My adventure with the net started in 1994. I was the owner of PC XT. As XT 640kB RAM was already a relic, fax machine/modem was quite a modern device, besides it was the most expensive in the computer set. It cost as much as 60 dollars. My Japanese friend encouraged me to buy it. Unfortunately, its biggest advantage was faxing, and during faxing it reached the speed of 9400 bps, but when it came to computer data transmission it was only 2 400 bps. (modern modems get to 56 000 bps).

Real beginning

My passive fascination by the Internet started from the scandal in 1997 evoked by the "inappropriate relations between Bill and Monica", when the server of USA Congress was visited by four million Internet users within one day. I created first web pages in the middle of 1998. I started from a virtual business card, which I made for a befriended foundation. Satisfaction was the prize. Information, textbooks, programmes e.g. to send files, everything I downloaded myself or I got for free from the Internet. I really liked the fact that people made so many things available selflessly. Today, I try to give a lot for free, because in the past I was given a lot. I don't want to be mawkish, but I think it is the best side of the Global Network. Do remember this!

Every next page which I did was better. For my second web site which was promoting a book, as payment I received a picture, maybe it was kitschy, but it was important that I got it. I remember, that first photographs placed on the web I scanned with......... a telefax. It was my first adventure with the so called e-business.

Travels in the net

I like to travel and with pleasure I created tourist pages about Malta, then about Crimea. And where Crimea is, there has to be Rome, too. There were trip reports, guidebooks, practical information and a dozen or so photographs of high definition. Those web pages are still very popular, they met the demand. Not too long ago, there were no such web pages which would treat the tourist seriously and honestly. Do remember that the best solution is to start from a niche subject matter. Malta and Crimea were not as popular as they are now and even a modest web page could gain big popularity.

Internet users started to write to me, add their own comments and pictures, almost a discussion forum was created. As some of those who visited the page demanded more precise information, I agreed with the publishers, who had suitable guidebooks and in effect a form was placed on the site allowing to order the book. There were more and more people who ordered books, so publishers decided to sign a fee-for-task agreement and to pay me a commission on each item sold. My modest work (rather a hobby) of creating a website, started to bring in money.

Real money

Then, it was time for other books and equipment like: photographic equipment, scanners, digital supports, batteries and chargers. I started also to be a mediator when it came to selling services, e.g. web hosting and English lessons on Malta and the like ' contrary to popular opinion that only pornography can bring profits on the Internet.

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