20 replies to this topic

[kanda]

Mike,

QUOTE

I don't think I could ever get cable internet I just hear too many bad things about it

I'm certainly not going to say anything good about Comcast's (previously AT&T's) tech support. It might make SBC tech support look good by comparison (or, maybe they're both equally awful).

But I've been happy enough with our connection since the takeover. When AT&T tookover the service from @Home, it was pretty shaky. But it eventually began to get better, and now with Comcast running the operation, it has gone down only once in the last 6 months (and that outage lasted only a few hours).

It isn't cheap ($43/mo IF you own your own modem AND subscribe to at least basic cable), but it's fast (about 1.8mbps download, 250kbps upload speed) and, recently, reliable. Not a ringing endorsement, but I'm happy enough.

[matt]

QUOTE (Candy Apple @ Aug 15 2003, 08:40 AM)

We switched to SBC DSL in Jan or Feb at $39.95.  This eliminated a second phone line and payment to a sep. server so we broke about even. They offer 24 hour tech support which is a plus.   A couple of weeks ago I took them up on adding long distance (with no hook up fee) and learned that the Internet part of the service had a special going for $29.95.  I checked and got that price for a year instead of the $39.95. I eliminated one part of my phone service---calls to "outlying" areas such as Auburn, Roseville, etc.  ($4.30) so my long distance monthly cost of $5.00 again put me about even with that, and I also got my long distance calls at 2 1/2 cents a minute on a 200 minute allowance.  With a calling card I was paying 3 1/2 cents a minute.   We will now be paying about +/- $65.00 a mo. for DSL Internet, basic phone, and long distance. I am not fond of Yahoo but once you get used to it, it is OK.  I liked Outlook Express better.  Having to sign in on Yahoo each time is a pain. I was told by SBC that the speed of the operation depends on how close you are to the "transmitter".  We in Folsom do not get quite as fast service as say Orangevale or Fair Oaks.  I am not sure just where the service comes from.

So you don't also get a SBC/Pacbell e-mail account you can access through Outlook Express?
Even if you don't, you can sign up for a free Hotmail account and access that through Outlook Express or pay $20 a year to access Yahoo mail via Outlook Express or other mail program.

To compete with these new $29.95 SBC/Yahoo DSL deals, Comcast is offering a $19.95 per month cable modem deal until 2004 and they say they will increase the download speed to 3MB next year.

[Mike Hilscher]

QUOTE

they say they will increase the download speed to 3MB next year.

I highly doubt that... 3MB is an insane speed for DSL users that would require sooo much bandwidth, and cause extra conjestion on their networks. Im sure theres a "catch" somewhere.

[matt]

QUOTE (Mike Hilscher @ Sep 18 2003, 04:54 PM)

QUOTE they say they will increase the download speed to 3MB next year. I highly doubt that... 3MB is an insane speed for DSL users that would require sooo much bandwidth, and cause extra conjestion on their networks. Im sure theres a "catch" somewhere.

3 "megabits," but that is still quite nice.

http://story.news.ya...organstanley_dc

[Mike Hilscher]

I always forget about Mega I just always call it MB . Im still a network designist in the making ;p

[dljmartz]

I have earthlink. I had SBC 2 years ago and it kept cutting out. I switched to earthlink and haven't had a problem since. The price is steeper at $50.00 a month but the download speeds are much faster. The tech support has been awesome the few times I have had problems.