If you're confused about picking the best option for getting on the Internet, don't feel bad. Internet expert Rick Broadhead is often perplexed, too. Despite the confusion, Canadians are flocking to the Internet. In the summer of 1996, just 14 per cent of people reported they had Internet connections from home, according to Toronto research firm Pollara. With these growing numbers, it makes more sense than ever to analyze what your use will be before shopping around for a new connection to the Internet, experts say.
Most people now use regular phone lines for Internet access.
We all have a single-line phone into our homes, so we can hook up everywhere in Canada. But phone access involves long waits, and being on the Internet ties up the line. In fact, the Internet will not get to its next level of household penetration with regular dial-up connections. Regular copper telephone lines don't have enough room to cram all the information down to your computer. Unlike paved highways, where speed kills, on electronic highways you can't live without it.