WWW browser, such as Lynx. Most users demand more, however. Table 4.2 lists what you need for better than rock-bottom performance in running the software you need for the Web. Finally, if you have the cash, consider getting the Web dream machine outlined in table 4.3.

Table 4.2. Acceptable Hardware Requirements


Hardware

PC

Macintosh

Processor

80486SX

68030

Speed

25 MHz

40 MHz

RAM

8 MB

8 MB

Disk space

8 MB

8 MB

Graphics

Super-VGA

8-bit, 256-color

Modem

28,800 bps

28,800 bps

(or)



Network card

Ethernet

Ethernet




Table 4.3. Optimal Hardware Requirements


Hardware

PC

Macintosh

Processor

Pentium 100

PowerPC-601

Speed

33/66 MHz

40 MHz

RAM

16 MB

16 MB

Disk space

8 MB

8 MB

Graphics

Super-VGA

8-bit, 256-color

Modem

28,800 bps/ISDN

28,800 bps/ISDN




Interestingly enough, except for the modem requirements, there's nothing top-of-the-line about any of these requirements. To run a Web browser, you really don't need a fast Pentium or PowerPC chip. Compared to the demands of most modern programs, Web browsers require very little in the way of resources.

The most critical part of any system you use to explore the Web is your Internet connection. Whether you're using a modem or a network connection, the speed of your Internet connection, more than any other, determines how quickly your Web browser runs.



Because this book assumes you will be attaching to the Internet using a dial-up connection, the hardware and software needed to attach via a local area network (LAN) is not covered. If you are in a company or organization that has Internet access through a LAN and a fast connection, consider yourself lucky. You won't have to read this chapter, and the speed you experience on the Web will be very satisfying.


Picking Out Your Modem

To get on the Web, unless you have a network connection, you need a high-speed modem with both data compression and error correction. Don't bother trying to hitchhike on the Net with less than a 14,400 bits per second (bps), V.32bis/V.42bis-compliant modem. A V.34 modem, with its 28,800 bps, is better still. Table 4.4 shows a list of the modem standards.



You can connect with slower modems, but you should avoid using a modem without V.42 error correcting and V.42bis data compression. Because Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) doesn't include any error correction, the least bit of line noise can knock your network connection for a loop. You need data compression because SLIP has a high latency (SLIP takes its own sweet time transferring information). Anything that improves SLIP throughput, which is where data compression comes in, is a good idea.

Table 4.4. Modem Standards


Designation

Definition

V.22

1,200 bps modem speed

V.22bis

2,400 bps modem speed

V.29

9,600 bps fax speed

V.32

9,600 bps modem speed

V.32bis

14,400 bps modem speed

V.32ter

19,200 bps modem speed/Not CCITT

V.34/V.Fast

28,800 bps modem speed

V.FC

28,800 bps modem speed/Not CCITT

V.42

Error correction

V.42bis

Data compression




Before you shop for a modem, check with your Internet provider to see what kind of modems they use. Although most modems work with most other modems, the odds are you'll get more consistent connections (and troubleshooting is easier) if you and the provider have the same brand.

Furthermore, a rocket-fast 28,800 bps modem won't do you a bit of good if your service supports only speeds of up to 14,400 bps. Even if you decide not to get a twin of your provider's modem, the company can advise you which modems to avoid. Remember, not all modems are created equal.



Not all telephone lines are created equal, either. Normal analog telephone lines were never meant to handle high-speed data transfers. Your connection may rarely get up to its theoretical top speed. Go ahead and have your telephone company check your line, but don't be surprised if your speed doesn't improve, even on a "repaired" line.



The most important modem standards are made by the Consultative Committee for International Telephony and Telegraphy (CCITT). This international standards group sets the V-series of standards. Unlike some standards, the CCITT rules are recognized and obeyed by almost every modem and fax manufacturer in the world.

