Integrating the Internet into Your Clinical Practice
http://www.fpen.org/allina

Box Lunch: Choosing the Right Tools
May 8, 1998

Internet Service Providers

Getting Connected - http://dragon.labmed.umn.edu/~john/fp/net/connect.html
Written by John Faughnan, M.D. and Bob Elson, M.D. Good overview and quite current. A good starting point and, for the person who wants an answer quickly, a good ending point.   Both are local Minnesotans and have experience with rural as well as national access.
The List - http://thelist.internet.com
The oldest and most comprehensive listing of Internet Service Providers listing over 4500 of them. Can be searched by state or area code. Can be overwhelming if you start here.
Concentric Network - http://www.concentric.net
A national ISP that may be best for a person lives in a rural community yet wishes to have a national ISP.
EarthLink Network - http://www.earthlink.net
Another excellent national ISP. The default ISP with Mac System 8. Among the best in Macintosh support.  Strong Windows support.
MindSpring Enterprises Inc. - http://www.mindspring.com
Highly rated ISP. National. Good support for Windows users, poor for Macintosh users.

Computer Stores

Buying a Windows Desktop Personal Computer - http://dragon.labmed.umn.edu/~john/papers/pcbuy.html
By John Faughnan, M.D. and Bob Elson, M.D. I believe there may be more options that what they state here but you will not go wrong by following their advice.  Again, a good starting point and, for the person who wants an answer quickly, a good ending point.
Apple - http://www.apple.com/store
Easy to use computers, somewhat more expensive than Intel / Windows machines. Smaller number of software packages available.
Compaq - http://www.compaq.com
One of the larger companies. Going through merger pains now that it bought Digital. The in-house Allina standard for desktop PCs so you might be able to get it cheap through but you may do better avoiding Compaq as an individual.
Hewlett-Packard - http://www.hp.com
Just released a new notebook computer "Sojourn". Light (3.2 lbs) and powerful. If thinking about a portable, you should look at this one for comparison as well as the new IBM 600 series. HP rated highest in customer satisfaction by ComputerWorld.
Micron - http://www.micronpc.com
Have a local outlet here in Minneapolis as a result of a buy-out (Northgate or Zeos, I forget which). Produced in Idaho. Good computers with good support at a good price. Recommended by John Faughnan, M.D. and Bob Elson, M.D.
Packard Bell - http://www.packardbell.com
I am not as down on these machines as many "geeks" are. Have known folks who have had good luck with them. Recent models have seemed well designed. Are available at Sam's Club cheap. Assume you are on your own when it comes to support. 
Paul Kleeberg, M.D.          O   o         Paul@Allina.Com

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