What Kind of Computer Connection Do You Have?

SeaBreeze

SeaBreeze

Endlessly Groovin'
Location
USA
Since I've gotten my first computer in 2000, I've had a dial-up connection, using my phone line. I use NetZero, coupled with Norton Anti-Virus for $12.95 per month. I wanted to stay with dial-up, because I don't want to have high monthly bills. When I'm on the computer, my phone is busy, also sometimes the pages are VERY slow to load, especially ones with images. Forget about watching videos or streaming anything. :bashcomp:

What is everyone using to connect to the internet? Do you have a cable connection, or DSL? How do you like what you're using, is it reliable, very expensive, much trouble with viruses, etc? Thanks for any feedback...we're seriously thinking about making a change in the near future.
 

SB, I agree with OG about Dialup, I struggled with it for years before going to satellite, if DSL is available where you are, that would be the best choice. The first satellite service that I had was a local company....many problems and it was not even fast enough to play videos so then I went with Wildblue (satellite) which is twice as fast and twice as expensive. It is around $75 per month with limited data, but this is the only choice I have out here in the boonies.

OG, your unlimited service sounds like a bargain, I wish DSL was available here.

I use Avast free antivirus and other spy and malware protection.
 

Differences between counties....yet again.
i have wireless, and did without a lap-top for 15 months when I got the I-pad. I think the laptop died out of spite.
eventually I gave in, for photos etc. to discover the new laptops don't have CD drives any more, so UB sticks for me now!
We have free wireless hotspots in lots of places, although downloading data on the phone can get expensive.
i really want a mac air; viruses are so much rarer on apple, and they look so nice.
i take the I-pad with me when I go visiting, and it connects to everybody else's wi-fi, at no extra cost to anybody.
 
Thanks for your replies everyone! I only have the desktop, never had a laptop or IPad. Good way to get some exercise and some housework done, wait for a page to load, get frustrated, get up, go into another room and do the few dishes in the sink, etc. :p For me these things are so confusing, and then they have these "bundle" deals, which I hear are a ripoff. A long time ago I looked into DSL, and it seemed that every person I talked to gave a different price quote...like shopping on Amazon, lol, just wait 12 hours and the price will change. :playful:
 
I have a little box in the corner of my living room, attached to my phone line, but they run in parallel.
The computers are wireless, as is the printer.
 
What Kind of Computer Connection Do You Have?
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Well, don't let this get around but I have a guy I know on the docks that can get me anything I want - Apple, PC, laptop, tablet, you name it. Some gray-market stuff but mostly stuff that "fell off the truck". :cool:
 
Phantom said:
What is your speed?
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I'd like a faster connection but the service I have is a robber-baron, and I'm not willing to pay the huge price-increase for the next level. Right now this does what I need it to do.
 
I did that for a while myself, SeaBreeze, but as I got more involved in the internet turned to DSL. Unfortunately as they began adding more and more videos and scripts, even the DSL had turned slow. Verizon wouldn't give me the larger modem because they had introduced FIOS, so I put up with it a while longer and a year ago this past October I signed up with Cablevision. If you all want to go into sticker shock, I pay $185 a month for tv, cable and phone, however, when I added the three costs prior to combining, I was paying $180 a month anyway for all 3 and not benefiting from the lower speed DSL.
 
Katybug said:
Oh, SB, I remember dial up from over a decade or so ago. I would give up almost anything to move beyond that. You'll never regret it. Good luck with whatever you decide.
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I totally agree - it's like time-traveling from Victorian times to the present. The first time I had cable Internet I stayed up for 48 hours straight, blazing through websites like a flying monkey on meth and giggling like a schoolgirl. :eek:

You really won't regret it - treat yourself!
 
Thanks everybody for your advice, we wanted to keep our ISP and email address, and they didn't provide DSL in our area, so I upgraded for a couple bucks more to their "HiSpeed"...not happy with that, even seems slower sometimes and I have to turn it off.

We're paying $100 for cable TV, one step above the basic plan, and $50 for our phone bill, which doesn't include long distance calls. I didn't want to have high monthly bills, especially now that we're retired...but I may have to do something. I'm eating the Slowskis dust, lol...even they have DSL now! :p

We've talked about using broadband, but they made a big hole in our house for the cable wire for the TV, and the computer's in another room. My husband doesn't want any more holes in the walls, inside or outside the house. I can't see how we'd connect to the cable in the other room without one. Something we're discussing anyway for now...there's a library close by, so if I need to see a video, etc. I go there...but getting tired of that too.

I'm amazed at how much people pay for their internet connections, their Iphones, etc...the poorest people paying for their food with food stamps, will have an internet connected device....priorities, I guess. Also, seems like the costs keep getting higher on all that stuff after you sign up. Right now I'm paying just $25 a year for Norton Antivirus, I've heard somebody on the radio saying they pay $40 a MONTH for their broadband internet security.
 
I'm with Comcast. My speed test results are...... ping 78 ms, 49.69 Mpbs and upload of 8.80 Mpbs. I currently have a 6 month special package that is about to run out that includes expanded cable and internet($80/mo). Plan to drop cable and just keep internet. I have a Roku box and I'm fine with the free stuff on it and 12 channels I can pick up with an HD antenna. I do pay for Netflix and will keep that. I'm happy with my internet speed, but will be interesting to see what internet only will cost. The only other option in my area is the slowest option available with Att. Tried it and it was horrible.

As as far as computers go, I have a 5 year old Gateway laptop which is showing some signs of problems. Might have to upgrade before too long. I bought a Nook tablet not long ago and like it. Planned to use it mainly when going out of town but use it a good bit when in the recliner just for quick access to the internet.
 
SifuPhil said:
Sea, you could use a wireless router set-up to send the 'Net signal to the entire house ... no need for any new holes. ;)
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Not into wireless, don't want to turn my home into a microwave oven. :eek:
 

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