Here is a user's perspective on ATHM service:
Have ATHM through Cox cable. Been a subscriber for a month now. I pay $30 for unlimited access plus $15 to lease the modem (looking to buy as soon as it becomes widely available and competition sets in). The modem that I lease is called "LANcity". I was a previous AOL subscriber. There is no comparison between the two.
As soon as I turn the computer on, I am on the net. No logins, passwords, disconnects, time-outs etc etc etc. I can check my stock quotes after being away from my computer for a hour or more and get the info within two to three seconds.
I have gotten incredibly spoiled with the speed. Normally within two to three seconds of selecting a sight, I am there. However, sometimes due to high traffic or whatever I have had to wait 30 seconds to a minute on occasion. So far its been pretty rare though. Downloads are practically done before I even know what I down loaded.
ATHM's sight for subscribers is pretty good, with additions coming all the time. Currently use it to view news, listen to CD tracks, and view movie clips. They are in the process of updating their Finance section which I look forward to.
Based on my experience I decided to use Peter Lynch's philosophy and bought some stock for the long term based solely on its potential (Just hope its not another APPLE or Beta, first to market but left holding the bag). Normally I wouldn't touch a stock with a market cap of 2.5 billion with no earnings, and little revenue. But the market for this service is huge, once you use it, you will never go back. I also think ATHM is a serious threat to AOL. I see no reason why I would now subscribe to AOL.
If any of you have any questions on ATHM's service from a user perspective feel free to e-mail me at rheiner@home.com. Remember my technical knowledge of the Internet and all its workings is limited. Just know how to navigate, with no idea how it actually works.
Rory
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