For Mac users who want Internet satellite access, there may be a solution coming. OWC.NET, a division of Other World Computing, introduced high-speed satellite Internet access for the greater Chicagoland area and plans a nationwide expansion — along with Mac compatibility (currently, it’s Wintel only) — in the days ahead.
The satellite Internet access in Chicago features download speeds of 400-800 Kilobytes per second and starts at US$29.95 per month. OWC offers the high-speed Internet access in three service plans: silver, gold (a $49.95 option), and platinum ($149.95). Each plan comes with an OWC.NET satellite dish, PCI satellite receiver card, professional installation, local dial-up access, five e-mail accounts and ongoing technical support.
“We are very Mac supportive with OWC.NET being a division of Other World Computing, a very Mac supportive/focused organization,” Larry O’Connor, founder and president of OWC, told MacCentral. “We’re looking to take the service nationwide with full Mac support by end of year. The bundle we are putting together should allow it to function with any Mac that has an Ethernet port.”
To receive the satellite Internet access, an OWC.NET satellite dish is installed at a home or a business so it faces the southwestern sky. A cable is then run from the dish to an internal satellite receiver that is installed in a computer’s PCI slot. The computer is also connected via a normal modem to the telephone line and the Internet for sending small packets of information or “requests” to the Internet.
Other World Computing (OWC) is an Illinois-based company that’s been providing hardware products and support to the Mac community since 1988. The firm operates the Macsales.com Web site, which features a variety of enhancement products, including OWC’s own Mercury acceleration and FireWire line.