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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Editor Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Robert Flynn Rick Walters Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Advertising Manager Christopher Wilson Phone (02) 9979 5644 Mobile 0419 23 9375 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed John Hill Mike Sheriff, B.Sc, VK2YFK Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Bob Young SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 003 205 490. All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Macquarie Print, Dubbo, NSW. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $54 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 34, 1-3 Jubilee Avenue, Warrie­ wood, NSW 2102. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9979 5644. Fax (02) 9979 6503. PUBLISHER'S LETTER Getting onto the Internet can cost big money One of the common enquiries we get from readers is “Are you on the Internet yet? So far, the answer has been “No, not yet.” Naturally, the enquirer is usually disappointed at this reply but when questioned further, as to why they want to know, people generally state that they just like to browse. They don’t really want anything specific via the Internet but they like to have a good look around. For many businesses, the Internet is a huge conundrum. On the one hand, large numbers of business are eagerly jumping onto the bandwagon so that they can grab the kudos of being seen to be innovative and forward-looking. On the other hand, other more cautious firms, ours included, are wondering whether all the effort will produce any worthwhile financial return. I would go further and say that, for some firms, there is risk of a considerable loss via the Internet. I am thinking particularly of copyright. Just recently, the Australian Perform­ing Rights Association has decided to target information service providers and charge them for songs being downloaded on the net. That is likely to result in a protracted legal battle. Once a firm’s intellectual assets are available via the Internet, par­ticularly software, then the chances of any return are virtually nil. The same comment applies to unauthorised material on bulle­tin boards. Unless a business can point to a real return from the very substantial investment required to produce and properly maintain a web site, then the Internet can be guaranteed to be a financial loss. Sure, proponents of the Internet will point to savings on international phone calls and faxes and may even be able to identify some business generated by the Internet but as far as I can determine, very few businesses make any real money from it. They would be better off devoting their scarce resources to the business activity they know best. In fact, I predict that quite a few businesses will see the light and close down their web sites. The same will apply to businesses which have bulletin boards – they will add up all the costs and figure that it is not worthwhile. The obvious excep­tions to this are firms involved in software distribution and service. This is not to say that the Internet will not provide substantial business opportunities in the future. I am sure it will. But at the moment, the Internet is the 1990s equivalent of the CB boom – everybody is talking about it but most of the information on it is pretty trivial. Leo Simpson ISSN 1030-2662 WARNING! SILICON CHIP magazine regularly describes projects which employ a mains power supply or produce high voltage. All such projects should be considered dangerous or even lethal if not used safely. Readers are warned that high voltage wiring should be carried out according to the instructions in the articles. When working on these projects use extreme care to ensure that you do not accidentally come into contact with mains AC voltages or high voltage DC. If you are not confident about working with projects employing mains voltages or other high voltages, you are advised not to attempt work on them. Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd disclaims any liability for damages should anyone be killed or injured while working on a project or circuit described in any issue of SILICON CHIP magazine. Devices or circuits described in SILICON CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of any such equipment. SILICON CHIP also disclaims any liability for projects which are used in such a way as to infringe relevant government regulations and by-laws. Advertisers are warned that they are responsible for the content of all advertisements and that they must conform to the Trade Practices Act 1974 or as subsequently amended and to any governmental regulations which are applicable. 2  Silicon Chip