Cindy Confesses All. (Internet Surfing)

Member Name: cindy1

Product:	Internet Surfing
Date:	11/07/01 (302 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of information, Free stuff, Fun

Disadvantages: Addictive

Ever since I can remember, I've always had some type of computer. In the 80's, I had the trusty ZX Spectrum, and Amstrad CPC. In the early 90's, I had an Amiga, which I owned up until 1998. As you will probably remember, all these computers were reasonably priced, and within most peoples budgets.

However then the so-called web revolution came about, this left me longing for my own PC. Small problem though, I just didn't have enough money to buy one.

Whilst browsing through my local newspaper, I spotted an advert advertised PC's, the advert said, P90's, only £75, with Windows 95, Games, and Word. To me this sounded like a real bargain, and off I went £75 in hand.

Don't get me wrong, I was delighted with my new PC, and found I could do a lot more than I could before. Nevertheless, in my heart I was disappointed. Why? Well it didn't have enough free space, or modem to connect to the web. You see I wasn't aware of modems, and space, when I purchased the machine.

I put up with this computer for a year. Then I saw the same advert, offering Internet ready P330's for only £275. I convinced my dad to lend me the money, and I even got a full £75 discount for my old machine. Therefore, I only had to pay £200.

As soon as I got my PC, I inserted the first ISP disk I could find, which was The Sun Newspapers Currant Bun, and within an hour I was online.

The first expression I typed in the search box was Chihuahua, because I have two. I was so amazed by all the different sites out there. People were showing off their bundle of joys, advertised exclusive Chihuahua goods that you would never find in any shop. I found all this information unreal.

My excitement was soon quashed when I realised how much surfing the web cost. So I had to contend with only going on for about ten minutes a day, and as you can imagine, ten minutes passes fast when you are surfing the web.

A few
months later I saw an advert from BT, saying that they offered off peak internet access, for £10 a month, this meant that I could surf all day Saturday and Sunday, and from 6.00pm on weekdays.
I signed up with BT Internet, and from that point on, I became a Web Addict.

At first, I didn't really know the capabilities of the Internet, so I just felt my way around. Through magazines, I found out that I could get Free Games, and Applications for my computer. I did lots of searches on all sorts of different topics, and through that I realised that you could actually earn money and rewards.

My first discovery was Beenz, everyday I would log on, and with in a few months I had earnt enough for 2x £25 Amazon vouchers. I also discovered Ad Bars, however I never had much luck with these, I think the only way to earn anything is if you have lots of referrals. I soon learnt that the majority of free money concepts were a con.

Through the Beenz Board, I discovered DooYoo, which is a genuine moneymaking site, and I have my earning to prove this, although I won’t say how much. With DooYoo, I got addicted to the money, and to the writing, it's a good feeling when you write something good, and people comment on it, it makes you feel as though your writing skills are really increasing.

Through the DooYoo categories, I discovered Free Stuff. I got completely addicted to Freebies, and I would check every Freebie site on a daily basis. Since I've been on the net, I have accumulated a lot of freebies. Such as Free Chart CD's, Books, Make-Up, Food, Magazines, Samples and much more.

A few months later BT Internet brought out 24 hour Internet access, for £14.99 a month, and I signed up to this service. I became even more addicted, and would spend my time entering lotteries, playing bingo, and entering competitions.

One thing I got really addicted to was AbandonWare, which are games that are more than five yea
rs. These games are available to download for Free. There are some fantastic titles, such as Indian Jones, Monkey Island, Transport Tycoon Deluxe, Day of the Tentacle, Kings Quest and too many more to list.

Then I purchased a CD Rewriter, and I became addicted to downloading MP3's. I have put together some great CD's, my favourite is my customised Dubliners CD, I also do compilations, which I label as Mandy's Mix, 1, 2, 3 etc. These are really mad, because my music tastes are quite strange, I might have something really modern, along side Little Richard, but that’s just me.

I can honestly say, I would spend every minute I could on the Net.

However, nothing lasts forever, and my Internet habits have dwindled. Why? Well since I became a Distance Learning Student, (See Reach For The Stars, for information), It was either surf the net, or dedicate my time to the course, and the studying came, first because it is more important.

I still surf the Net, now I tend to spend about two hours a day on it, I log into DooYoo every day still, but don't have time to write everyday, however I do read a lot of your opinions. I still do the freebies, and download AbandonWare and MP3's, and if I need to, I search for educational resources and general information.

I think most people get addicted to the Internet when they first start; however after time it does dwindle, there are only certain things you can do. Unless of course you have discovered DooYoo.

Happy Surfing!

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