In terms of actual numbers, it goes this way (I think..) :
Dial up (including ISDN)
Cable Modem
DSL
Wireless
Someone correct the order if it's wrong.
Each of these could be, in one way or another, supported by fiber, too, depending on the locale, except for the last segment of the service that attaches to the residence.
The "best" way to upgrade from dialup is usually the "only" way, in most locales, still. It depends on the availability of Cable and DSL right now, and wireless later, and how those prove to work in your situation. I have come to learn that one cannot with any reliability generalize on these matters. A DSL in Poker Straights, Idaho being provided by an ISP could be eminently better in all respects than one being provided by the ILEC in Brooklyn, NY. Same goes for Cable Modem.
Cable modems seem to receive higher marks at this time than DSL, while types of traffic being passed over them (and not being blocked by the MSO) are still manageable. This, I believe, may change with changing application profiles in the future.
At the same time, however, DSLs have a lower ceiling for expanding their capabilities, unless they are upgraded at some point (which is unlikely anytime soon for those that are already in place), so here, too, you have another area that one must consider: How will the service you select today perform six months or 18 months from now?
FAC |
