ISP's

[egallih at shell.gis.net (Eric Galliher)]

On Wed, 14 Oct 1998, David Kramer wrote:

> Richard Royston wrote:
> > 
> > I would like to get ISP service from AT&T for use at home in my linux box, as
> > I shall be moving sometime in the not too distant future, and they have access
> > everywhere (at least in the States).
> 
> I've heard some pretty bad things about them.  They're a completely
> cookie-cutter shop.  Nobody outside the Innter Tech Circle knows where
> the on switch is, or why they put a cup holder in your computer.
> 
> > When I tried to get a login and a password from a person at AT&T I was told
> > that people, as opposed to computers, cannot access this type of information;
> > I got the impression that maybe it doesn't exist until it's assigned by some
> > program running in a Windows system somewhere in AT&T, and that it will only
> > assign it to another Windows program running in my computer. I've received
> > hints that if I do that, there are people at AT&T who can tell me where to
> > look in my Windows system, once I've done that, and extract this information,
> > and that then I could then put it in my Linux box, and, voila!
> 
> I think that what she means is that typically AII will ship out a disk
> which will install a neatly-laid-out package of very out-of-date
> software that is about 90% preconfigured.  On the package is a
> crazy-looking temporary username and password.  You type those into the
> setup program and it finds the nearest phone number, negotiates the
> user/pass with you and the server, then updates all the software.  So
> she could not give you one because you need one of the user/pass combos
> printed on the mailed-out disks.  She may be under the impression that
> you need to use the software they send you, but that is not the case.
> 
> I would highly recommend going with someone else.  There are plenty of
> other national/international providers.  I use concentric.net (for a few
> more weeks; I got a cablemodem and set up my own server), and was very
> happy with them.  They even hav 24/7 1-800 tech support.  And I'm not
> just saying that because there's a finder's fee if you sign up and give
> my name.  I've used them for about 3 years.

 I would probably say that a cable modem is the best way to go, but if
you're looking for cheap/reliable national service, I have used Galaxy
Internet Services for a long time.They even offer(only through email)
limited linux tech support. The going rate for full national accounts is 
$14.95 a month, and basic mass accounts are 9.95.
> 
> Stay away from Netcom, too.

Definetly good advice.

> 
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> DDDD   David Kramer                    david at kramer.ne.mediaone.net
> DK KD                                  http://start.at/david.kramer
> DKK D  I much prefer Clinton's "I can't remember sexual affairs,"
> DK KD  to Reagan's, "I cannot remember selling arms to 
> DDDD   foreign countries."
> ***
> Subcription/unsubscription/info requests: send e-mail with subject of
> "subscribe", "unsubscribe", or "info" to discuss-request at blu.org
> 

Eric Galliher


***
Subcription/unsubscription/info requests: send e-mail with subject of
"subscribe", "unsubscribe", or "info" to discuss-request at blu.org