Other standards are de facto rather than de jure standards. Microcom's Microcom Networking Protocols (MNP) are the best known of these standards. Although no standard-setting organization stands behind MNP, almost all modem and communication vendors recognize the MNP standards.


A couple of modem terms that might puzzle you are bits per second and baud. Most of the confusion surrounding these terms arises because, at low speeds, bps and baud have the same value. For instance, a 300-bps modem transmits data at the exact same rate as a 300-baud modem. Baud measures the line-switching speed of a communications line. Thus, a 600-baud modem can transmit or receive, in one second, 600 frequency or voltage changes on a line. Bps, on the other hand, measures how many bits of data can be sent or received (per second) on a line.

Another point to consider is the difference between simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex devices. Simplex devices can only transmit or receive data in a single session. V.17 fax-modems are an example of this kind of modem. With a half-duplex device, or when you operate a modem in half-duplex mode, data can be transmitted and received—but only one or the other at any given time. You probably have guessed already that full-duplex modems are capable of simultaneously transmitting and receiving data.

Examining ISDN Connections

Even better than any modem is an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) connection. This telecommunications standard lays the groundwork for local digital telephone connections capable of transmitting voice, video, and data at a rate of up to 64 kilobits per second (Kbps). You also can combine the voice and data connections to achieve speeds of up to 128 Kbps.



There are ISDN adapters for both PCs and Macintoshes. Many well-known modem companies, such as Hayes, Intel, and ZyXEL, make ISDN adapters.

Also, if you are using Windows 95, you can obtain a file that upgrades Windows 95 to work with ISDN connections automatically. You can find this file on the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com.


Although ISDN connections offer a lot in terms of speed, one major draw back right now is that ISDN services can be very difficult to acquire and configure. Many large metropolitan areas, such as New York and San Francisco, are just now starting to get ISDN services.



Because the telephone companies continue to drag their feet in making ISDN widely available, don't hold your breath if your area doesn't have it. On the other hand, it doesn't hurt to check. You might already have ISDN in your area. Remember, however, that even if you can get ISDN, you'll gain no speed advantage at all unless your Internet Service Provider (ISP) also has ISDN lines. If this is the case, you might need to look into changing ISPs if another one is available in your area. Also expect to pay a premium price for ISDN Internet services.

With the passage of the Telecommunications bill in February 1996, many cable television providers are looking into providing Internet connectivity to homes and businesses. Some test sites have already been set up to test this technology. If it works out—which seems likely—you soon may be able to use cable TV lines to hook into the Internet at high speeds of 10 Mbps, or even faster. One Long Island cable television company is experimenting with 16 Mbps speeds, which is fast enough for television-like video streams.

Choosing CPU System Speed

Believe it or not, system CPU speed is probably the least important factor in putting together a Web-capable system. That's because your overall speed is dictated by the entire system's slowest component, which, on the Web, is almost certainly going to be your modem or the network itself.

But don't dig out your 4.77 MHz IBM PC from the attic. You do need some system speed to be happy with your Web connection. The recommendation is to go no slower than a 25 MHz processor on any PC.

And you don't have to worry about floating point units (FPU), also known as math co-processors. No Internet-related programs use these chips.



An exception to the preceding statement is when you encounter Web sites that include applications created using new programming languages, such as Java and ActiveX Java. Java is a language that enables developers to create applications that are not platform- or operating system- specific. The developers then can post these programs on the Web for users to interact with while online. Depending on the type of program (Java programs included in Web sites are called Java applets) and size of it, you might want to go with a fast processor for your base system. It's hard to go wrong with a Pentium processor that is at least 75 Mhz.

ActiveX, formerly called Object Linking and Embedding (OLE), is a technology by Microsoft designed to distribute applications, audio, video, animations, and interactivity to the World Wide Web. ActiveX is designed to work with the Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 Web browser and other Microsoft applications to extend the Web from a passive client/server distribution medium to a more interactive environment. Like Java, however, ActiveX requires more system resources than a standard Web-surfing computer.

