What do you need to get yourself connected to the Internet? A basic Internet kit consists of four things: a computer, a modem, Internet software, and an Internet service provider.

• A computer. It doesn't need to be the very latest computer -- any machine capable of running Windows 3.1 will do (or a reasonably modern Macintosh, if you're that way inclined).
  
  If you're keen to run the latest Internet software and have a more efficient and enjoyable time online, you'll benefit from having a faster computer -- a minimum 486DX 66MHz with 16Mb RAM -- running Windows 95. As well as giving you access to the latest online resources, a Windows 95 or Windows 98 system makes the whole process of connecting to the Internet far easier than earlier operating systems. If you purchase a new Pentium-based system, you should have more than enough power to get yourself connected.
  
• A modem. We recommend a 28.8 kilobits per second (Kbps) or 33.6Kbps modem. You can certainly get yourself online with a 14.4Kbps modem, but you'll find the performance frustrating.
  
  Hold off on buying one of the new 56Kbps modems unless you really know what you're doing. They're still in the developmental stage, with no established standards and few Internet connections that support the maximum speeds.
  
• Internet software. There are two essential Internet software components: software which lets your computer dial up and connect to the Internet, and a Web browser which lets you surf the World Wide Web.
  
  Any computer running Windows 98 or Windows 95 (as well as newer Macintoshes) is 'Internet ready', with the software you need to dial up and connect to the Internet included. All you need to add is a Web browser, although almost all new machines come with a Web browser 'bundled' in.
  
  What if you are using Windows 3.1? Then you'll need Winsock software that does the job of dialling up and plugging you into the Internet. Your Internet service provider (see below) will usually provide you with a package of software that includes all this.
  
• An Internet service provider. You have the hardware and the software, but who are you going to call? To get onto the Internet, you need to have an Internet service provider (ISP). This is a company which basically acts as an intermediary between you and the Internet. You instruct your Internet software to dial your ISP, and the ISP then connects you to the Internet. This all happens automatically once you've installed your software.
  
  Most ISPs provide you with all the software you need to get connected, including a Web browser and, if you're running Windows 3.1, the Winsock applications needed to dial up and connect. If you're new to using the Internet, you'll probably find it easiest to use the complete package supplied by your ISP. As you become more familiar with Internet software, you can always choose an alternative browser or other software if you find something you prefer.

Choosing a browser
If you're getting yourself a new browser and you have a computer that matches the specifications we mention above, your best bet is to opt for either Internet Explorer 4 (IE 4) or Netscape Communicator 4. Not only do these browsers feature all the very latest technology and give you access to the newest (and most enjoyable) features of the Web, but they also include all sorts of additional programs.

For instance, in both Communicator 4 and IE 4 you'll find electronic mail; newsgroup software which lets you participate in online discussion boards; conferencing and voice software for interacting directly with other people on the Internet; software for creating your own Web sites; and 'Webcasting' software which lets you set up the Internet equivalent of TV channels with information broadcast directly to your screen.

If you have older hardware that doesn't have enough oomph to run the latest browsers, you'll find it's best to settle for an earlier version of Navigator or Explorer.

We've included browser software suitable for both Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 machines on the cover disc.

Optional extras
The latest Web browsers take a kitchen sink approach to Internet software, so there's not much else you need. The only things you're likely to want to add to your Internet kit are some plug-ins and some software.

Plug-ins add functionality to your browser. The most popular are Shockwave, which lets your browser display animated pages, and RealAudio, for playing music files on the Web. If you have Windows 98 with Internet Explorer installed, you should already have both these plug-ins ready to go.

Usually you'll find that if a Web page requires a plug-in that you don't have, you'll be able to link directly to a site and download the plug-in on-the-fly.

These days, the Internet is a real multimedia event, and while your browser and plug-ins can handle graphics and sounds on the Web, you'll also need programs that can handle files you download to your own computer (including files sent to you via e-mail). You may even find you want to create your own graphics, photo or sound files and send them to friends.

For these tasks you'll need software that lets you view and edit images and sound. It's hard to go past Paint Shop Pro for graphics and Cool Edit for sound, although you'll find lots of alternative programs that do the same tasks.

There are a couple of other applications you may want to use. If you're heavily into file downloading or if you want to upload your own Web pages to the Internet, you'll need FTP (File Transfer Protocol) software. FTP software is specifically designed for exchanging files on the Internet. Two of the most popular such programs are WS_FTP and CuteFTP.

You may also like to try your hand at online 'chatting'. With Internet Relay Chat software (the most common is a program called mIRC), you can interact directly with others connected to the Internet at the same time. An even better solution for chatting with friends is ICQ