Just put an order to switch from dial-up to cable

[MissMillie]

internet connection. Between the cost for local phone service and AOL, I was paying $52/month, but changing to the cable connection for the computer is only an extra $40/month on the cable bill, for a savings of $12/month.

According to the woman who took the order for the new connection, the difference in going from dialup to cable is similar to the difference between driving 50 mph to driving 2000 mph.

So, I'm assuming I'm going to be happy about all this... but if you guys want to convince me, I'll listen.

[GOPisEvil]

1. I have cable, and no way in HELL would I go back to dial-up.

Unless some unforseen economic collapse occurs, of course.

I cancelled my landline, and haven't looked back. I broke even on the monthly bills.

[MissMillie]

15. Yep, no more land line

My cell phone contract has my son & I sharing 2000 minutes per month, and we don't, at present, come close to using them all (we use less than 1000). We already use the cell phones for long distance. I think we'll be ok with just our cell phones.

The only thing that worries me is that I'll start getting telemarketers on my cell phone.

[GOPisEvil]

27. I don't get them.

Maybe one or two in the past 6 months. At most.

[PittPoliSci]

37. couldn't agree more

oh yeah.

[DS1]

2. We won't need to convince you about the speed

but you might need to buy a network card for your PC.

[MissMillie]

4. cable company says they'll supply the necessary modem (free of charge)

is that the same thing?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

7. no

You need a way for the computer to interface with it, but you still might not have a problem. I would call to double check with them though. Either way, you can get what you need for $11.

[Avalux]

9. No -

the modem they give you - it hooks to your computer and to the cable. The network card is in your computer - you probably already have one if it's fairly new.
I have roadrunner and the technician set it all up for me. I didn't have to do anything.
After you get cable you'll wonder why you ever gave AOL your money.

[MissMillie]

14. so go to the computer store

and ask for a network card for a cable connection? and give them the make and model of my computer?

[Avalux]

23. MissMillie -

tell me about your PC...who made it, how old it is, etc. It probably already has a network card. I can tell you how to check for yourself before you spend the money on something you don't need.

[MissMillie]

25. I bought the computer in 1999

it's a HP Pavillion with a celeron processor

thanks for your help.

[Avalux]

30. Just sent you a PM

:hi:

[MissMillie]

32. Many thanks

and I love that photo in your sig line!

[Avalux]

33. You're welcome

hope it did the trick. The pic - I love the expression on Tom's face - I think he's the one holding up his fingers. :hi:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

5. not true

most cable companies have USB hook ups available now too. not to mention, anything bought after about 1998 comes with a net card pretty much standard.

[DS1]

17. did you miss the word 'might' ?

:eyes:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

19. Did you miss my point completely?

Not that this is something to argue about at all, but I was saying that even if he doesn't have a network card, he still wouldn't need one because they hook up via USB ports now too.

[MissMillie]

21. all right you two...... back away slowly

;-)

[DS1]

29. Some yes, but going further

there's no guarantee that her computer has USB.

You still don't have a point, and that's all I have to say about that.

[GOPisEvil]

6. My cable company gave me one.

I had one, but it wasn't being recognized, so they tech installed one for me.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. Dial-up flat out isn't worth it

Seriously, you will NEVER look back from cable internet.

[meegbear]

8. Comcast can suck at times ...

but their internet connections are good, and their download speeds are FAST.

[MissMillie]

11. I didn't go w/ Comcast

I went with Charter

[meegbear]

24. All we got here is Comcast.

Nice to have a choice.

[ZiprHead]

10. Whoo-hoo, my first post!

You will absolutely love your cable internet. You'll be surprized at how much more usefull you'll find the internet when it doesn't take you 10 minutes to find what you are looking for.

I do suggest you get a firewall though, either software or hardware.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

20. Welcome to DU!!!

Glad to have ya on board!!! :grouphug: :toast: :yourock:

[MissMillie]

22. Welcome!!!!

I feel honored to be in on your first post!

Is firewall software farely inexpensive?

[ZiprHead]

35. Thanks for the welcome, gang!

Go to Zone Labs (not sure what their web address is) and download the free version of Zone Alarm. It won't cost you a penny and it's one of the best out there.

[PittPoliSci]

38. Hi ZiprHead!

Welcome to DU!

:toast:

:dem:

[MAlibdem]

12. it's faster...

like, a helluva lot faster.

[cheezus]

13. well worth it

you'll be amazed

[soothsayer]

16. I went with DSL---cable was just too expensive. Put in a wireless router

and can now walk around the house or out in the backyard with my laptop and stay connected to the net and email. woohoo! love it

Prolly need to set up a firewall tho.

[MissMillie]

34. can you recommend a good one?

My computer runs on Windows '98 (yeah, I know, it's time for a new computer)

[FireHeart]

18. I won't go back either.

If it ever comes to not being able to access the Internet or returning to dial-up, there's no question. Many sites are graphics intensive and it just takes too long to load them. Not to mention the huge size of video and program downloads!

Goodbye internet.

:evilfrown:

[SW FL Dem]

26. Just switched from dial up to cable 3 months ago

HUGE difference. I would never go back to dialup. I gave the second land line to my teenage son.

[name not needed]

28. you wont regret it

for me it was like when i first got dial up.

[Zinfandel]

31. YOU'LL NEVER GO BACK TO A DIAL UP MODEM AGAIN!!!!

After experiencing a cable modem.

[southerngirlwriter]

36. Congratulations on evolving!

Now that you're not killing your food and dragging it back to the cave every day, you'll find your internet experiences much more enjoyable. :D