Also, CPU speed is important in translating graphic and PostScript files into viewable formats. If you think that you're going to be dealing extensively with these file types, go ahead and get a faster processor.


On the Macintosh side of the house, you needn't dither over PowerPC computers versus the older 680x0 systems. A fast 680x0 works as well as a slow PowerPC for most practical Web-wandering purposes.

CPU speed is less important than the total amount of memory. Given a choice between a faster processor and more memory, go with the RAM. With a large amount of memory, you can cache more Web pages on your local system, which means that you'll need to access the Web site less frequently. As a result, your system will be much more responsive when you need to move back to a document you were looking at earlier.

A fast hard drive is important, but not vital for decent Web browser performance. Any modern drive with an access speed of 28 milliseconds or less should serve you well.

Another component you don't need to be too concerned about is the drive interface. Whether you're using small computer system interface (SCSI), integrated drive electronics (IDE), extended IDE (EIDE), or an older technology doesn't matter a fig to Web browsers.

Choosing Graphics Hardware

Graphics is another area in which speed is nice but not critical. The critical factors you should look at in a graphics card are the following:

A graphics processor, such as ATI's Mach128, essentially speeds up your graphics in two ways. First, it takes the work of displaying graphics away from your main processor. Second, the graphics processor's chips specialize in speeding up the graphic routines that all programs use to display their images.

One thing you don't need is a card that specializes in rendering 24-bit color images—most Web images are rendered in 8-bit color.

You can still get by with only 1 MB of video memory because most color images on the Web have only 256 colors and 64´480 pixel resolution. As time goes on, this situation will change—to images with up to 16.7 million colors and 1024´768 resolution. This change isn't going to happen quickly, however, because even the Internet backbone networks simply don't have the bandwidth to tolerate the sending back and forth of huge, true-color images. If you want to look toward the future, get video cards with 2 MB of RAM.



As the Web matures and more sites are adding high-color graphics and video to their documents, the strain on your graphics hardware is going to increase. The types of graphics files that need the fastest and highest color support are three-dimensional graphics and virtual reality files. To take advantage of these types of files, invest in a high-performance graphics card and monitor, including support for 24-bit color.

For the most part, however, a standard monitor with good color is all you need if you are a typical Web surfer. Monitors that you purchase with a PC at your local computer store work fine. The bottom line with monitors is that you should try them out before you buy them. If you don't like the way they look in the store, you won't like them any better when you take them home.

Selecting Audio Hardware

Audio requirements are perhaps the easiest for Web users to meet. Macintosh users already have all the sound equipment they need to deal with Web audio files. PC users must get Sound Blaster-compatible sound cards. (That's a cinch because almost all PC audio cards are Sound Blaster-compatible.) You also need a set of speakers or headphones to hook to the sound card.

Examining Web Software Requirements

Your software is as important as your hardware. Unless everything works together as a team, you can't connect with the Web. If you already have the hardware necessary to get on the Internet, table 4.5 lists and summarizes what the type of software and configuration information you need to make a connection to the Internet. Because most readers who need help getting an Internet connection are dialing up using a modem, this chapter assumes that. If you have an Internet connection from work through your local area network, you might need to ask your system administrator or manager for directions on setting up a connection to the Internet.

Table 4.5. What You Need To Get On the Internet


Item

Description

Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Similar to your telephone company that provides you phone service, an ISP provides you with access to the Internet. Each time you connect to the Internet, you first dial your ISP using your modem, enter a username and password, and the ISP then gives you access to the Internet. Many times the ISP is referred to an "on ramp" to the Internet. When you establish an account with an ISP, you are provided with some information you use to configure your computer to access your ISP. See the following section "Finding Internet Providers" to help you locate an ISP and understand the type of information your ISP will provide you with.

