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Technology Stocks : PC Sector Round Table -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mark Oliver who wrote (1415)	1/28/1999 12:10:00 AM
From: Dave Hanson	Respond to of 2025

MY DSL/Home LAN use (replies to Mark Oliver) "how many are equipped to handle the installation?" Not many, admittedly. (Those who are, or who want to learn, please join us on Subject 18946 , which is where I heard about this thread.) That should change, tho, as INTC and others bring out plug and play home LAN equipment using basic home wiring, targeting the home user. Should start coming on line this year. (Sorry, I don't have references handy; perhaps others will.) "I'm a bit confused. These download speeds are terrible." Let me clarify. Download speeds are generally measured in bytes, not bits, and involve actual received data, not theoretical throughput. Typically, a good 56k modem connection will actually connect at 48k (bits) or so, allowing downloads of about 5k bytes / sec. I'm saying I get 30+k bytes, and others more--a 6x plus increase. As you might imagine, this is very significant. "Can you see anyone keeping an ISDN?" Only if they need it for compatibilty, of if ISDN isn't offered in their area (still true most places.) "Do you still have to pay for basic phone service in addition to the charges for xDSL service?" Yes. "What about your ISP? Do they charge more for special service? Is the service up 24 hours?" ISP is US West, they charge $19.95 for unlimited usage. It is up 24 hours, and very reliable. One shouldn't underestimate the convenience of being always connected, and never having to establish a connection. As the article suggests, it's really more like being on a WAN to the internet than a "modem" as we think of them. "Compared to a cable modem which is up at all times, ISP charges included, and no phone line charges all for less than $40 per month, you've got a strong competition coming from the cable guys." Precisely. Which is why I will bolt when Cable modems reach my neighborhood (ETA: late Feb.) if I have reason to believe they are ready for prime time then.