The other day I received a remarkably short and to the point E-mail... always a pleasure to get these.
Subject: Topic...
"Selecting an Internet Provider is like picking a Mother-in-law !"
I'm always on the lookout for subject ideas and any writer who says he / she isn't is probably lying. This one presents a few problems as I'll explain but I will have a go.
Taking the last first, I no longer have a mother-in-law sad to say, but my wife Dee does... think about it!
With this in mind I have to tread very carefully. I've said in the past that I have to choose my words equally carefully, for fear of Lawyers. That's nothing compared to having a very Internet savvy mother who has been known to read the odd article here and there of mine. If I get anything wrong I could hear about it in my discussion area, get handed my head via Yahoo Messenger, or have my own dogs encouraged to turn on me the next time we all go visiting!
No Mother, I wouldn't dream of embarrassing you.
Turning to the issue of ISP selection I feel obliged to stay "on topic" and concern myself with those companies offering free accounts.
Sigh. Here I have a real problem... I have no personal experience upon which to base a recommendation. There are three main reasons for this.
Location, location, and location.
Let me be absolutely precise about this... I've been caught out on this identical discussion over in a Freeware club I co-founded two years ago at Yahoo Clubs. My alias there is Freeware101.
There I was bemoaning the fact that I couldn't get to try a single free ISP living where I do in Nova Scotia Canada. From around the world (slight exaggeration) I was besieged (bigger exaggeration) with assurances that not only are there such accounts available in Canada but they extend even to Nova Scotia.
That is perfectly true, but there remains the small matter of local telephone calling range. There are indeed access numbers for Halifax - the Provincial Capital and I also hear they have paved roads and sidewalks! I also understand that in many parts of Canada cable TV and cable Internet connections are available, but in sixteen years they've not made it to any address of mine.
Admittedly it's self inflicted but out here in the peace and quiet of dirt roads, rocks and trees a telephone line and access to any ISP is appreciated. No doubt a freebie will come along eventually but meanwhile I'll carry on dreaming about a broadband account.
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