Should I Connect to High Speed Internet?

[Gary S]

Take a break MrsLop. Rome wasn't built in a day. Either was Pompeii and Sherlock Holmes for that matter.

[Dreambird]

No need for an apology...

Enjoy your book, Mrs. Lop and sleep well!

You say "as a woman who does too much"... yup!... just like my Mom when she underwent chemo, my sister just about had to insist and drag her to bed.

[MrsLop]

Good Morning to All,
I wondered if anyone has an answer to my musings about security issues concerning Internet and a few other small questions.
WebTV (MSN TV) is my only current route to the Internet.  They filter spam email, and I presume viruses and worms, as well.  I never had to think about this before.  Do other ISP's do this as well, or do I have to have to take responsibility?  I have seen programs in my newspaper ads called Anti Virus this and Anti Virus that...From some of the threads I have read, these are serious enough to ruin a hard drive.  How does a computer "catch" them.
Will I be better off putting my old mac 6100/60AV on a different ISP (provided that I can find one that can do the job with an Software Version 7.5.3 Update 2.0?) to lessen the chances of being without Internet Service , in case of such Viruses and worms?  Thanks for your input.

[danf63]

In school I've connected systems using 7.5.  The hardest part is using old browser and getting a ton of javascript errors, but you'd get that on dial up also.  But the Internet is faster.  MrsLop, is this your only computer?

Dan

[MrsLop]

Hello Dan,
Nice to meet you.  What I have is a WebTV connectec currently, to the internet through MSN.  It is not a computer.  I was given an old 6100/60AV PowerPC with Version 7.5.3 Update 2.0.  I have been learning from TS because I know nothing about computers, software, in this case OS,  or any peripherals. It came with the Keyboard II and Mouse, and Personal LaserWriter 320 and most all the wiring, except for the modem and its' wire.  
I have learned how to connect everything but it is still not hooked up to the internet yet, as I need to research ISP"S.
I have posted other topics as well.  

Thanks to TS members, like yourself I have already learned how to remove my processor cover and change the 3.6V PRAM Battery, and printed out one page on the printer.
 

[kelly]

Mrs. L

99.9999% of the Viruses and worms are written for PCs.

That is what we call computers that run Windows versions.

Viruses are not a problem for most mac users.

You may want to get something eventually but it's not a big deal.

[MrsLop]

Kelly,
Did you mean I may want to get a virus or worm?
Just kidding.  
I thought everyone had to have Windows on a Computer.

Question:  My husband has a computer at his school.
It is Windows based, and has a  CD and floppy.  Can he use this Mac for his school related work?  Are they incompatible or is there a way for them to speak the same language?

[TerryV]

Hello MrsLop, you are in the right place to get the kind of help that you need, if I may offer a few suggestions based on  the posts so far,
 (1) You can do it on a Mac.
(2) It would be a good idea to invest a few dollars to bring this Mac up to the "Trailing Edge of Technology", i.e. upgrade to OS 8.6, add as much RAM as you can afford, a used or refurbished 56K modem, you will have to get the connection cable for it, and you will be "good to go".
(3) Software: it's up to you! You can still download Internet Explorer for the Mac free from Microsoft, and there are TONS of other browsers available, I use Opera, www.opera.com.
It might intrest you to know that I am replying to you on a five year or more old computer (when you get up past 50 you only remember exact dates that are 25 or more years ago!). A Performa 6400/200,  it originally came with system 7.xx installed and a 200mhz 603e processor with a built in 36k modem.  Fast forward to the present, with a good helping of help from TS'ers, both personally and from reading posts by others, and I am running, on the same  machine, a 300mhz G3, OS 8.6 (Very stable) IE 5.1. For the longest time I connected to the net via a 56K modem (Diamond Supra Express 56K external) via Earthlink and was very happy.
Go ahead, it isn't as difficult as you may think, and the help you will get here will get you thru any problems that you may face.
Best of luck with the chemo, my Dad went thru that many, many years ago and I wish you well. TerrV.

[MrsLop]

Afternoon Terry,
A pleasure to meet you.

I haven't checked into Earthlink, yet.  
Some help is already on the way, a Global Village 56K modem from one TS member and a book( so that I can learn more about Macs, from another TS member.

It is exciting to know that I can upgade this old Mac.  I have to do it gradually, though.

  Medical costs are really quite expensive and have long since drained our meager reserves.  I was at the Emergency Room a few weeks ago because I wasn't able to breath too well and the total cost of that was a whopping $5900+.  Fortunately, I only have to pay a balance of $ 75.00.  The Chemotherapy from the Cancer left me with a side effect that effects my breathing - among other things.  So you see, I just have do things a little bit at a time, as I can afford to.
The computer is not the highest priority on my list - recovery and getting well is.

Someday, I hope to be able to look back on all of this, and smile with all of you on the TS Board.  Until then, to quote Bette Davis, "  fasten your seatbelt, it's going to be a very bumpy ride."  I think that's what she said.  I mean this in a good way.
I am chomping at the bit
and can't wait to get started doing all kinds of wonderful things to this old Mac.

