Good News For Dial-up Users
First let me offer my condolences if you live in an area that doesn't offer broadband cable or DSL. If you do live in an area where broadband is available but you have kept your dial-up anyway then this article is for you. It's all about the price competion between Cable companies and Telcos. It just might make you want to switch to either a DSL line or a Cable modem.

As a little background, the two sides, the Cable Operators and the Telecommunications companies, have different slants on the subject of Broadband. Their argument comes down to speed versus price. The Telcos believe price is more important and that most people cannot tell the difference in the speed of a DSL line versus a Cable modem. The Cable companies always counter that you can tell the difference once you try it and that this justifies their higher price.

I agree with the Cable companies that you can tell the difference in speed from the first time you try it. The Telco argument I regard as wishful thinking at best and a complete lie at worst. Their only comeback has always been that their service was cheaper than a Cable Modem. Though from the looks of the article it appears those days are numbered and that is why the Telcos are starting to offer more aggressive pricing.

Oh, and don't believe the Telcos assertion that your broadband is always on. It is most certainly not. You still have to dialup and wait. Plus, the DSL lines I have used have a nasty habit of timing out, that is, disconnecting for reasons known only by the Telcos. For a more reliable service that is always on and is faster than DSL then choose a Cable modem. You will notice the difference and be glad for the boost in speed from either your old dial-up or your DSL line.

One final thought: do not be without a land line from your local phone company. In the event of a power outage you will be glad you kept it, as well as a phone that does not require electricity to operate (sans answering machine). I found this out the hard way two years ago here in New York City and now keep an old phone for just such emergencies. These old phones are powered from the phone companies central offices and are the only thing you can count on when the power goes out.