The Cadre ’

17 November 1998

Feature 5

Internet choices for UPEI students

UPEI! comes out on top

By BRODY MORRISON

The Internet is a power- ful tool for the new millen- nium. Even so, many adults, professors, and leading authori- ties have no idea how to tap its full potential.

You may also find that Internet service at home saves you considerable time and ef- fort away from the University.

I explored several Internet providers to evaluate which one was the best, and if I have omitted some Internet providers then please let me know. I have gathered infor- mation from Island Service Network (ISN), Auracom, Sympatico, and UPEI. That information can be found at the table provided at the bot- tom of the page.

All of these Internet pro- viders have good offers for their particular rates. How- ever, some have better offers than others.

ISN has more expen- sive rates, but does not charge for the starter software. They also offer an exclusive student package. In this deal, students receive 80 hours per month for a fee of $22.50, but it must be

}

Name of Plan

Emailer

Networker

Net Surfer 120

Student Special

Starter Plan

Auracom Lite

) 120 Plus Sympatico Occasional

Regular UPEI Regular Rate

ISN

) Auracom

}

prepaid four months at a time.

In contrast, Auracom offers lower fees, but requires customers to purchase starter software themselves. Auracomalso offers what they call “Freezones” which they define as an “offer [of] free access between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7 a.m., 7 days a week.” In addition, these hours are not tabulated in the 60 hours per month rate.

UPEI Computer Serv- ices also offers the same type of deal as ISN, except they offer 60 hours per month at a rate of $20. Payment is on a semester basis, and with tax comes to $88.

Unlike the other provid- ers, UPEI allows access to the on-line catalogues of the Robinson Library, such as the Humanities Index and the Oxford English Dictionary. The BOBCAT catalogue is also accessible. Although BOBCAT can be used through a widely accessibleTel Net program, the CD ROM fea- ture is exclusive to UPEI.

The CD ROM compo- nent of the deal is an extremely interesting selling tool for UPEI. Also, the money that

UPEI receives for the Internet access goes right back to the students in the form of funding for the student help desk at computer services. The money collected also pays for the ad- ministrators and technical ad- vice.

It seems that UPEI is not just doing this for profits, and it seems to me that the program is just basically paying for it- self. If this is true, then the

UPEI Computer Services in the AVC

services will be directed to- wards students and not profits, which impressed me very much.

If it seems to you that I am showing more support for the UPEI service than for the other services, you are cor- rect. Although I did not come to this conclusion before | wrote this article. However, it is with my best advice that UPEI maintains the best “bang

“photo by R.Haines

Internet providers available to UPEI students

Price

Number of Hrs Price for each Additional Hrs

$15.00 12hrs $1.00 Yes $25.00 70hrs $1.25 Yes $29.95 120hrs $.95 . Yes $22.50 80hrs rice not available Yes $9.95 10hrs 50 Yes $24.95 60hrs $1.50 Yes $29.95 120hrs $1.00 Yes $9.95 Shrs $1.50 Yes $24.95 60hrs $1.50 Yes $22.00 a Yes Contact: ISN http://www. isn.net/services.html

Auracom _http://www.pei.auracom.com/plans

Sympatico http://www.pei.sympatico.ca

UPEI

http://www.upei.ca/~access

for your buck”. In fact, | am so sure of recommending UPEI that I might switch from my own Internet service to UPEI’s.

Overall, the choice is yours alone, but please remem- ber that picking Internet pro- viders involves an important decision making process these days.

Still, | hope in the future that the University will offer Internet access as an optional charge for students through the regular tuition payment system.

Starter Package Cost of Starter Package

Free Free Free Free $29.95 $29.95 $29.95 $29.95 $29.95 Free