Getting online

Over the last decade, the Internet has grown rapidly as a source of information and as a global shopping mall. There are loads of other uses and help is available to guide you in the right direction.

Unless you live in an area where broadband is not available, you’ll be able to readily access the Internet and take advantage of all it has to offer. Finding information on the web is easy. Finding the information you want can be frustrating. But there are other things for you to do
online other than research.

With your broadband package, most ISPs (Internet Service Providers) will give you some free web space. This means you can then create your own website and make it available online. To do that you’ll need (apart from the web space), a program to create your masterpiece and a domain name (web address) for people to type in so they can view your website. Alternatively, a lot of companies, like Myspace and Facebook, offer everything you need to put your stamp on the Internet. All you have to do is sign up and fill in the blanks. This is a great way to keep your friends and family up to date and meet new and talented
people with similar interests.

As well as web space you should also get an email address, allowing you to communicate with family and friends, wherever they may be in the world! If for some reason you don’t have an email address then it’s advisable to get a free one (from companies like Yahoo and Hotmail).

This is because some websites use your email address as a user name and more often than not, when you sign up to websites, they send you a confirmation email that you have to open to click a link, to validate your registration.

You can also make use of the Internet if you have a digital media streamer, it is now possible to watch your TV on a computer connected to the Internet anywhere in the world! This is great for trips away or letting loved ones from afar catch up on their favourite soaps. Also, if you have a laptop with a built in wireless card and a wireless router, you can access the Internet from anywhere in the house and outside in the garden!

How The TechGuys can help

If you have a few niggling problems with your PC and not sure where to turn then our TechGuys Time service will give you sound advice and solutions in no time.