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Should I go DSL or High Speed Internet?

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romantico Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 04:10 PM
Original message
Should I go DSL or High Speed Internet?
Okay, I am getting a new computer in a couple weeks and was curious to hear what service some here like. I have used my girlfriends and the computers at work and library and have never had to worry about interent service before. Whats better dsl or cable? My choice is going with AT&T or Comcast. Only thing with going cable is I would like to get Vonage, but I'm sure AT&T have somehting similar.I also like the idea all 3 (cable,internet, and phone)will be one combined price and one bill.

So, any advice?
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flvegan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 04:16 PM
Response to Original message
1. "I have used my girlfriends"
:rofl:

Sorry, that just struck me as funny.
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CatholicEdHead Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 04:22 PM
Response to Original message
2. DSL is high speed internet
But as far as DSL vs Cable, while Cable can theoretically be faster, ask her neighbors and see how many of them are using it. The more neighbors using it can mean her local Cable Internet could be slower than DSL. DSL is a form of ISDN so you have your own dedicated line and you have all your bandwidth to yourself and nobody else shares it unlike Cable.
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Oeditpus Rex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 04:38 PM
Response to Original message
3. DSL speed varies, depending largely on how far you are
from the originating telephone exchange. I live in the burboonies, about three miles out of town, so I have ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) — the slowest; it transfers at about 300 kB maximum download rate. Others are much faster, but you have to be nearer the exchange to get them.

There are about 10 different types of DSL. Before you make your choice, check to see which you'd be getting and what speeds to expect.
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crispini Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 07:18 PM
Response to Original message
4. I agree with what Oedipus Rex said..
with one caveat -- everyone I know who has gotten internet phone from their TV cable provider (Comcast) absolutely hates hates hates hates hates it. I would stay away from the internet phone and keep your landline. (Which, I guess, means I'm recommending AT&T, but if you see that Comcast is giving you a really good deal, you might want to try it, just don't sign any contracts, lol)
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RainDog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 07:26 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. cable phone
I haven't heard anything but complaints about it either. my ex got it and every time I call my kids if they're with him, the line is full of static and my kids hate it too.

I was thinking that, when I move later this year, I would either not have a land line or not have cable, and which ever one I had, I'd have my server be the same. I really don't want cable telephone, so I guess, if I do that, I'll go with phone dsl. that's what I have now and it's worked very well.


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hippywife Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 07:29 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. Not to mention
if the cable goes out, you are phoneless. Cable telephone service is the dumbest thing ever. :eyes:
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Zorro Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 07:30 PM
Response to Reply #5
8. Odd
If the cable phone is digital, there won't be any static.
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RainDog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 08:32 PM
Response to Reply #8
12. they got new phones
and it still sounds crappy. :shrug:
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Deja Q Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 07:29 PM
Response to Original message
6. "DSL or High Speed Internet" - implies DSL is slow.
If you have a land line, go DSL.

I use my cell phone when I'm out doing landscape photography work. But I like the landline in case of instant emergencies, of which I've had - to date - zero.
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Arkansas Granny Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 07:31 PM
Response to Original message
9. I use DSL at home and cable at work. The cable internet at work
is a little faster than the DSL at home, but I'm pretty happy with the DSL.
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Deja Q Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 07:33 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. At work, they probably spend much more per month.
:D
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Rabrrrrrr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 07:50 PM
Response to Original message
11. Wow - I never got to use my girlfriends at work OR at the library.
x(

And my current one used to work in the library, too.

x(

Some guys get all the luck.

As to your question, DSL *is* high speed Internet.


The only problem with DSL, besides probably being slower, is that you decide to get rid of your landline and go cellular only, you're screwed - to have DSL you also have to have a landline.

I have had cable for three years after 5 years of DSL, and I prefer the cable.
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Tektonik Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 08:39 PM
Response to Original message
13. I much prefer cable over DSL
Cable is generally faster and more reliable than DSL services unless you have a dumb fucking cable company (Comcast).

Actually if you can get fiber optic, just go for that :P
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pokerfan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 09:27 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. More reliable?
I've had Qwest DSL for over a year now and have had one outage that lasted maybe 30 minutes. My buddy with a cable modem has had many outages.

His cable is about 3x faster but he also spends twice as much. My DSL is fast enough to keep up with videos such that I can usually watch them as they load. All things being equal, more speed is always better but it's fast enough for me.

I expect to have The Dish or Direct TV by next fall anyway so I will be saying buh-bye to the cable company then.
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Tektonik Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 09:35 PM
Response to Reply #15
16. I only had a couple actual DSL outages
But the modem for whatever reason always had to be reset every couple of days. Anyhow DSL would not support what me and my brother need in a connection (we're both linked to the same cable connection). Most nights my brother and I are simultaneously streaming youtube/stage6 vids, dl-ing from torrent sites, playing online vid games, etc. DSL is nice if you need to send e-mail and watch a flash animation at the same time.
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triguy46 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 08:58 PM
Response to Original message
14. My ATT dsl is very very fast. Like instantaneous. And I'm waaaaayyyy out in the country.
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leeroysphitz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-26-08 09:36 PM
Response to Original message
17. Why not both? You could use your "rebate" check and help the economy! n/t
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