Date: Fri 02-Jan-1998

By CURT CLARK

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

iinfo-internet-predictions

Full Text:

INTERNET INFO FOR REAL PEOPLE: 1998 Predictions

By Bob Brand

With 1997 just behind us, we gaze into the digital crystal ball for a few of

the changes we expect to see in the New Year. Before that, let's examine the

1997 predictions made and see what actually happened.

A Look Back At

1997 Predictions

1997 Prediction #1: Cost of access to full Internet access via ISPs (Internet

Service Providers) will continue to drop.

In 1997, we witnessed the availability of full Internet access from Erols for

$10.95/month for unlimited service. This is the lowest price around today.

There is one wrinkle. The subscriber must sign up for a three-year period and

pay the whole amount in advance. Most ISPs charge $19.95/month for unlimited

service. Pricing in 1998 should be stable.

1997 Prediction #2: AOL will have another price reduction in late 1997, if not

sooner.

This did not happen. The AOL remains $19.95/month for unlimited service.

However, the poor quality of service that many AOL subscribers receive now

verges on outrageous. AOL now has 10 million subscribers and shortly when

CompuServe gets folded in, the user base may jump to 13 million. Heavy

Internet users opt for an Internet Service Provider in order to avoid the

infamous AOL busy signal.

1997 Prediction #3: High speed access to the Internet will not happen in 1997.

In selected areas around Connecticut, the Internet service via cable has

arrived. So far, high cost has cooled rabid acceptance. 1998 will see further

availability of I-Net cable access.

1997 Prediction #4: E-mail will remain King of The Net.

This is true. Juno (totally free e-mail) remains wildly successful. Juno

boasts almost four million users. One year ago there were 850,000.

1997 Prediction #5: 1997 will see a significant spurt in consumer purchases on

the Internet.

Making purchases on the Internet has improved greatly. I know someone who

purchased an automobile via the Internet. Commerce on the Net flourishes.

1997 Prediction #6: The use of the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser will

increase in popularity as Microsoft pounds away at Netscape's dominant market

position.

This happened. Netscape slipped from 80 percent market share to about 60

percent. Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) grew from 20 percent to almost 40

percent. The Department of Justice has taken Microsoft to court in an attempt

to stop them from forcing computer companies to install IE on new computers.

1998 Predictions

OK, here are my predictions for 1998:

1) We will hear deep anxiety about the Year 2000 Bug (Y2K).

Though two years away, Y2K will start to bite more and more companies. The

press will have a field day reporting the anguish. This will remain a serious

problem.

2) Free long distance telephone calls will be available from many ISPs.

There has not been much publicity in the press about this yet, but it is

coming. The network we know as the Internet will be able to carry phone

conversations. The attractiveness of low cost long distance calls will get

many people's attention in 1998.

3) Lots of Java based software will become available in 1998.

People are getting tired of bloated software that requires a CD-ROM to

install. Java programs can alleviate this common complaint. Microsoft sees

Java as a threat to Windows and will continue its efforts to splinter Java.

Momentum for Java will continue in 1998.

4) We will see a big push for WebTV.

WebTV, while new, is not for everyone. However, it will open the Net to many

non-computer users in 1998.

5) Spam will become less of a problem in 1998.

As commerce on the Internet grows, so will spam (junk e-mail). There is a

concerted effort underway by the ISPs to cut spam at its source. These efforts

should bear fruit in 1998.

6) The Internet will not be in the mainstream by the end of 1998.

Although the Internet has 63 million users in the US alone (over 90 million

worldwide), it will not be in commonplace use by the end of 1998. The Net is

too slow. While its popularity will continue to grow, only the adventurous

will use it with high frequency.

Well, that's it. Lots of changes ahead in 1998. The predictions are not earth

shattering. The Net has many problems, however, there remains great cause for

optimism; 1998 will be another exciting year on the Internet.

Attention Danbury, Ridgefield, and Bethel readers. I am appearing on the Kevin

Gallagher Show that will air January 5 and 12 at 6:30 pm on Comcast Cable.

(Rebroadcasts: January 6 and 13 at 11:30 am.) The subject of both shows is:

The Internet. Please tune in.

Happy New Year one and all!

URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) of interest:

http://www.wal-mart.com/

http://www.edmunds.com/

http://www.reservations.com/

http://www.infoworld.com/

(This is the 84th of a series of elementary articles designed for surfing the

Internet. Next, "Seniors on the Net" is the subject on tap. Stay tuned. Until

next week, happy travels through cyberspace.

Previous issues of Internet Info for Real People can be found at

http://www.thebee.com. Please e-mail comments and suggestions to

rbrand@JUNO.com or editor@thebee.com.)

Track And Field Teams Compete At Masuk

‘Color Our World With Hope’ Filled Newtown With Music, Meaning, And Community Impact

Nighthawk Baseball Team Beats Conference Opponents

Late Goal By Ruddy Lifts Nighthawk Lacrosse Team To Victory, Showcases Chemistry In Midfield

Reed Intermediate Presents Sold-Out Performances Of 'Willy Wonka Jr'

Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

<< May 2026 >>
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
26	27	28	29	30	1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31	1	2	3	4	5	6

Log In

Date: Fri 02-Jan-1998

Leave a Reply Cancel reply