Hi Ray, here's a boatload of links to related topics.
Information about NAPs, backbones, capacities, etc:
pacbell.com
208.234.102.97
sprintbiz.com
sprintbiz.com:80/data1/ip/ip13.htm
nap.aads.net
nap.aads.net
isi.edu
keynote.com
boardwatch.com
internetweather.com
boardwatch.com
digex.net
nlanr.net
www4.zdnet.com
admin.oanet.com
telechoice.com
ameritech.net
seas.upenn.edu
There seems to be some general misconceptions that @HOME's service is "immune" to all the fundamental limitations of the internet (not helped any by some VERY misleading marketing fluff on @HOME's web page, as well as staged demos). I've tried to "gently" get that point across on the @HOME thread, but to no avail. There is enough cross-confirming information in these links to convince even the most brainwashed hypester that @HOME's presence on earth doesn't SOLVE the internet bandwidth problems. @HOME's residential service helps in most, but not all cases, BUT it does not SOLVE it. No one could read through all these links and not come to that conclusion. No possible way.
Plus, I HAVE the service. All these limitations play out in practice. I have software to monitor transfer rates and histogram transfer rates by various categories, and @HOME's level 2 customer service has confirmed my connection is fine on many different occasions, and has also confirmed the transfer rates I'm seeing. I have never, ever, exceeded 1.5 megabits per second ( and that's only approached within the @HOME intranet). Real "internet" access never exceeds 500kbits per second, and is generally MUCH lower.
Still, it is on average faster than the telco ISP connection I still have. Maybe 2 to 1 (in other words, a quarter second versus a half second for a typical page).
The reasons I have kept the @HOME service are:
1)large file transfers (which I do frequently)via ftp are significantly faster than the dialup ISP.
2)phone line is freed up.
3)multiple email accounts.
4)emails with large attachments pull up very quickly
If all I wanted was my generic internet access to be faster, and had no other reason, it is not worth $45/month +$150 install, versus $20 per month plus and a $100 modem for a dialup ISP. The difference in that case (because the data is in short bursts and not much data is transferred) is not worth a 2x price premium. Note I'm also placing zero value on their canned content. Most people would probably give it some value. Maybe some day it will have some value for me too, but I don't find the current content to be of much use.
Also note that what I say above in no way sways my opinion of @HOME as an investment candidate (or very small sway at most) because I have never felt the residential internet access revenue was the most significant part of this company's potential.
I know this information is going to rub some people the wrong way (i.e. anyone that's "in love"), but I would challenge anyone to prove me wrong. This information isn't speculation. I have the service. Reality played out just as theory would predict.
dh |
