| Do you remember the olden days of dialup | | | | subscribers using the connection at that time. |
| internet connection? All those hours spent trying | | | | Numerous people all connected to the internet in a |
| to connect to it and when you finally do you're | | | | set area simultaneously can considerably slow |
| rewarded with slow web browsing, regular | | | | down the data-transfer speed of a cable |
| disconnections, and not being able to receive any | | | | connection. Available bandwidth depends on how |
| calls on landline phone. Those were the good old | | | | many people share the line, and they are often |
| days, weren't they? Now we have the luxury of | | | | shared among several users. The plus side of a |
| high speed Internet and forget about how difficult | | | | DSL hookup is that each user gets an individual |
| life used to be. We are free to enjoy constant | | | | dedicated line. |
| Internet connection, web pages load much faster | | | | - The quality of service for each should also be |
| and we never need to worry about missing a call. | | | | taken into consideration. Broadband connection |
| You'll find that most web pages load faster | | | | quality through DSL is dependent on the distance |
| broadband than they do over dial-up. It works | | | | between you and the remote terminal. If there a |
| better for downloading files, streaming video, or | | | | remote terminal near you, you will see better |
| sending big e-mail attachments. Broadband | | | | service than if a terminal was located far away |
| generally makes your life much easier. If you | | | | from your home. All of the laid-out cables in use |
| spend more that an hour a day online, then the | | | | from the cable TV companies all but guarantee |
| time and aggravation you'll save is definitely worth | | | | that their customers get consistent service but |
| the $40 to $50 per month for its service. | | | | they need to know the number of local users |
| There are basically three different types of | | | | actively using the service before making a |
| broadband internet connections, DSL, cable, and | | | | decision. |
| satellite with cable and DSL being the most | | | | - The prices for each service need to be looked |
| popular. It may be time for you to explore the | | | | over. Most internet service providers offer |
| high speed internet connections available in your | | | | competitive rates, but you'll find that DSL is |
| area. Here are a few ways to help you choose | | | | sometimes a little more expensive. Many |
| between cable and broadband. | | | | companies will also sell you package deals, which |
| - You'll want to go over the availability of each | | | | encourage users to purchase a package of |
| and compare them with each other. Cable internet | | | | services instead of only one. |
| connection is much more common due to the | | | | - Each company's customer service department |
| existing cable TV subscriptions most people | | | | and quality should play an important factor in your |
| already have. DSL, on the other hand uses | | | | decision. Before making a decision on either, be |
| existing telephone wires, so it isn't available in | | | | sure that it has a good customer care |
| many areas, notably rural ones. | | | | department. Does either suffer from downtime in |
| - You'll want to know about what kind of | | | | their connections? The best way answer this is |
| connection speed you'll get with either. Cable is | | | | by going online and reading customer feedback. |
| thought to be faster than DSL, but one thing to | | | | - Finally, a company's data-security features |
| remember is that the actual connection speed | | | | should be reviewed. Both cable and DSL |
| you experience depends on the number of | | | | connections are secure, especially for home use. |