Q: I have been told that it is possible to get free internet access including free telephone calls. Can you tell me more about this please?

A: Free and unmetered Internet access is fast becoming a reality with many companies now offering these services. Usually you are provided with an 0800 number to connect to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) which means that you don't pay for the phone call. Some do charge a one-off administration fee and you may have problems connecting sometimes due to the understandable popularity of the service. There are a bewildering number of deals going around at the moment and it's beyond the scope of this column to cover them all. However www.net4nowt.com provides a wealth of information on free ISPs, including 51 unmetered access providers.

Q: I want to buy a bigger monitor but don't know what the difference is between a cheap one and a more expensive unit. Can you help?

A: Larger monitors are coming down in price mainly due to the massive increase in computer use and the introduction of 'flat screen' technology. There are some very poor monitors on the market and in some instances larger does not mean better. If you are looking for a high-quality monitor, look at the 'dot pitch' (DP) value. This should be no higher than 28. You should also ensure that the refresh rate for higher screen resolutions (1275x1024 and above) is at least 75hz. This ensures the screen doesn't 'shimmer' and cause eye strain. Trinitron tubes provide exceptionally sharp images but can cost a little more.

Q: I have bought some new memory for my computer but it doesn't fit into the slots. Is there more than one sort of RAM and if so, what should I ask for when I telephone my supplier?

A: Because of the pace of innovation in computer hardware, the design of memory modules has changed with each generation of PC. We now have a situation where most older 386 and 486 PCs take 30-pin SIMM memory, Pentium PCs take a mixture of 72-pin SIMMs and 168-pin DIMM memory modules. Newer PCs, Pentium IIs and IIIs generally take 168-pin DIMMs. From your letter, it appears that you have a Pentium PC that takes 72-pin SIMMs but you have bought a single 68-pin DIMM. If you contact your supplier they will probably exchange the memory you have bought for two 72-pin SIMMs (which have to be fitted in pairs).