TCP/IP support

TCP/IP is a computer language (called a network protocol) that enables computers to communicate with one another. All computers that connect to the Internet and World Wide Web must use TCP/IP, including your personal computer. Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 include built-in support for TCP/IP, as does the Macintosh. If you have Windows 3.11, you need to obtain TCP/IP software, sometimes called a protocol stack. One such stack is called Trumpet Winsock. You are shown in the section called "Setting Up Windows 95 for the Internet" how to configure Windows 95 for the Internet.

Connection software

After you configure your TCP/IP software, you need connection software to dial up and connect to your ISP. This software is sometimes called dialer software. Windows 95's Dial-Up Networking feature enables you to dial up an ISP to access the Internet. Trumpet Winsock includes its own dialer, if you use Winsock to connect Windows 3.11 to the Internet.

Internet and Web software

Besides the TCP/IP software and dialer, the Internet and Web software is the most important piece you need for successful Web navigation. Chapter 5, "Examining WWW Browsers," describes the most popular Web browsers available, as well as what features to look for in a Web browser. In Chapter 3, "Internet E-Mail and Usenet Newsgroups," you are introduced to e-mail and newsgroup software you can use on the Internet. Other Internet software you might want to obtain include ftp, Gopher, and Telnet software. Internet software suites, such as Spry's Internet in a Box, Microsoft's Internet Starter Kit, and Quarterdeck's InternetSuite 2, provide you with all the software you need to use the Internet and World Wide Web.





Finding Internet Providers

As recently as four years ago, if your school, office, or military installation couldn't get you a connection, you were out of luck. Those days are long gone. Today, you can pick from your phone company, your cable TV company, a local or national Internet provider, or an online service such as CompuServe. All these providers are called Internet Access Providers or Internet Services Providers (ISPs).

Before you can do anything on the Web, you have to find a connection. In particular, what you're looking for is an Internet provider that enables you to hook up with an IP connection. Many businesses are set up to provide users access to the Internet and World Wide Web. A few of these companies you are probably already familiar with, such as AT&T, MCI, CompuServe, and America Online. Other companies, however, you might not have heard of yet, such as BBN Planet, PSINet, and UUNET Technologies.

What To Look For in An ISP

The key to finding an Internet provider is to first determine your needs and wants for accessing the Internet. Some of the reasons you might want to connect to the Internet are given in the following list:

Unless you use an ISP in your local phone service area, one of the first things you need to ask a potential ISP is whether they have a 1-800 number. If they do not, you'll need to factor in the expense of local distance tolls, in addition to the basic monthly surcharge for the service. This is one hidden cost that many users in rural areas do not realize until they receive their first month's phone bill after they attach to the Internet. They are amazed at how much time they actually spend online, racking up long distance charges without knowing it.

Some other options you should look for in an ISP include the following:

If you are looking to put your business on the Web, the following are some additional services you might want to look for in an ISP:


Where To Find ISPs

After you understand your needs, you can look at the different payment schemes that providers offer and go about locating providers in your area. People in suburban and urban areas have the advantage over their country cousins. If you're in or near a city, you can find an Internet provider by looking in the business section of your local newspaper. If that doesn't work, ask around your circle of friends or business associates.

Another source of information is computer and technical magazines. Many Internet providers advertise nationally. In particular, look for copies of BoardWatch, Internet World, and NetGuide, all of which are reputable magazines that offer extensive coverage of the Internet and other online services.

You should also call your local phone company or your long-distance provider to inquire about Web access. MCI's InternetMCI package, for instance, enables customers to access the Web with NetScape Communications' NetScape browser.



It's not easy to tell which Internet service is good and which isn't. Word of mouth usually concentrates on support, or the lack thereof. The problem with this is that almost all Internet providers these days are on the verge of being swamped. A system with good service today might have bad service tomorrow because of increased business. If a service seems to consistently have a bad reputation, then stay away; otherwise, give them the benefit of the doubt.

