posted on October 28, 2000 07:21:36 PM new
Thinking about switching from our current ISP, which ain't doing us what we need and is causing problems with auctions (bidding and selling, it is soooo slow I'm not able to get my bid in on some places, and some bidders e-mails just aren't getting to me), and wondering if I could pick some brains for thoughts and suggestions? Looking at larger ones (the one we use is local and just too durned small), what we have and can afford now is standard 56K setup on modem - any opinions on what's good, what's not, what works for you? Looking at ones like earthlink, aol, etc.. Thanks for the time!
posted on October 28, 2000 07:33:39 PM new
Hi there. I was recently reading an issue of "PC World" Magazine ( http://www.pcworld.com/ )and they examined the top 15 ISPs across the United States. I suggest you either go out and buy the latest issue or check their website to see if they have it posted. Make sure before signing up anywhere that you have a local number to use. The trial hours are nice but you are responsible for applicable toll charges. Hope this helps you out.
posted on October 28, 2000 07:35:46 PM new
I've had Earthlink for 3 or 4 years now. Never have had any problems with except for those caused by *me* & the fact that I am a total technopeasant. And in those cases, I have found their 24 hour phone line invaluable--they are always pleasant & thorough & can talk you through things easily (something I prize, needless to say). If you want a web page or to store images, they give you 6MB of space for free. They are said to cost $25 to start, but nobody I know of (including self) has ever had to pay that--they constantly have ads in computer magazines or on the radio that you can mention to get free installation. Also, there is no limit to the amount of time you can spend online per month.
posted on October 28, 2000 07:39:05 PM new
Is a cable modem from your local area cable company an option, 29.99 a mt here not sure what your area is. My Dad in NC pay 39 so it varies from area to area, I woulld never go back to phone lines again, it super fast !
posted on October 28, 2000 07:39:29 PM new
Earthlink is a good choice, I used them for the past few years and they have 800 number access so you can get your service from anywhere while on the road.
A better bet is to look at what your cable provider may be offering in your area.
In my area they are offering free installation, (all network and cable modem cards installed and setup free) and only $19.95 a month until April 1st (then 34.95 per month, unless they come out with another offer that extends past that date and they will pass that offer on to me too).
Seems to be a lot of good choices out there.
Good luck!
posted on October 28, 2000 07:41:23 PM new
I would stay a zillion miles away from AOL. Spent two years in AO Hell. I am very happy with Earthlink. They are consistently rated tops by most everyone.
Keep in mind that ISPs aren't always to blame for e-mail not making it through the maze of links to others. I have had a couple of times I needed to use Yahoo to reach my bidders. It's not a big deal-it certainly has nothing to do Earthlink.
posted on October 28, 2000 08:05:52 PM new
I don't know what's good right now but I do know what's bad. I have to pay for access through MSN for the next three years (since I signed on the dotted line for the free computer deal) and it's just terrible. To describe how bad it is, and all the different ways it is inferior to the other ISP's I have had--including AOL, which worked just fine for me and I used it for 3 years--- could fill a small book. Don't fall for their "deals" and don't use MSN no matter what is offered.
posted on October 28, 2000 08:15:49 PM new
Actually, I picked up MSN as a secondary ISP and where I'm at (Arkansas) it's a stable connection with constant connect speeds around 50kpbs. Not sure about their email servers though, as I have yet to log onto them. Before that, I used IBM (now AT&T) and they were very good for 3+ years (except that they no longer offer unlimited). Neither of these services have 'timeouts' for when you're idle for any amount of time. Both have dialups around the US, which is nice for when you're traveling... as I'm sure most of the national ISP's do. MSN did well in Atlanta, Phoenix, Los Angels, New York, and San Francisco. AT&T did fine here at home, but had serious problems connecting to local numbers in Atlanta, Seatle, Detroit, and Minneapolis (had to use their 800 number in those places and that can really rack up the $)
Average rate for both of these dialups are 21.95/month.
posted on October 28, 2000 08:44:55 PM new
One thing to keep in mind -- slow connections and broken connections may be related more to the phone lines and connections than to your ISP. In the long run, of course, if it doesn't work, it doesn't work, but still... We've had the same ISP for 5 years, but this past year has had periods of horrendous connection problems. They appear to be related to US West's (now Qwest's) terrible phone service in the Seattle area. Our ISP has provided us with a zillion different local numbers to dial, but when it's bad, it's bad. Their user:modem ratio is good. Problems are in the phone lines being overloaded and Qwest isn't doing anything about it.
posted on October 28, 2000 09:50:49 PM new
I'm with Earthlink, too and I'm quite happy. I pay by the year, so my rate is $17.95/mo. for unlimited time online.
