I strongly suggest that all JET teachers consider getting a PC before they come to Japan.
Many of you think that Japan is the place to buy all your electronics, and you may find some new gadgets you like over here, but a lot can be said for the stability of buying stuff at home. For example, the software and manuals here are all in Japanese! That can make your life exciting in an unpleasant way! I personally feel that the best way is to bring a laptop over, outfitted with the hardware and software you will need, that way things are setup and you are sure you can stay in touch.
Sign up for internet service from the cable company immediately!!
We didn't do this :-( Here you pay for the telephone by the minute, and although it's only 3.3 cents a minute, it adds up if you surf a lot. Also, the internet is very slow over the telephone. If you have a cable connection, you can watch all kinds of stuff (music videos, even some movies), talk and even do video conferencing with your family, and take advantage of many other new services on the internet, and the best thing is that you only pay the flat monthly fee! It's the way to go! Below i'll talk about the two biggest reasons i think you should consider getting a cable modem, Internet Telephone Software, and Streamed Media, neither of which are practical using a telephone modem connection in Japan.
Internet Telephone Software
There are several companies offering the service of using your computer as a telephone over the internet (telephony). All these services are for Windows machines only (i'm a MAC guy, and can't find any company with this service for us YET!) They all require an internet connection, and the faster the better. Also, you'll need a microphone and headphone. Get a good high quality headset including both from the internet, and you'll be glad you did, they are not as easy to find here yet... Below i'll tell you what i know about a few that i've looked into:
www.dialpad.com - my strongest reccomendation. This company gets it's money from ads, like hotmail, and like hotmail, it's very easy to get an account and use. Also, like hotmail, it does not require you to install any software on your computer, so you can use it from any computer you are at. Visit the site to learn more, but i use it from my school on an ISDN line, and the voice quality is great. At home, we have a PC with a 28.8 modem, and it seems too slow to work (or there is another problem, but i suspect the modem is too slow).
www.deltathree.com - one of several companies which require you to install software to use. I have had no luck with any of these, but that may be because the OS is in Japanese, and i can't read that!
www.phonefree.com - another install software company
Streaming media
Don't be afraid of this, it sounds technical, but it is your friend. It just means you get the information as you need it. Compare getting a drink from a vending machine, put the money in and wait for the drink, then drink it at your leisure. That is the old way on the internet. Streaming is a water fountain, no need to store anything, so you don't waste time and disk space. There are tons of things you can stream, radio, music videos, sports games, you name it... Here are links to some of the main streaming softwares:
www.quicktime.com - my beloved Apple computer is the creater of Quicktime. It works on windows or macs. There are tons of "channels" available, check it out..
www.real.com - another of the leaders is Real, which requires a more complicated interface, but also offers tons of channels.
I really wish we had signed up for cable service at the beginning, but alas, maybe i can urge you to.
Cost of cable service
In our area, cable internet costs about US$50 on top of the US$25 for basic cable. It's not available alone. There is a hefty setup fee, probably more than US$300, which you never see again. But remember, you won't have any long distance bills at all, that is savings right there. Also, you will (hopefully) learn a lot about computers and the internet, which may help you in your next job. Finally, when you leave, be sure to keep the connection live to save the next JET that money.
One last comment,
my school pays for my newspaper from an AET budget, and if i had talked to them
when i first got here, i could have made an agreement to cancel the newspaper
in exchange for them paying for at least part of the cable service. Do research
and get your reasons together, and give it a try, most likely your school has
an AET budget for stuff like this. Also, if your school owns your house (very
common), try to get them to sign up for the service in the schools name, then
when you leave, there is nothing to change, and the next JET will be set up.
I would even like any cost the school wouldn't pay to be added to my rent, then
it's transparent! This may be ideal, but you can work out something for sure,
and you'll be glad you did!