Dear Squeak and Blat,

My music department is still in the dark ages and isn't connected to the Internet. I would really like to have e-mail and take advantage of all those neat things on the Internet. How can I get my old tired Mac LC connected from home or my college office?

Milton B.

Squeak: This is really a career move question, Milton. It sounds like you have an iron deficiency and want to do something about tired technology blood.

A quick way to get connected would be to sign up with a computer service like American Online, Compuserve, or Prodigy. They typically run around $10 a month for 4-5 hours of connect time per month and have e-mail and World Wide Web services, and lots of other extras. Just about any computer magazine in the bookstores have free trial-period disks for these. You just boot the disk on your computer and follow the directions. I get a ton of these in the mail every month (the free disks are great for disk recycling or coffee cup coasters!).

Now, you will need a modem for your computer. Go straight to your nearest computer store and find the best price on a 28.8 bps modem (you don't have to know what that means, just tell the store that's what you need for your Mac LC). Get the store's assurance that they will help you get the modem set up and working as part of your purchase.

Now, once you are online with an e-mail address like This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., use your Internet power to really advance your career. Start campaigning to get your campus connected to the Internet, or better yet, use The College Music Society's web page to find a new job at a school that does! It's high tech geritol! Oh, and think about upgrading that computer as well when the big raise or the new job comes through.

Blat: You're only as old as you feel Milt! You actually can do quite a bit with your Mac LC on the Internet, but Dave sure is right about boosting the memory and getting a fast modem. Do those two things and that LC will work well.

I'm not sure about the AOL service however! Dave likes AOL because he gets free time when he signs up new user! Smile! Seriously, Dave is right about AOL being a fast and efficient way to get on the net, but it has its drawbacks too. You may not need all those extra services and if you are connected for more than a few hours a month, the extra charges can get ya! It's like going to a Tapas restaurant--those little dishes add up.

Another option is for you to buy time from an "internet service provider" or ISP. Ask your long distance phone company about what they offer. Another independent one to check out is EarthLink which charges $20 a month flat rate with unlimited access. Software is provided free and you use a local access number for dialing in. Such providers also give you a couple of megs of space on their server for your new homepage which will convince everyone that you are not tired at all! I can see it now Milt--a picture of you teaching your theory class and a sound file clip of your latest composition!

By the way, I'd use those AOL and CompuServ diskettes and CD ROMs as neat Frisbees for recreation at the beach!