Its has been over a decade since I first got online. And a lot has changed ever since.
I got my first PC in 1997. Before that I was using my aunts PC-XT which later upgraded to a PC-AT 486. This was running on win 3.11 and later upgraded to win95. But for my own PC I had it installed with the “new” win97 which later became win98. I have been using this operating system for a long time even as winxp became so popular. Only when service pack 2 came out did I move to windows xp. I have been recieving a windows update cd regularly from microsoft for my windows 98.
My first PC came with an internal 14.4kbps modem. This was the fastest thing at that time. Since internet was too expensive (there were no prepaid cards yet and you have to get a yearly subscription for a dial up connection), I had to settle for modem to modem connection. With the help of wai (from the band leowai), I was introduced to BBSing – modem to modem community using bulletin board softwares. These are actual home computers where individuals open their modems to anybody who would want to connect PC to PC for file transfers or messaging. They are usually simple hobbyist as profit making in this system is hard. But it is an alternative to internet since connection is free. All you need is a list of numbers of BBS in your area and ask you PC to dial that number using hyperterminal. Connection means entering the owner’s domain. So presentation and themes is the thing. Since this is hyperterminal connection, graphics is pure ansi. The menu is basically key based and not GUI.
The BBS community then was big. We held regular eyeball meetings at foodcourt in malls. I recall the sponsors of event were the big BBSes such as livewire. For my own BBS, I got over 1,000 members with over 100 actively uploading files and checking messages. Since I only have one phone line, connection is limitted to one at a time. I cater mostly midi and other music files. Not much mp3s yet since this will take a long while to download and I dont want users to hog the line. When the internet became popular, the BBS fame started to fade. Most BBS then were using maximus while I was using wildcat – an expensive and impressive system.
So the internet came in and I had to upgrade my modem. I got a 36kbps diamond supra external modem (serial) which I still have up to now. I later on changed to a 56k internal. I had so much computer hardware junk accomulated through the years from several upgrades. But I kept the classic ones. I still have an original 2.8kbps Hayes Smartmodem External(the mother of all modems). This heavy big hunk was the first of its kind. Mine is all new complete with box. Never been used except for tests. Still functioning.
With my network in the bbs community, Iconex (an internet service provider) saw my potential for sales and hired me to be a sales agent. And so I got my own internet connection. Immediately I started learning the languange of websites and worked on graphics for different sites here and there. Unfortunately my connection with iconex did not last long and I had to settle for prepaid dial up cards which was the in thing at the time.
I was able to discover a rare prepaid card with unlimited monthly time. At this time I was hooked up with the first online multiplayer game in the country – level up’s OzWorld. I need the unlimited time since I was almost online playing the games 24hrs. I was also working on web hosting and web design.
When work started to pour in I needed a faster and more reliable connection. So I got my first dsl subscription from digitel. It was a 128kbps connection. I had no problems with the connection from digitel. I even got a Prolink adsl modem with USB. Which helped when my lan was damaged. I was still connected to the modem thru usb. But the costumer support was really a pain. There was even one technical problem they fail to fix and reached almost a month without connection before they act on it despite my almost daily follow ups. I never got a rebate from my one month of no service despite my formal complaint in writing.
I moved to a new home in a new location. So I had to get a new internet connection. In july 2007, I got bayantel dsl since this was the only one available in the area other than pldt. I subscribed for a 768kbps which can go 1mbps on demand during non peak hours. I have had several issues with bayantel. First their Huawei adsl modem (the white and orange thing) could easily be damaged with small electrical spikes such as lightling. This is what happened to mine. Luckily the technician had an old ZTE ZXDSL 831 modem from another client who wanted a brand new, so I asked him that I will use that instead since I know this modem is durable.
The problem with bayantel is that they do not announce to their users of any update in their subscription plans. I find this very unfair, although others says it is beyond the yearly agreement when you get a one year lock in subscription. Around november 2007 they updated their plans with almost half the price off. My 768 connection which I was paying P1,699/mo became P899/mo. Same rates apply on other plans. Bayantel do not automatically adjust you account. You have to call them so that you get your account adjusted to either paying lower price for the same speed or maintaining the price for a higher speed. The adjustment was not even annouced in thier bill. Subscribers had to learn about it from word of mouth. I learned mine from a billboard. Later my neighboor did an adjustment so I learned that it is possible. All you have to do is to call their customer support an request for it. Now I have a 1.2mbps connection which goes up to 1.5mbps on offpeak hours.
HEre are the new plans for bayantel.
- Plan 899 (PhP 899 per month) – from 384 Kbps now 768 Kbps, burstable to 1280 Kbps during off-peak hours
- Plan 1699 (PhP 1,699 per month) – from 768 Kbps now 1280 Kbps, burstable to 1536 Kbps during off-peak hours
- Plan 1999 (PhP 1,999 per month; new plan!) – 2048 Kbps
- Plan 2560 (PhP 2,560 per month) – from 1536 Kbps now 2560 Kbps
If you are using bayantel and still running/paying the old rates, call them now.
