Tired of slowpoke modem connections to the Internet? Baffled by the alphabet soup of TCP/IP, DSL, FAP, and other Internet jargon? Looking for the easy, authoritative, friendly way to choose a broadband Internet connection that won?t take you to the cleaners? The Complete Idiot?s Guide to High-Speed Internet Connections is exactly what you?re looking for! You?ll find complete, easy-to-understand coverage of leading broadband solutions such as DSL, cable modem, ISDN, fixed wireless broadband, and satellite-based services. Wondering which service is the best buy for you? Not sure if you can connect your favorite broadband service to your computer? Wondering if you can share your broadband connection with other users - and still keep intruders out? Wondering how easy a "self-installed" broadband solution really is? Wonder no more! This book is the book you've been looking for!
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More About the Author
I've always been interested in things that go fast, like airplanes and trains. However, it took me until my late 20's to discover that the world's fastest ' and most versatile ' devices didn't have wheels.
My background in English, history, and French makes me somewhat unusual in the technology writing field, but it gives me a big advantage when it comes to helping ordinary people understand how the Internet, PCs, servers, and digital cameras work. I stay up to date by reading technology blogs, newsletters and websites, and experimenting on 'FrankenPC' and my office network.
Although I've been contributing to books since 1999, I cut my technology writing teeth in the mid-1980's. Do you remember the Commodore 64 and its inscrutable 1541 floppy disk drive manual? My first piece of tech writing crunched down the essentials an ordinary user needed to know to get programs running to a single page. A few years later, exasperated with salespeople who kept selling PC clone configurations the techs in the back room could never get to work right, I wrote a compatibility handbook for my then-employer, a computer store. In the meantime, I spent a lot of time talking users through configuring startup files with DOS's ghastly Edlin line editor and discovering the brave new world of desktop publishing and scalable fonts.
I turned that expertise into a new part-time career as a magazine writer, first for WordPerfect Magazine (1989-1995), and later for Sandhills Publishing (1991-2001). In the meantime, I provided consulting and training services to area businesses, and, starting in 1992, spent most of the rest of the decade traveling the US and teaching classes on computer troubleshooting, workgroup networking, and other subjects. I also wrote three book-length training manuals in 1992-1993.
Before email was common, I often submitted magazine stories by bringing my laptop computer and portable printer to the nearest UPS or FedEx drop box, hand-feeding the printer and hoping that the pick-up time shown on the box was accurate!
Beginning in early 1999, I made the decision to become a full-time writer, cheering my wife and children (who area also big technology users) by getting off the road. I teamed up with Scott Mueller, dean of computer hardware books, to help get Upgrading and Repairing PCs, 11th Edition, wrapped up on schedule. I've contributed to every edition since, and have also co-authored many books with Scott.
I've also teamed up with TechTV to write two books on computer upgrades, paired up with radio and TV tech guru Leo Laporte for two books on computer troubleshooting, and written several other books on the Internet, home networking, Windows Vista, troubleshooting, and digital photography. Right now, I'm wrapping up work on a new A+ Certification guide and a new book on Windows 7.
I'm also a freelance author for MaximumPC magazine (since 2004) and a frequent blogger on the MaximumPC.com website, with some of my articles finding a second life in the books The Maximum PC Guide to Building a Dream PC and The MaximumPC Ultimate PC Performance Guide. To keep my finger on the pulse of PC users, I also teach classes on digital photography, digital imaging, and specialized training for the Evansville campus of IvyTech Community College of Indiana (www.ivytech.edu/evansville/). I attend Grace Church of the Nazarene (www.nazarene.org). If you have questions about my books or other projects, please drop me a line.
My background in English, history, and French makes me somewhat unusual in the technology writing field, but it gives me a big advantage when it comes to helping ordinary people understand how the Internet, PCs, servers, and digital cameras work. I stay up to date by reading technology blogs, newsletters and websites, and experimenting on 'FrankenPC' and my office network.
Although I've been contributing to books since 1999, I cut my technology writing teeth in the mid-1980's. Do you remember the Commodore 64 and its inscrutable 1541 floppy disk drive manual? My first piece of tech writing crunched down the essentials an ordinary user needed to know to get programs running to a single page. A few years later, exasperated with salespeople who kept selling PC clone configurations the techs in the back room could never get to work right, I wrote a compatibility handbook for my then-employer, a computer store. In the meantime, I spent a lot of time talking users through configuring startup files with DOS's ghastly Edlin line editor and discovering the brave new world of desktop publishing and scalable fonts.
I turned that expertise into a new part-time career as a magazine writer, first for WordPerfect Magazine (1989-1995), and later for Sandhills Publishing (1991-2001). In the meantime, I provided consulting and training services to area businesses, and, starting in 1992, spent most of the rest of the decade traveling the US and teaching classes on computer troubleshooting, workgroup networking, and other subjects. I also wrote three book-length training manuals in 1992-1993.