Thanks for your help!

[Dreambird]

Mrs. Lop...

Those medical costs!    *ouch**

As far as security... Kelly's right in that you're unlikely to run into a virus or worm that will affect your Mac... but it is possible to pass worms to PC users you may email...

Personally I use Virex 6.1 for antivirus duties.

They "say" it's for OS7.5.5 and up to OS9.x... if that's not good for you I'm not sure if you can still get an earlier version. It's all I've ever used here... updates are available monthly and I wouldn't worry about any sort of firewall software unless running OS X.

Oh and for browsers... I too use Opera 5 and like it very much... minor glitches, nothing to get very upset about. If I could wish for one thing with Opera it would be that they had an integrated email program... I use Netscape for that.

[MrsLop]

Well, Hello Dreambird,

Nice of you to stop by and chat with me for a while.  I wondered where you had been.

I am not so much worried about my old "mac,"I am more concerned about my husband's school computer getting a virus or worm.  He is the one running Windows based programs.  I suppose that if he uses his other email addresses we shouldn't have any virus or worm wending their way into my hard drive.  Not to many months ago, a hacker took down the school's website and my husband's email at his school address won't work.  Because student volunteers from a college do all the maintenance and etc.. it may be a very long time before he has that up and running again.

Good hearing from you, again and thanks so much for the information.

[Dreambird]

Hi Mrs. Lop... hope you're feeling reasonably well today!

My pleasure chatting with you... since that's about all I can do... my knowledge on the older Macs being so meager!

But most definately YES... although our Macs might sail through worm problems with no problem... they can still unfortunately be passed on to our PC friends. Unintentionally of course, but it causes a real pain! I had something once... can't remember who or where from that had "junk" email landing in my inbox so fast (about every 10 min.) I finally set a temporary filter so it would go straight to the trash folder. It didn't hurt me one bit other than to exasperate me...

But my ISP was bogged down with it... it slowed my service down so much I might just as well have been on dialup... I'm on cable. I even checked my whole HD with Virex to be sure "I" didn't have anything on my 'puter... I didn't.

Things to watch for in your email's inbox are attachments to files with extensions like .exe, .pif, .bat and .doc... I never open them except for .doc if I know the person sending it.

Still Mac's rule when it comes to having very little problems with viruses and worms.

I too know a whole site (a forum like this one, but for Windows) that was taken down with 100% loss by some hacker! I know the fellow too, he didn't deserve it one bit... I started a Netscape forum on his site and all the info was lost. He's coming back nicely though...  

[Gary S]

MrsLop,

The absence of the virus problems that plague Wintel (PCs) is one , amongst many problems, that makes the Mac platform so desireable. I have had one worm virus in the 18 years i've been using macs and that came from a commercial CD from a magazine.

Don't worry about viruses on the mac, you'll be wasting your energy.

I hope your feeling fairly well today. I went through the radiation process with my sister and father, both of which had cancer. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Both my sister and dad are doing well after their treatments. It's been 15 years for my sis and 3 years for my dad. I just am greatfull for the advancements in medical technology.  

I know, that's easy for me to say.

[MrsLop]

Dreambird,

I hope that you check back often.  

I will be attempting to expand the RAM on the "old MAc" and I might even do an a Systems upgrade.  

Stay tuned for "The Adventures of Mrs Lop in Mac Land" coming soon to the TS Forum.

[MrsLop]

Good Morning Gary S,

I waited all day to hear from you.  I finally went to sleep at about 9PM last night.  I was so exhausted.

I just wanted to say   for the wonderful graphics of my most esteemed heroes - Sherlock Holmes.

I knew you were on the board with another topic, but I didn't want to intrude.

I was feeling a bit tired
yesterday.  I was trying to do so many things at once.  

Today is another day and I am feeling well.
Good thing too.  Today, my husbands' 8th Grade class is graduating.  
Every year, we have a Mass dedicated to these young people and pray for them.  I sing with the Choir.  I was trying to master the chant like, "Ave Maria".  I hope the Angels sing with us today, as this is not an easy piece.  I had a lot of music to go over.  We like to sing some contemporary music for them too.

Throughout my illness, I asked the Choir Director if I could have all the sheet music sent home with my husband.  I played the piano to accompany myself and learn the pieces on my own.  Sometimes, I could make it to practice and other times not.  I continued to sing with the Choir, and it kept me uplifted and full of hope.

People from all over the country were praying for me - some people I didn't even know.

Thousands of women die of this diease every year.  Most deaths are through secondary forms, linked from the first Cancer.

Mine got through to my lymph nodes before being detected.  This is not a good thing.  There is a chance that the Cancer has spread to another part of my body through the blood stream.  Time will tell.

That said, prayers, and good thoughts sent my way are always happily accepted.

Joyfully,