eBay Business All-in-One For Dummies, 3rd Edition

Chapter 1: Hooking Up with Online Technology

In This Chapter

• Setting up your hardware
• Going online without your own computer
• Choosing your Internet service provider
• Getting e-mail
• Getting friendly with your browser

If the whole idea of technology gives you the creeps, don't back out now. I feel your pain. Every tech-oriented bit of knowledge that's entered my pea-sized brain has penetrated only after a great deal of mental whining. I suffered the pain so that you wouldn't have to.

Better yet, you don't need to know much technology (in the true sense of the word) to run a successful online business. Most online sellers have about as much knowledge as you will after you read this chapter.

Starting with the Right Computer

You don't have to know a lot of fancy computer mumbo-jumbo to do well on eBay, but you must have a computer. If you're in the market for a computer, you can buy a new, used, or refurbished system, depending on your computing needs.

The absolute necessities

Although the following list is geared mainly toward the purchase of new PCs (which you can get for considerably under a thousand bucks), you should read this info even if you're thinking of buying a used computer:

• Look for a computer with a good memory. Remember that 1960s classic movie The Time Machine? The more time you spend using your computer, the more stuff you want to save on your hard drive. The more stuffed your hard drive, the farther back in time it goes. I recommend that you buy the biggest hard ...