You don't have to spend big bucks. You don't even have to buy new. But new is so low priced now, it is worth it just to save the hassle of having to upgrade again soon. A new computer should be technologically good for about 5 years, before the world passes you up so far, you can't keep up. You can get new complete systems at popular retailers for anywhere from $400 up...that include everything you need. Granted, everything will be bottom line cheap, but it will work fine for home use, in most cases. And don't buy a maintenance contract. If the computer is going to break, it will break within 30 days...while the factory warranty is still active. And if you ever tried to make a claim on a maintenance contract, you'll have already wised up.
But buying from a popular retailer isn't always the cheapest buy, because if you have any problems (and you will as a new computer user) they won't help you either because they aren't set up for it, or they want to make their profit taking you for a ride on the customer service train to hell. Famous on-line computer sellers are infamous for this. Your best buy is to find a computer guy you know in your area to advise you. If he happens to own a computer store, that is even better, because he will usually help you without charge and may get you in to a late model used system that is already broken in and save you a few bucks. But watch out. Computer guys have gone the way of used car salesmen. Scammers abound! it is just too tempting playing on your lack of knowledge to shake you down. It is advisable to take along a knowledgeable computer friend when shopping for a computer guy.
Using a standard telephone line just doesn't cut it. It MAY provide 56K download speeds when no one else in your area is on line, but even at that speed, you might as well put it in reverse and drive off the edge of a cliff for all the good it will do you. 56K refers to the number of bits (computer basic data) it sends over the line per second. The 'K' means 1,000. So 56K means 56 thousand bits are reaching your computer per second, transferring data from the Internet so you can see and hear it. That may sound like a lot, but when you consider picture can be made up of a Million K (1 Megabyte), it would take you nearly 20 seconds to see it. If we have 50 new pictures to show you...that could take a lot of time...and forget waiting for the 8 Megabyte Video to download, because chances are your provider will bounce your line because you are hogging it up for other customers to use...and then claim the phone company did it.
High Speed Internet is a must, if you want to enjoy the Internet. You can usually get it from your phone company and it is called DSL and will run the average user about $39 a month. It doesn't have to be that much, but DSL includes two phone lines (your existing line can be one of them). This allows you to keep your internet connection on full time and still get and make phone calls.
Cable is a better option, if available. It is usually more available than DSL is and usually provides much better quality, much higher speeds, at less cost than DSL. But like the phone company, they expect you to buy their TV service if you want to use their Internet service. So you are looking at about $24 a month, on average.
If you can't get cable or DSL, you can get Satellite if you have a clear view to the Southern Sky. This is more expensive of the three and also requires a telephone line connection for sending information from your computer. They do have two-way Sat systems, but you have to own a gold mine to afford it. It offers very high speeds, but has a latency delay which will mess up your on-line games. It will also get squirrely, or go out completely in heavy precipitation. But it is still better than no high speed at all.
Wireless is becoming popular. It is just like it sounds...a two-way computer radio. Some towns have even installed wireless to make high speed Internet available to everyone for FREE as part of their "Library System". But the commercial guys are trying to call it "Commie" and shut them down...heh, heh. They won't win. There are already too many rogue stations out there. Ya gotta love those greedy bastards, though....wringing their boney fingers with worry that you might get something free! Wireless is common for small network areas and laptop users...like in a Starbuck's, or the local library, but it can have a 20 mile radius and be extended without limitation using booster networks. It is the wave of the future, but hard to find on a municipal scale at this time. The boney finger guys will make it available as soon as they can figure out how to lock everyone else out. But if you can get it, the only drawback is heavy precipitation and sometimes government jamming. Not that they want to jam it, but they need to know they can, if they do want to. So they do, from time to time.
The bottom line is, if you expect to enjoy the Internet and LZ Russell's web site, you have to get caught up to the technology. You will find improving technology is actually easier than sticking with the old stuff you know now. They do almost all of it for you now, from computer start up, setting up security and getting you on line for an enjoyable web experience. So why wait? You ain't dead yet and neither is LZ Russell. Upgrade Now!