Table 4.6 is a comprehensive list of National ISPs. Because rates change about every month (fortunately they are tending to go down instead of rising), you should contact several of these ISPs for more information about the services they offer and their monthly rates. Lately, the going rate for most national ISPs, including AT&T Worldnet, is $19.95 per month for unlimited hours. Some other services have rates of around $6.95 per month and you get 5 hours of "free" access time per month. Additional charges are added for each hour over the first 5 hours (usually around $2.00/hour).

Table 4.6. National ISPs


Company Name

Contact Information

Ans CO+RE Systems, Inc

Elmsord, N.Y. (800) 456-8267 http://www.ans.net

AT&T Worldnet

Bridgewater, N.J. (800) 967-5363 http://www.att.com/worldnet

BBN Planet

Cambridge, MA (800) 472-4565 http://www.bbn.com

CerfNet, Inc.

San Diego, CA (800) 876-4103 http://www.cerf.net

CompuServe, Inc

Columbus, OH (800) 524-3388 http://www.compuserve.com

Global Enterprise Services, Inc.

Princeton, N.J. (609) 897-7300 http://www.ges.com

IBM Internet Connection

Armonk, N.Y. (800) 888-4103 http://www.ibm.com/globalnetwork

MCI Telecommunication, Inc.

Washington, D.C. (800) 550-0927 http://www.internetmci.com

Netcom On-Line Communications Services, Inc.

San Jose, CA (800) 353-6600 http://www.netcom.com

PSINet, Inc

Herndon, VA (800) 827-7482 http://www.psi.net

Sprint

Kansas City, KA (800) 225-5408 http://www.sprintbiz.com

Spry/CompuServe Internet

Bellevue, WA (800) 777-9638 http://www.spry.com

UUNET Technologies,Inc.

Fairfax, VA (800) 488-6384 http://www.uu.net




Although all of the services listed in the table offer full Internet and Web access, some services—such as CompuServe and Netcom—use their own interfaces to enable you to explore the Web. With these services you might have a choice to stick with the proprietary interface or use the Web browser of your choice. Sometimes, however, some services do not support other Web browsers. Although this lack of support restricts your choice to their front-end program, it also means you get better technical support from these services because the technical support staff does not need to become experts on half-a-dozen different TCP/IP programs and as many more Web interfaces.

The real advantage of these interfaces over their competitors is their ease of setup. Because these interfaces have built-in defaults about where to find things such as the DNS and the gateway system, you don't need to get your hands dirty with these details. You usually follow a set of setup screens when signing up for the service.

What Your ISP Assigns You

As mentioned in table 4.5, when you sign up with an ISP, you will be given some information you need to configure your computer to access the Internet. When you are given this information, be sure to write it down and store it in a safe place. Even after you configure your computer and everything is working fine, you might have to reconfigure your software if something goes wrong at a later date.

The following list describes each of the items your ISP will give you. In some cases, you might be given more information or less. If you think you are missing something, be sure to ask your ISP.



While you have your ISP on the phone, ask them if they provide you with Internet and Web software and with installation software to help you get connected. Some ISPs have their own software utilities that come preconfigured to make it easier for you to get online.


Setting Up Windows 95 for the Internet

Once you set up an account with an ISP and have all the necessary software, hardware, and information, you need to configure your system to access the Internet. If your ISP sends you software to help you configure your computer, use it. Otherwise, follow these steps for setting up Windows 95 for Internet capabilities. You'll need to have your Windows 95 Setup disks or CD-ROM handy while working through these steps.



This section assumes that you are using Windows 95 to connect to the Web. If you are using another operating system, such as Windows 3.11 or the Macintosh, you should consult the documentation for that operating system to see how to set up TCP/IP support. If you have a Macintosh, you can use the built-in MacTCP software. .

  1. Click on the Start button and select Programs, Accessories, Internet Tools, Internet Setup Wizard. This launches the Internet Setup Wizard (see fig. 4.1).

    Figure 4.1. The Internet Setup Wizard.

  2. Click the Next button, to show the next wizard screen. This screen informs that you need to set up a modem to connect to the Internet.

