Learning From The Past #3 - Internet Accounts!
Tags: learning, discovery, history, journey
Published: 2019-09-15 14:50:57

---
title: Learning From The Past #3 - Internet Accounts!
published: true
description: How did people access the internet back in the roaring 90's? Well, let's find out.
tags: learning, discovery, history, journey
---

Gather round, let me tell you a story. Filled with adventure, chaos, old school technology, and most importantly... internet accounts.

Yes, accounts to access the internet. Or, more importantly, a single account. To access the entirety of the internet. 

Hold your gasps, please. Let's start at the beginning.

#Chapter 2 - A Dollar A Day Keeps The Internet At Bay

This book likes to start chapters with quotes, so we may as well share them!

> "'Come on, then!' roared the Queen, and Alice joined the procession, wondering very much what would happen next." 
> Alice in Wonderland

Why this quote? I don't know! Possibly because the internet was just starting to come around, and this book is trying to get people to come along for the ride? I'm going to assume that's it, because there's no other good explanation for this.

##So You Want To Join The Internet

How do you go about it? Well, we've got 40 textbook pages describing all of the options in detail, so I hope to god that, by the end of this, we have a good idea of just how to get an account on the internet.

"But Sharkie," you say. "You've mentioned that a few times. What makes an Internet account different from, say, a Dev account?"

Well, dear reader. an internet account makes it possible for the service provider to identify that yes, you are allowed to access the internet. It also allows them to bill you, and helps them with their accounting. So it's not that different, except that it let's you access all of the internet.

But you actually need 3 things to get hooked up - an account, the proper equipment, and a connection.

Back in the 90's the proper equipment included things like a telephone (yay dial-up), terminal, PC, modem or communications program. Some combination of all of these things will get you up and connected to the internet, as well as a phone line or an Ethernet connection. 

There's also a good chance you'll need to learn a little bit of UNIX. Remember, this book was published in the 90s. Nowadays? I'm a Dev and I couldn't confidently say that I know much UNIX. But back then, that's how you ran your computer. That's how you did things. But we're not digging into UNIX until Chapter 12, so let's not dwell on that fact.

Let's move into the real, deep, despair-worthy info.

##Who Ya Gonna Call?

According to this book, "How do I get an account on the Internet?" and "Who do I call to join?" are some of the most frequently asked questions about the internet. The latter is also (almost) the most FAQ about the Ghostbusters. Go figure.

The answer? "People wanting to connect to the Internet should call InterNIC." This is from Steve Wolff, the director of the Networking Division at the National Sciences Foundation. And we have a phone number! 1-800-444-4325.

So, I wouldn't be a very good blogger if I didn't give you all of the info. And to give you all of the info, I have to take risks. I have to search for all of the information available.

So I called this number. I don't know what I expected - did I expect to get InterNIC and an account on the internet? But what I got was even better...

Or not. It was the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina. Specifically, the federal employee office. And it was an automated message that warned me to call 911 if this was an emergency.

And that's about where I hung up and giggled wayyy too much. I would've hung on and waited to get a real person, but I'm not **that** gutsy. Also, I probably would've giggled through the entire conversation. 

So. If you want to get an internet account, this number is a no go. Shame, really. We need more options.

##Option 2

This book quotes an anonymous network user: "If you don't already know at least one person in the Internet community, you probably wouldn't be wanting access - so call that person!" And, since we are all currently on the internet right now, and I'm pretending to not have internet, I'm putting the call out to you - Hello, internet friends! How do I get an account on the internet?

I await your replies.

##Stop Making Jokes, This is Serious Business

"But, like choosing a car or a long-distance carrier, if you're new to using the Internet, you may need to research and think a bit before making final choices."

![Man pointing to his head as if to say "think!"](https://media.giphy.com/media/xUA7b5UlQ68VRfDTfG/giphy.gif)

You don't want to just jump into it. It's a big commitment, you know. A whole buck a day! You could buy a coffee and the morning newspaper for that much money.

But in all seriousness, thinking is a good thing. It's important to know what you're in for, and what money you're spending. It's important in everything, from big purchases to small ones.

Tangent time, but I work in retail (marketing specifically, but I also am a cashier). I'm also a person who would never, ever think of returning something. For any reason. That's just not something I do. 

But the amount of people who bring something back that they impulse bought is INSANE. Seriously, it would shock you to learn just how many people come back in and go "Well, I didn't need this. Can I return it?" This could all be avoided by thinking about the object, about how much it costs, and deciding at the time if you really need it.

Okay, back to the internet.

It's a commitment. It is. You need to make sure you're getting exactly what you want, and what you need. So think about it.

But don't worry! You can always get a new account - just ring up the phone numbe-oh. Right. That doesn't work anymore.

Ummmmmmmm.

Well. There's probably a way somewhere.

##IAP 

Welcome to the stage, Internet Access Providers!

Yes, those old lovely chaps. We even have them still! Modern day and the past collide to create something gorgeous.

And that gorgeous thing.... is a list of IAP's.

![Diagram depicting connection between computer, ISP's, and the Internet. ](https://techterms.com/img/lg/isp_71.png)

*Photo Courtesy of TechTerms.com*

Well..... okay. Maybe we called them Internet Service Providers (ISPs) now. But back in the good ol' days, they were IAPs and there were a few of them. Now, there's a *lot* of them. 

And according to this book, the full list of 90's IAPs would fill a book in itself. And I've been trying to search for an online list, but nothing is appearing. So... that might just remain a mystery. 

BUT. Back in the good ol' days, they did have lists! And you could get them through fun ways such as "voice phone", e-mail (but isn't the whole point to getting this list to be able to access e-mail?), modem, FAX, and "even sending a letter". Isn't that a fun, modern bunch of ways to get access to a list of Internet Providers?

