ejensen said:
Are you saying I don't need an ISP? All indication on Qwest website is that I need an ISP to order their DSL service.
I hear you on their software.
QWEST will be your ISP.
I think you think there's more to it than there is. When QWEST is asking if you're an ISP they're talking about resellers of the line who connect you themselves. You want QWEST to be your ISP, so they run the data line and connect it to the 'net.
1) Order the DSL/MSN(whatever) deal from QWEST.
2) Throw the CD they give you in a drawer.
3) Once they install, connect the Ethernet cable from the DSL modem to your PC. (You do have an Ethernet port, right?)
4) Boot your PC, start a browser, watch as you see a web page.
You may have to create or put a DSL password into the DSL modem/router. You should find out how to that on
http://www.broadbandreprots.com
If you have no luck with that you can breakdown and install the software. DO NOT call QWEST tech support unless all of the above fails. If you used their CD once you get on online go to Add/remove programs and remove everything it installed.
5) Enjoy being online. Go to
http://www.pilotsofamerica.com and tell us how you like it. Go to gmail.com and apply for a gmail address. Go to mozilla,.org and download Firefox and Thunderbird. GMail will tell you how to set up Thunderbird to use it.
I can't say why but I've never felt real comfortable with the idea of going 100% with Yahoo or Google. I have accounts on both for 'throw away' registrations, etc. I've seen hotmail addresses blocked and wonder if other 'spam' addresses will be too.
Definitely will look at T-bird.
All I'm looking for is:
Browser to connect when I start it to a page of my choice.
Mail with off-line read, write, address book.
Mail that handles 'fancy' messages like AOPA Epilot and inline photos, etc.
Web access when traveling.
Web access to mail.
I've never had a problem with my email being blocked.
The web based email servcie will grok HTML format mail liek ePilot. You alos usually have na option to get teh messages in plain text.
Occasionally some of the spam blacklist gnomes add a whole domain to the list because ONE user complained. It did happen with gmail. The blacklist goes away in a day. ISPs that use blacklists that dumb don't deserve to have customers - meaning if your mail to somebody gets blocked THEY have a problem.