  3. Click the Next button to display the Install New Modem screen. Windows 95 can automatically detect your modem if it is connected to your computer and turned on. If you do not know how to install a modem, see the documentation that comes with your modem. If you do not want Windows 95 to look for your modem, click the Don't detect my modem; I will select if from a list option. If you let Windows 95 locate your modem, you might have to wait several minutes before Windows continues. The following steps assume that you manually locate your modem.

  4. Click the Next button to display the Install New Modem screen with a list of modems and manufacturer names (see fig. 4.2). Scroll down the Manufacturer list and click on the name of your modem manufacture. In the Models list, select the modem model. Click Next.

    Figure 4.2. Select your modem from the Manufacturers and Models list.

  5. Select a port to attach your modem to.

  6. Click the Next button to display the Location Information screen. Here you fill out the country and area code you are calling from, and any numbers you need to dial to get an outside line (such as 5 or 9).

  7. Click the Next button and then the Finish button. Windows 95 completes the modem installation.

  8. The Internet Setup Wizard next displays the How to Connect screen. Here you let Windows 95 know if you are using the Microsoft Network (MSN) or another company as you ISP. Select the appropriate choice. These steps assume you are using an ISP other than MSN.

  9. Click the Next button. On the Internet Mail screen select whether you want to use Microsoft Exchange as your e-mail application or if you have another e-mail package you want to use. These steps assume the latter.

  10. Click the Next button. The Installing Files screen displays. Click Next. If you are prompted for the Windows 95 Setup disks or CD-ROM, be sure to insert the correct one that the wizard asks for.

  11. In the Service Provider Information screen, enter the name of your ISP.

  12. Click the Next button. In the Phone Number screen, fill in phone number for the ISP.

  13. Click the Next button. In the User Name and Password screen, fill in the login or username for your account, as well as the password. When you enter the password, you only see asterisks to keep your password private.

  14. Click the Next button, to display the IP Address screen (see fig. 4.3). If your ISP gave you an IP address, click the Always use the following option and enter the IP Address and Subnet Mask fields. Otherwise, keep the top option selected.

    Figure 4.3. Most ISPs use dynamic IP addresses, so you do not have to fill out the IP Address screen.

  15. Click the Next button to display the DNS Server Address screen. Here you must enter the DNS (Domain Name Service) server your ISP gave you. If the ISP gave you an alternate DNS server, fill in that name as well. You must fill in at least the DNS Server field.

  16. Click the Next button to display the Finished Setup screen. Click the Finish button to complete the installation.

  17. Click Yes to restart Windows 95.

After Windows 95 restarts, you are ready to set up the Dial-Up Networking feature so you can dial up your ISP and connect to the Internet. Use the following steps to do this.



In some cases, Windows 95 automatically creates a dial-up networking icon during the Internet Setup Wizard steps. If this is the case, all you need to do at this point is to double-click on the My Computer icon, open the Dial-UP Networking folder, and double-click the new icon. It will be labeled the name you gave it during Step 11 in the preceding steps. Fill in your password and then click the Connect button to connect to the Internet.

  1. Double-click on the My Computer icon on the Windows 95 desktop and double-click on the Dial-Up Networking folder.

  2. Double-click on the Make New Connection icon to launch the Make New Connection wizard (see fig. 4.4).

    Figure 4.4. The Make New Connection wizard helps you set up dial-up networking for your ISP.

  3. Enter a name for the connection, such as Internet Connection.

  4. Click the Next button. On the next screen, enter the phone number of your ISP.

  5. Click the Next button and then the Finish button. The new connection icon appears in the Dial-Up Networking folder.

  6. Double-click on the new connection icon and fill in your user name and password in the Connect To dialog box.

  7. Click the Connect button to dial your ISP and to connect to the Internet.

You now are on the Internet. Chapter 5, "Examining WWW Browsers," shows you how to use a Web browser to navigate on the Web.

 


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