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• The Internet is not a library: Libraries are quiet, authoritative, well run, organised, precise places and the Internet certainly isn't that! However the Library metaphor is often used, because it's a familiar concept - and it gives a good impression.
  
• The Internet is not a "place"
  
• The Internet doesn't belong to anyone - no one owns the Internet, no matter how much they like to think they do
  
• There is no "head" of the Internet, no one is in charge

So What is it?

The Internet is a made up of lots of computers, lots of wires and lots of people. The only reason that the Internet works is because the idea is so compelling, people who would normally rather cut off their own arm than shake hands with their competitors, have forced themselves to sit down and agree on some standards. Sometimes they go with cutting of their arms instead, and we get multiple "standards" fighting it out. This tends to be ugly for all concerned, and if you've heard of the "browser wars" then that's what's going on.

Yeah but what is it?

The Internet is a great big computer network. It is also all the things that people use that network for. It is infrastructure, and content.

That doesn't really help actually - what's an ISP - what am I paying them for, what are my options?

These are the curly ones, but we'll start at the beginning.

An ISP is an Internet Service Provider. There are two parts to this job, the first is providing what is called "connectivity" or "access", second is providing hosting and other web services.

In much the same way as having people with 2 telephones, doesn't automatically mean they can ring each other, just having 2 computers doesn't mean they can connect. Your Internet Service Provider is the conduit through which you can access others on the network. They provide the exchange, and physical wiring, radio or microwaves to connect you to the next "hop" - much like the phone system. Which is why some of the biggest ISP's are also telephone companies.

So you are paying for the opportunity to use their exchange & network. Depending on what sort of ISP you use they may charge a flat fee, good if you want to spend a lot of time online, or if you want a guaranteed maximum bill. They may charge for time - good if you only want to spend a short time online, and because they provide other services like access from anywhere in NZ. The third major charging regime is based on traffic - the actual amount of data (information) that you send and receive.