I'm upgrading to Earthlink DSL as soon as it's available in my neighborhood.
posted on October 29, 2000 01:51:49 AM new
I'll second the cable connection. But you'll need to check the service in your particular area as some cable service isn't quite up to par- e.g., dual directional, and some areas don't offer the service. DSL is not as fast as cable and usually costs more, but it is always on, but again it has limited service areas and some providers are lously. Having or not having a PC ins't the only digital divide !!!
I couldn't begin to even think about going back to a phone line. I can go from page to page like changing a channel on a TV. Speed is measured in megs per second. I pay $49 a month for the cable service and 3 separate IP addresses.
posted on October 29, 2000 05:19:53 AM new
Hi Rosiebud...just wanted to mention that I'm in Los Angeles (one of the places you mention MSN was good for you) and I find that no matter how I change access numbers I still get knocked off several times a day, sometimes several times an HOUR, rarely get speeds over 23K no matter what time of day, have ongoing trouble connecting, etc. The phone lines, computer, etc. has been checked. It's MSN. My friends who got MSN in San Francisco also have the same problem---constant knockoffs, failure to connect, failure to retrieve mail properly, error pages or "page not found" on pages that were there yesterday (such as MSN's home page!) and I could go on and on. Also, MSN DOES have an annoying timer which attempts to knock you off anytime you are idle. Drove me crazy until I was told by a friend how to re-set it to be idle for longer periods, something many newbies would not know how to do.
posted on October 29, 2000 06:59:19 AM new
brighid868 ~ that is incredibly strange.. firstly, the timeout issue. I've been using the dialup for the last three days.. and Friday and Saturday I've had the dialup on all day while I was working on projects and never timed out. As far as I know it's not disabled on my computer and I don't have any of the other programs to do it either. That makes me wonder if it's a supply and demand type of thing.. ? In areas such as LA and SF and other busy, metropolitan areas.. if there's a timer attached........... vs .. in the middle of nowhere
As far as the connection problems, in LA and SF, that too is strange .. the only thing I can think of for that, is that the last time I was in SF was 1.5 years ago.. and LA was 8 months ago.. and perhaps the service has degraded during that time due to these 'rebate' offers that sprung up since November 1999.
posted on October 29, 2000 07:22:17 AM new
I use Galaxy Internet Service (gis.net) and prefer it vastly over my previous incarceration in AOL hell...
the only email trouble I've ever had has invariably turned out to be caused by a source outside of my ISP...
I don't recall ever being "timed out",although if it gets hugely overcrowded,I might get "bumped off"...but that only lasts as long as it takes me to dial up again...
speeds are ok,usually 50666 or 49333,which seems to work fine for me...
they're $9.95 per month,unlimited access...
you'll have to go to their site to see what else they offer, since I don't recall at this moment,everything...
GOOD LUCK
posted on October 29, 2000 12:50:33 PM new
My DSL through my local phone company is PERFECT! Fast and reliable with super tech support. This is my 8th or 9th ISP in 3 years and I couldn't be happier. Cable through @home was the worst with AOL a close second. Small local ISP's were best and losest cost but I just hated the slowness. DSL isn't quite as fast on paper as cable but in reality it beats @home hands down. They really only care about download speed which varied all over the map. Surfing speed is more consistent with DSL and download speed is MUCH faster than dial up. Email reliability was a MAJOR problem with cable and once again DSL is perfect! If available in your area check it out--you do not need a second phone line.
posted on October 29, 2000 03:16:19 PM new
I have cable access locally for the speed, but don't use their e-mail.
I have Mindspring (which merged with Earthlink, btw) and have been very happy with them. I can check my mail on the web from anywhere that I have web access.
I also have a free ISP service so that in the winter, if there are major problems, I have another way to access the web to check my mail and auctions.
Free services include several around our area that are available through the local TV stations and there are a plethora on the web if you search. I know that thesimpsons.com was mentioned on AW not too long ago.
I go into withdrawl really fast if I can't get on the internet--I like options.
And in those cases, I have found their 24 hour phone line invaluable--they are always pleasant & thorough & can talk you through things easily (something I prize, needless to say). If you want a web page or to store images, they give you 6MB of space for free. They are said to cost $25 to start, but nobody I know of (including self) has ever had to pay that--they constantly have ads in computer magazines or on the radio that you can mention to get free installation. Also, there is no limit to the amount of time you can spend online per month.
