Go to download.com or use a search engine to find these programs.
Get your own Free Home PageThe internet is a network of connected server computers. Server computers are the ones that host web pages, hold your e-mail, and host many other things. Most are online 24 hours a day and normally are connected to other server computers at high speeds. Anyone can be a server as long as they have a connection and server software.
When you connect to the internet your computer dials an isp or internet service provider's server. There are two basic connections: command-line and dial up. You use a terminal program for command-line access. You can get 100% free command-line access from non-profit organizations and universites but it is text only. In command-line access you can only do what the server lets you because the server has the software rather than you. Dial up access is normally around $19.95 a month and you can use what ever software you like. Most isps that give dial up access give you an e-mail address and come with software. You dont have to use the software your isp gives you if you dont want to. Click here to learn about isps and click here to find an isp near you.
Services like America Online, Prodigy, and Compuserve are in my opinion overgrown bulletin board systems. Bbs are a computer you dial in to that has services. Back in the 80s bbs were popular. As the internet began to grow bbs's like the above began to become more like the things you can do over tcp/ip protocal, which is what the internet is based on. I especially hate AOL because they seem to be monopolizing the online community, they are not very reliable, and they don't give you much freedom.
I got this homepage for free and it came with an e-mail address. If you want a homepage you can get a free page pretty easily from geocities, tripod, maybe your isp, and other places. All groups I know of that give free web pages don't do so to people who whish to use it for commercial use. If you want a faster more reliable homepage it would be best to pay money to someone to host it. Geting e-mail addresses is easy too.
Many people give free email addresses. People give free email for many situations. If you don't own a computer but have access to a computer in a library or somewhere or if you travel often then you would want a web based e-mail address. Hotmail offers free web based e-mail accounts. If you own a computer and modem but dont have internet access you should use Juno. Juno does not do file attachments though. If you have a computer and internet access and want an e-mail address you should get a pop (post office protocal) account. Most isps give you a pop account. Hotmail also gives pop3 accounts wich are the best because they have the most features but if you already have internet access you probably already have a pop e-mail address.
Go to download.com or use a search engine to find these programs.
Get your own Free Home Page