What You Need to Get On-Line

To get on-line, you will need:

A computer, preferably a PC or a Macintosh.
A modem to connect your computer to a phone line. Many computers come with an internal modem (one that fits inside the computer) already installed. For most services you need at least a 9600 bps (bits per second) modem. A 14400 bps (v.32bis) modem costs less than $70. 28800 bps (V.34) modems cost about $100 -- they are your best buy right now. 56K modems cost a bit more, and not all services support them yet.
A phone line. You can use the regular phone that you already have. It's a good idea to turn off Call Waiting on this line, either permanently, or by dialing *70 or 1170 before making a phone call to get on-line.
An account with an on-line service, an Internet provider, or your school or company (see Opening an Internet Account).
A program that lets your computer talk to your on-line account. Many services come with their own software, or can use software you already have (Windows Terminal, for example). The software you need depends on the type of on-line account you have.
A credit card, because many on-line providers require billing by credit card. (You may be able to find out that will invoice you, especially if you can pay for six months or a year at a time.)
Patience and time, because it'll take some of both before you are set up and ready to communicate!