February 2000

Bill Hopkins is the Webmaster of PhotoSourceFolio* (www.photosourcefolio.com) and a regular contributor to PhotoStockNotes. Send comments via Email to wh@photosourcefolio.com. Fax: 1 818 831-0916. Or US Mail: PhotoStockNotes. (*Display 6 of your images on our Web site!) For on-line marketing questions, contact him on the Cracker Barrel at www.photosource.com/board



"DSL: What If I Travel?

We've been discussing high-speed internet phone access via DSL (Digital Subscriber Line). Another consideration when thinking about getting DSL is this: DSL requires a special telephone line be installed and connected directly to your computer*. If you do a lot (or even a little) traveling, you won't have access to your internet connection while on the road. Or will you? A few DSL providers realize this potential handicap, and offer assistance. For example, Earthlink (www.earthlink.com) offers 20 hours free Internet roaming (dialup) service. BellSouth (www.bellsouth.net) DSL service gives you free access to your Email only (no Internet browsing) when on the road. So, if you're considering DSL and you need "roaming access," be sure to ask about it (and make sure you're talking to someone at the company who knows!), and factor in any additional costs you may incur. (Thanks to subscriber P.J. Heller for reminding me of this). (*A little over-simplified, but space is limited here.)


Renew AOL Pop-up Ad Blocks
If you thought you got rid of those annoying pop-up ads on your AOL screen because you asked, think again. That AOL feature requires annual renewal. So if you're wondering why pop-ups started reappearing, let 'em know you don't want to receive them (for another year). Maybe AOL will make the opt-out option a one-time, permanent request. Someday.

Busy, Busy, Busy
Is this what folks hear when they call your house and you're STILL on the Internet? Don't want to (or can't) install another phone line just for the computer? Wish you could get rid of the second line that you already have? Here's another solution to the busy signal, this time from Pagoo (www.pagoo.com). Sign up with your local phone company (varies by locale) for a phone feature called busy call-forwarding (the name may vary by telco). Costs about four bucks a month. Then, sign on with Pagoo (another four bucks). Their Call Catcher "picks up and records callers' voice messages just like an answering machine. As soon as a message is recorded, you are notified immediately and can listen to it on your PC, either with the Pagoo Player or through a private web page, all without getting off-line." You'll even get your first month free. If you try it, let us know how it works.


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