Is a "standard" internet connection really 28.8?

[scorp00]

Most people just don't need broadband. Most people will just have one browser open and most sites will load plenty fast on dialup. Both of my parents are like this, just slowly poking around on the internet. Drives me crazy how they read everything and wait for everything to load.

The only major benefit of broadband is downloading huge files, or browsing rather large websites with lots of pics/movies on them. I can't notice much difference between dial-up and broadband on most websites.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Well, I get a 26.4k connection, and DSL and cable are not available and have no "expected availability dates", they simply state "You're screwed".

Doesn't stop me from DLing eps of TV shows in other countries though

 

[Danman]

Originally posted by: bmacd
lol @ dial up. I'll sell my second car before i resort back to dial up

-=bmacd=-

I'D SELL ONE OF MY ORGANS BEFORE I LOSE MY ADSL. NO ONE IS GONNA MAKE ME GO BACK TO DIAL-UP! :|

 

[dakata24]

Originally posted by: cashman

Originally posted by: bmacd
lol @ dial up. I'll sell my second car before i resort back to dial up

-=bmacd=-

I'D SELL ONE OF MY ORGANS BEFORE I LOSE MY ADSL. NO ONE IS GONNA MAKE ME GO BACK TO DIAL-UP! :|

yeah.. quite painful going from broadband back to dialup.. had to do suffer for alittle while after i moved.. back on cable and am a happy camper

 

[Zedtom]

I've got AT&T dialup bundled with my phone service. The signal comes in via coax cable so my rate is always 50.6 kbps and occasionally 52.0 - I know these numbers are low compared to DSL or broadband, but it's adequate for my needs.

 

[geno]

Maybe they mean standard, without compression? If I remember right, 56K uses compression to achieve its throughput...right? Dunno....
anyways, with 56K modems going for like 9 bucks, there's no reason it shouldn't be the standard

 

[Pocatello]

I'm getting around 33.3 kbps here, nice!

 

[Nitemare]

"Is a "standard" internet connection really 28.8"

According to the phone companies...they only have to guarantee you 2400 baud though

 

[PG]

Also keep in mind that extra analog to digital conversions and vice versa will mean that a person cannot even theoretically connect faster than 28.8. Most new residential areas, especially apartments, have just such situations.
From what I understand many phone lines go through an analog to digital conversion in a big box outside the apartment complex or building. Then just a few lines are needed to carry all the signals to the phone company where it's all changed back to analog again.
It sucks and there's nothing you can do about it.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Lucky

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: bmacd
lol @ dial up. I'll sell my second car before i resort back to dial up

-=bmacd=-

It's not the cost for most people, it's the availability.

Viper GTS

No, cost does have something to do with it. 70% of households have access to cable modem service, 55% to DSL, and 45% to wireless. Nearly everyone can get satellite broadband. This study suggests that income level definitely affects adoption of broadband.


i think the other factor is that many people just dont see the need for it. My stepmom spends all day on a computer at work, when she comes home she doesnt even touch hers.

A recent marketing survey on broadband usage conducted by PCMagazine shows that most people only use the Internet for email and light browsing, and consider a dialup connection more than sufficient for thier needs. They also indicated that nearly all of the potential customers that actually want broadband already have it (in available areas). Broadband access will need to get below the magic $25/month mark before more people consider it. It's also hindered by the fact that it's a technology not understood by most people. Everyone understands phone lines, but most don't understand PC networking, so they're afraid of it. You've got to remember that 90% of computer users aren't 1/10 as savvy as we are (a lot of people seem to forget that) and only use their PC once or twice a week.

 

[Woodie]

Well, I didn't bother w/ the 56K modem, when the best I could do w/ a 33.6 was 28.8, and sometimes 31.2...finally DSL became available (was waiting for the Residential Gateway to be installed close to the house), and I installed last weekend.
Cable company keeps on saying: "We'll have it by the end of <insert next season here>". Very happy that DSL was finally made available.

It's kind of pricey, but the difference is great! I didn't bother browsing much (did it at work), but now I can browse & d/l at home.

I know quite a few folks who can't get more than 28.8, because their phoneline is old or has voice-optimization equipment on it, that kills data throughput.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
its sad, compared to other countries like south korea we are way behind. i forgot the stats, but they have atleast twice the % of broad band households we do. it is sad.

those battlenet crazy koreans hehe

First off, everything in the USA is spread out far more than in Korea. In US city suburbs, it's the lowest density areas that get connected to cable or DSL last because they are either unprofitable, or take too long to gain returns for the moeny invested on infrastructure. Believe it or not, that is most often the highest income areas where the houses are spread out the most. We just recently saw an example where an upscale Colorado suburb stopped waiting and formed a co-op to bring in their own broadband.

Comparing high density countries to the US and saying we are "behind" is not logical. ALL of our high density areas have multiple means of connecting to broadband. It is the far out suburbs and small towns that are still not wired.

Tell me, how many Korean rural farmers have broadband?

 

[StageLeft]

If you're a crack head, sure.