##Time is Money

But how long does this process take? It seems like FOREVER, and I'm impatient.

Well, as mentioned a few times in this ONE PAGE OF THE CHAPTER, this process can be as simple or as complicated as you make it. Want to put a ton of research in? It'll be a while. Want to do it fast and easy? It might take an hour to get you up and running and you're free to go. It's all your choice, really. How much time do you want to spend getting on the internet?

#But Sharkie... Why Do I Need The Internet?

Why don't you need the internet? The internet is this gorgeous, wonderful thing that is filled with information for enthusiasts and casuals alike.

How about telnet, ftp, Gopher, the WorldWideWeb, and internet services such as archie's list (which is full of public domain files and documents). How about e-mail. How about Internet Relay Chat.

That's... about it. But that's a lot of stuff, okay?

This brought up the question... What is "archie's list"? Is it still available.

The answer is no. No it's not.

#Okay, but why do I need an account on a computer system?

Woah woah woah, computer system accounts?! We haven't talked about those yet.

But yes, you most definitely need one. Especially if you want to access the internet. But this opens up a whole new world of possibilities, like:

- Applications - think text editors, word processing programs, spreadsheets (I like me a good spreadsheet), emails, software that YOU WRITE YOURSELF and "online CD-ROM".

- Space in the file system to store all of the above.

- Use of devices such as printers, modems, and... other devices.

But... what kind of information do you need to give up to get these accounts? Because obviously it has to be personal. You couldn't be anonymous on the internet like we are now.

And this, my friends, was the birth of the username.

![Spreadsheet making a formula to fill in a username from an email address. ](http://chandoo.org/img/f/get-username-from-email-tutorial.gif)

*Photo Courtesy of Chandoo.org*

Yes friends, the username. We all have multiple. Probably. Mine is justsharkie, nice to meet you, glad we could have this chat.

But back in the 90s, what were usernames like? What was the criteria to write a good username?

Thankfully, this book gives us the answers.

"Your username is usually derived from some combination of your first name, last name, and initials. For Alice N. Wonderland, it would be:

- Last name, all or up to eight letters: wonderland, wonderla
- First initial plus last name: awonderland, awonder, a_wonder, alice.wonder
- First name plus last initial: alicew, alice_w
- Initials: anw
- First and Last name: alice_wonder, alice.wonder"

Creative.

I like Sharkie better.

**Just make sure you didn't put spaces!**

#With Every Great Username, Comes Great Passwords

Passwords have been a thing since the dawn of time. Seriously. T.Rex69 had to have some way to keep his twitter account safe.

Some places assign passwords, some let you choose, but the method that will survive until the end of time is rejecting your choice if it's too short, or doesn't contain a %$&@# sign.

!["Right. I got it. No Swearing. ](https://media.tenor.co/images/b531fcefb582e156b994a6765ee47dc7/raw)

No no no, that's just the special characters. Sorry, it's confusing, I know.

They probably wouldn't let you swear either.

#Easy, Inexpensive... So why not get 2?

So at this point, you probably don't have an account on the internet. It's 2019, not 1990. We have many accounts on the internet.

But what if you wanted another one? I mean, why not? We dual-boot computers to have both Linux and Windows/Mac running on one machine. This isn't *that* different.

But what reasons would you give for wanting another account?

- Your current account is through work/school, and you want a personal one for inappropriate things. For example - sending personal email (job hunting, specifically), participating in discussion groups, retrieving files unrelated to work (wink wink) and participating in multi-user interactive games (like CHESS or BRIDGE).

Yes, I need my new internet account to play chess. Sexy, sexy chess.

- It's going away soon. Makes sense.

And that's the only two options this book gives. So that are the only two reasons there could be.

I don't make the rules. This book does.

#Individual Internet Account 

Finally, we can learn how to get an account... oh wait, some more decisions first. 

So we've barely talked about the money involved. The internet isn't cheap, we all know this, we all pay our internet bills and sometimes cry over them. Or at least... I do...

Some questions to consider - do you want to pay hourly rates? A fixed monthly rate? Where you live definitely has an impact. 

Let's get into some numbers.

##So you want to pay per hour:

According to this book, the price can range from 1$-2$ per hour. So if you don't plan on using the internet for too many hours a month, this is probably the right plan for you.

But if you use it for more than a few hours a month, that's going to start adding up. 50 hours = 50 bucks, and while in 1990 you probably weren't going to use the internet for that long, it's still something to consider. 

##So you want to pay a fixed monthly rate:

Generally speaking, fixed prices would range from 15$ to 50$ depending on what kind of access you were going for. 

Nowadays, double that. Then add some. Then add a bit more...

##So you live in the middle of nowhere.

Hello, my middle of nowhere companions. How's the weather out there? Here it's a bit cloudy and the cows are mooing like there's no tomorrow.

Getting internet in rural areas has always been years behind getting internet in urban areas. I had dial-up until the late 2000's. Because there was no other choice.

So it was even possible for you to get internet in your rural area back in 1990, it wasn't going to come cheap. And it wasn't going to be great.

This book doesn't give a ballpark estimate for rural internet, because the author had no clue. So it will forever remain - unsolved.

#So what have we learned...

So far... this chapter hasn't said all that freaking much. I haven't learned all that much, or how to choose the perfect internet account for my needs. But don't fret yet - there is still A LOT of information to get through. Like, so much. I've got so many sticky notes left.

But, for the sake of digestibility and getting out that #content, we're going to break this chapter into multiple blog posts. That's right folks, this has become number 3.1.0.1. 

See you shortly.