That's the good news. The bad news is that the system is expensive, requires a relatively elaborate installation and configuration and, in the end, doesn't necessarily speed up your access to the World Wide Web. The reason you need an ISP is because DirecPC is a one-way system. The satellite sends data to your PC, but you need to use a standard modem and a regular ISP to send data or commands to the DirecPC network. The fact that the satellite is only one-way isn't as bad as it might seem.
Most users send relatively little data compared with what they receive.
If you wish to view a Web site, for example, you would send the Web address to the system via the modem, but the site's text and graphics would rush back to you via the satellite. Since the address is typically only a few bytes, that takes almost no time, even if you have a slow modem. The data from the site itself takes up far more time, especially if it's laden with graphics. The system I tested came with a 21-inch satellite dish that's similar to the ones used for DirecPC's sibling, the DirecTV television service. That eliminates Macs, notebook PCs and any other machines that don't have available slots.