Cheap ISP Compatibility

The Internet is platform-neutral. It doesn't care what kind of computer you're using; all computers (theoretically, at least) observe the same Internet protocols. Some ISPs though deliberately introduce incompatibilities to force a vendor lock-in. If an ISP requires you to use special software for Internet access, it's generally a bad sign. When comparing ISP providers, check what computers they work with. An ISP should always work with all computer types (MS-Windows, Mac OS, Linux, etc.) and if they state otherwise in the small print they are best avoided even if you happen to be using one of the computer types they support.