Anyone still use dial-up?

[Einz]

The grandparents are jostling to get some internet service, and they've decided to go the dialup route since it's probably the cheapest and they don't need the bandwidth. Can anyone recommend what dialup is the best right now? I haven't used it for 10 years now, so I'm completely out of touch. Quick google gave Copper.net, Juno (I still remember when I used their free email service), PeoplePC, 550access, amongst others. My inclination right now is copper or 550, but I want something that just works, since it'll be for the grandparents. Thanks ahead of time.

 

[kevnich2]

Get whatever national service has a local dialup number in your area. PeoplePC and netzero I've heard are good. I haven't used dialup for...15 years now so I have no personal experience with it.

 

[Nothinman]

If they've got cable TV it might be cheaper and simpler to just add on Internet service. Or even Verizon FIOS with FIOS TV if it's available.

 

[Lemon law]

Get a clue, its absolutely wonderful that most of the USA has either cable or dsl based broadand access, but there are something on the order of 100 million in the USA, especially in rural ares, that have no dsl or cable options available at all yet.

For that set, wimax may be the great hope, just don't hold your breath.

 

[frostedflakes]

You might look into DSL, some companies offer 768kbps for $10 or $15 per month. I understand they probably don't need the extra speed, but if you can get it for the same or slightly more than what they'd be paying for dialup, might as well go for it.

Lemon law, are you sure about the 100 million number? Seems a tad high to me.

Anyways, everybody in America should at least be able to get satellite. The problem isn't that there aren't options for rural users, just that the options aren't very good.

 

[kevnich2]

I dont recall the exact number but the # of US households without broadband available at all isn't nearly that high but yes it's the people out in really rural areas where the population isn't as dense, hence not cost effective to get cable out to them. Yes, satellite is available to all but it's very costly, equipment costs are high, latency is high and sometimes it's not reliable. I would first look to see if DSL or cable was available, if it is, it'll be either cheaper or roughly the same price just to add on internet to their existing cable or phone service.

 

[vailr]

Why not save the money and use free dialup? If using less than 20 hours per month, Netzero's free 56k dialup would be my suggestion.

 

[drebo]

all2easy.net ...$4.95/mo.

 

[Nohr]

I've got a friend who lives outside of town that has been happy with Copper.net.