Sam, I don't think that @Home has significantly affect my usage one way or the other. But, then, I had good access in the past, with ISDN at home and T-1 at work.
I think my use is much more matter-of-fact. I do not "save up" for an Internet "session". If I'm in the kitchen and think of something I want to look up with a search engine ("what the hell are "braggs", anyway?), it's no big deal to walk into the office (no terminal in the kitchen yet!) and quickly get the answer. No, bleep, bloop, wait, darn busy signal.
I do find that I now use the San Diego Union/Tribune site to read local news. This was just a bit over the pain threshold before - it was too easy just to pick up the newspaper before vs. going to the trouble to get it on the net.
I'd say I'm getting more information because I don't have to wait, rather than necessarily spending less time. I might read ALL of the news stories on a particular stock, instead of just the last two.
I've found friends initially reluctant, typically citing expense. But give them a month and they come around, becuase they are sick of hearing how fast it is. :) If you use a second phone line for your Internet access, it is only $5/month more than using a low-speed modem. This slowly sinks in.
Since I work for a high-tech company (that does some work for the cable industry, no less) I'm obviously in a favorable environment for cable modems. But I can't think of anyone at work who is in an area where they have access to cable modems who doesn't now have one or is on a waiting list to get one. |
