As far as peripherals and software, we have to play the broken record - it is very dependent on what job you are doing. No truer is this statement than with computer software simply from the point of availability. Many of the major companies will provide download copies for the potential customer to try. So to be sure you are getting what you, download it and use it. This is the service you need to get on the Internet.
Many services are out there and they each offer different advantages.
AOL provides access to the Internet, email, newsgroups, chat rooms, and its own content including everything from online games to magazines. It is user friendly and visually appealing. The biggest criticism with AOL is its incompatibility with some components of the Internet. These services are not common but exist. Also, AOL will display a message every 45 minutes to make sure the user wants to remain online, an annoying thing when one is focused on their interest.