Survey: National Internet providers not always best
Dec.
7, 1997
By JIM BROOKS
PC World's January 1998 issue -- due on newstands in about a week
-- includes the magazine's annual reader survey of Internet providers.
And the results may surprise you.
More than 6,000 of the magazine's subscribers responded to an online
survey. The magazine also performed its own tests, making more than
4,000 dial-up connections in ranking the 12 largest Internet providers.
The rating criteria included: ease of connecting during peak hours;
connection speed; e-mail response time and customer service.
The tests show how difficult it is for an Internet provider to
be all things to all people.
At the top of its list was IBM Internet Connection and Concentric
Network Corp.
America Online -- with its 10 million subscribers -- received the
lowest rating in the survey.
AOL may be a victim of its own popularity.
Users agree that America Online is easy to use, but they complained
about slow connection (or being unable to get through because of
busy signals), excessive numbers of online ads and a proliferation
of "spam" -- or junk e-mail.
The entire report is available at PC World's World Wide Web site
at http://www.pcworld.com/jan98/isps.
The most useful portion of the report (in my view) is the criteria
for judging Internet providers, which are excellent points to look
for when comparing access providers in any part of the U.S.
The magazine also has its own ISP Finder (at http://www.pcworld.com/interactive/isps/isps.html),
which includes information on more than 1,500 Internet providers,
searchable by area code.
But note that Boardwatch magazine says there are more than 4,000
Internet providers across the U.S., so don't consider PC World's
information the final word on selecting your Internet provider.
In markets with more than one provider, Internet users apparently
change providers frequently. Nearly half of the 6,000-plus Internet
users who responded to the magazine's survey had switched providers
in the past year.
IE 4.0 UPDATE. Microsoft released an updated (and debugged)
version of its Internet Explorer 4.0 Web browser this week. It's
available at the company's Web site at www.microsoft.com/ie/.
In addition to fixing some security holes, the browser adds features
for vision-impaired and other disabled users.
Users will also gain full access to Active Desktop and other Internet
Explorer features using keyboards instead of mice.
Microsoft recommends downloading version 4.01 only if you don't
already have a copy on your computer. If you already have Internet
Explorer 4.0, Microsoft has downloadable software "patches"
to update your existing copy of the Web browser.
AMIGA AGAIN? Readers who've used -- or still use -- the
Commodore Amiga may see it make a return to the marketplace.
The Amiga, hailed as the first multimedia PC, was top dog for graphics
when it was released in 1985.
And though Commodore disappeared in 1994, Amiga owners have kept
the machine alive via computer shows, newsgroups and Web sites.
The Amiga operating system was first sold to a German computer
maker, and was sold last March to Gateway 2000.
While no official word is coming from Gateway, Usenet rumors say
some version of the operating system may resurface in the future.
ROYAL BROWSER. Billionaire Bill Gates, the head of software
giant Microsoft Corp., isn't the only person with money at stake
in the war for the top Web browser.
According to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, Saudi
Arabia's billionaire Prince al-Waleed bin Talal recently purchased
a five percent stake in Netscape Communications Corp.
The prince purchased his 4-million-plus shares of Netscape stock
for just over $145 million.
In an interview with Reuters, he said the purchase was "for
investment purposes."
VENT ONLINE. If you're a fan of conservative talk-show host
Rush Limbaugh, you may have already heard of Vent, the new magazine
headed by his wife, Marta Limbaugh.
The print version of the magazine is due to hit the stands early
next year. However, an electronic "zine" is already online
at www.ventmag.com.
Vent is aimed at the 18-to-29-year-old market. Both the magazine
and the Web site are geared for getting reader's input as a source
of material -- which primarily lets folks, well, vent their views
and opinions.
|