Before email was common, I often submitted magazine stories by bringing my laptop computer and portable printer to the nearest UPS or FedEx drop box, hand-feeding the printer and hoping that the pick-up time shown on the box was accurate!
Beginning in early 1999, I made the decision to become a full-time writer, cheering my wife and children (who area also big technology users) by getting off the road. I teamed up with Scott Mueller, dean of computer hardware books, to help get Upgrading and Repairing PCs, 11th Edition, wrapped up on schedule. I've contributed to every edition since, and have also co-authored many books with Scott.
I've also teamed up with TechTV to write two books on computer upgrades, paired up with radio and TV tech guru Leo Laporte for two books on computer troubleshooting, and written several other books on the Internet, home networking, Windows Vista, troubleshooting, and digital photography. Right now, I'm wrapping up work on a new A+ Certification guide and a new book on Windows 7.
I'm also a freelance author for MaximumPC magazine (since 2004) and a frequent blogger on the MaximumPC.com website, with some of my articles finding a second life in the books The Maximum PC Guide to Building a Dream PC and The MaximumPC Ultimate PC Performance Guide. To keep my finger on the pulse of PC users, I also teach classes on digital photography, digital imaging, and specialized training for the Evansville campus of IvyTech Community College of Indiana (www.ivytech.edu/evansville/). I attend Grace Church of the Nazarene (www.nazarene.org). If you have questions about my books or other projects, please drop me a line.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Desperately Needed Book! EXCELLENT!!,
By
This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to High-Speed Internet Connections (The Complete Idiot's Guide) (Mass Market Paperback)
With all of the recent information floating around about "High-Speed" internet connections, one can literally go insane trying to decipher fact from fiction, not to mention attempting to figure out which service is right for YOU. When I came across this book, which I did here on amazon, I was very excited, but still unsure of what I would be getting my hands on. I thought that perhaps it would assist me a little here or there, and help out with the most basic information possible. To my surprise, and delight, this book was truly AWESOME. So much so that I just received it a couple of weeks ago, and I'm now on my second reading. The book is packed with information. It not only delves into the aspects of Cable Modems and DSL(which is does so very intensely), but also tells you how you can optimize your standard dial-up modem connection to the internet. You can't lose with this book--if you already have an internet connection, the knowledge on getting the most out of THAT hook-up is worth the price of the book. In addition, the author definitely has a sense of humor, and that REALLY helps when you sit down to read a book, and along with educating you, you're also given a dose of humor that's JUST ENOUGH to make the education FUN. The book also gives the reader information on what to do in order to have your computer completely in order BEFORE the installation of a broadband hook-up takes place, whether you do it yourself, or somebody's going to be installing it for you. This book even delves into how computers work, and the processes of computers connecting to one another to put the wheels of the internet into motion. The reader won't be BOGGED down with this, however, as the book is written in a very clear, concise manner. You'll also learn little tricks here and there throughout the book on how to maintain your computer for overall optimal performace. What a great book--I couldn't recommend it more highly!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent introduction, with something for everyone,
By "gameboycolor3" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to High-Speed Internet Connections (The Complete Idiot's Guide) (Mass Market Paperback)
I have read some of Mark Soper's work before (Upgrading and Repairing PCs, SmartComputing, etc.) and have always found it to informative and relevant to what I needed. This book is no exception. Incredibly readable and humorous for a computer book, it provides an excellent balance between technical detail and practical knowledge. Easy to understand and yet packed with information, this is a must have book for anyone even slightly interested in high-speed Internet access. I recommend this book to anyone who is considering broadband, anyone who already has it, or just anyone who enjoys emerging technologies.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clearly Explains Your Choices,
By
This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to High-Speed Internet Connections (The Complete Idiot's Guide) (Mass Market Paperback)
DSL? Cable Modem? Satellite? Wireless? These are among the choices you will have to make if you decide to "upgrade" to high speed Internet access. It's difficult to know which one will work best for you. This book helps to explain the differences between each of them. The introductory part explains ways to get higher speeds from your current analog modem before diving into the different kinds of high speed Internet options you have. The second part of the book is divided into chapters explaining ISDN, DSL, satellite, and wireless Internet and how each one works. It also gives you an idea of which specific type might work best for your individual needs. The next part of the book is divided into chapters explaining how to install whichever service you've decided on, complete with "installation checklists" at the end of these chapters. There are also a couple chapters devoted to keeping your PC secure from "hacker attacks," which is always a problem, but even more so if you have this kind of Internet connection. Finally, there's a section devoted to troubleshooting problems, even a glossary at the book's end so you can familiarize yourself with related terms, and if nothing else amaze your friends with your knowledge of this technology! This book provides an excellent overview of the high speed Internt technology available today.
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