@Compguy_PeteAug 11.2005 — #In your profile you do not mention your location... which would have helped greatly!
There are "free" ways to get on the Internet. I have no idea what your cousin is talking about, I suppose he also "knows about computers" or has a buddy who works at (insert company name here), I hear this type of thing all the time.
Anyways if you have been keeping up on any of the recent tech news you would see that Free Wi-Fi has been under attack here in the States. Companies who operate DSL and fee based Wireless internet are heading this attack. There have also been cases where users taking advantage of open Wi-fi networks have been brought to court over what was once the "future of the internet" to now is a grey area of the law and in some areas considered stealing.
SO I won't directly disagree with Mr Herer however I won't totally agree either.
@Stephen_PhilbinAug 11.2005 — #Well I suppose my response was a little abstract, but what I mean is that everything always costs someone something. Like with "free hosting" for personal sites. You can get "free webspace" when you buy your internet connection from your ISP, but obviously it isn't actually free, they just include the cost in the line rental and don't give you the option to rent the line without the space. Or with "free hostin" from other sites. Usually the cost there is not monetary, they plaster your documents with their adverts. One potential "cost" that springs to mind of a "free" internet connection might be that they use your connection they provide to you to monitor your browsing and browsing habbits. I would imagine there's also the possibility that they can send adverts of their choice to users regardless of which web pages they visit.
There ya go. A slightly less abstract version of "Nothing is for free".
@bringerofnightauthorAug 11.2005 — #ok thanks i emailed him and this is what he said Sorry, dude i for got to say that company i got it from was new and was giving free internet to who ever would help advertise now you have to pay for it but i still get mine for free and that's nice because it's DSL too.[/QUOTE]
@invertedpandaAug 11.2005 — #There are free dialup ISPs out there in the US. Broadband.. well.. You'd have to leech off of someone elses' via wireless for that ?
@JPnycAug 11.2005 — #Netzero used to be free, but I tried it once about 8 or 9 yrs ago, and never successfully connected once. Never DLed a single byte.