It was in November 1996 that webDotWiz went online with a 33.6kbits per second dialup modem (55.6kbits/sec modems came a bit later). From memory the monthly cost was about $50 but there weren't unlimited downloads so, with a teenager at home who wanted his own website, the monthly bill often hit $100. A number was dialled to Murchison and the Internet Service Provider subsidised the connection call from Murchison to Shepparton.

For the first year or two there weren't that many other people online so line speed was good. Then the extra phone call was no longer subsidised and city people were starting to enjoy unlimited monthly dialup accounts for about $30. By 2000 or so, more local people were online, fortunately unlimited monthly accounts became available, but, on the downside, line speed and stability deteriorated.

It's hard to believe, but webdotWiz still has pieces of paper that record speeds as low as 2k bits/second, well below the so-called 19.6k bits/second standard for dialup lines. As well, the situation of phone numbers being shared on the same pair of wires soon became a no-no for dialup internet connections and line technicians soon found out the people who had an internet connection.

Along came broadband for country people - as long as you lived within 3 or 4 km from the local exchange. The only alternative for those living out of town was to take a contract for a 128k bits/second ISDN connection to achieve stability and be able to use the 'Net at reasonable speed - but at a cost much greater than those who could enjoy broadband.

So after ten years webDotWiz's line speed is about four times faster. The broadband standard in technologically advanced countries is regarded as 30 Megabits/second (minimum). At the present rate of telecommunications infrastructure replacement, webDotWiz will need to outlive Methuselah to enjoy online TV (the only alternvative once the free-to-air TV stations give up because of costs), watch movies, buy his videos and music and listen to digital radio.

Windows Live Mail for the Desktop is the replacement for the ageing Outlook Express. While it's still in trial form, WLMd is now at a stage where it's stable and you'll enjoy the experience and extra features it offers. One feature worth noting is that you can have WLMd deliver mail from as many email accounts as you want (e.g., webDotWiz has currently configured his WLMd to handle seven different email accounts). Setting up these accounts is also very simple - WLMd detects all the necessary settings once you tell it the email address.

Australians will have to wait a bit longer for the free Microsoft Office Accounting Express package. Currently it's only set up for U.S. use but it will be a valuable addition for small and home-based businesses.

Access to Soapbox on MSN Video is currently by invitation only but sign up for an invite so you'll be ready to upload your movies to share with family and friends. Of course, you can create your own movies from your photograph collection using Photo Story or Movie Maker.

Meanwhile you can add a gadget to your Live Space to view videos from Soapbox on MSN Video. See the Soapbox team's blog and webDotWiz's Space to add it - simply click the plus sign at the top right of the module at the webDotWiz Space.