@Xi Computer Corporation MTower, User Manual

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Xi® MTower™ - NTower™ - NetRAIDer™
Page 39
You should also compare the software that ISPs provide for accessing the Internet.
Some ISP software is easy to use and comes with complete, easy-to-understand
instructions; other access software is more difficult to use and comes with few or
highly technical instructions.
Service Issues
Compare the quality and range of service offered by various ISPs. Some offer
more services, but if you do not need those additional services, you might find it
preferable to a cheaper, less full-featured ISP.
Also, consider an ISP’s technical support service. You might want to call an ISP’s
technical support department and ask some questions to see whether you feel
comfortable with the assistance offered by the ISP.
Endorsements
Consider recommendations from friends, colleagues, businesses, and reviews in
publications.
Free Trial Period
If you are not sure about committing to an ISP, choose one that offers a free trial
period. Free trial periods give you an opportunity to see how well the ISP works
and how comfortable you are with the ISP. For example, you do not want to sign
on with a service if you get a lot of busy signals whenever you try to connect.
At one time, it was common for an ISP to provide 10 free hours, letting you cancel
at anytime. Today, some ISPs are giving new users 50 hours or 30 days free to try
their service.
Refund of Prepayments
Some ISPs offer a discounted price if you prepay for an entire year of service.
Before you prepay, however, check whether the ISP will refund your money if you
switch to another ISP within the year for which you prepaid. For more
information, refer to the Note in the section
“Changing ISPs” on page 40 .