Advice for switching to high speed?

[Fantasmic303]

Does anyone have advice on how to determine which DSL/cable provider to go with for high speed internet? Or how to find out which are offered for our area without checking each individual company?

We've been on dial up for a very long time and are finally moving into the fast lane. My head is spinning with all the options, especially in terms of pricing and speeds and companies. I've checked the big ones and have moved on to our cable and phone companies, but so far the only one that said it services our area is Earthlink. I'm confused as to how this is possible - yes, we're in the suburbs, but we're very close to NYC, so I'm sure most residences are high-speed (for work purposes, if nothing else), which would make me believe that there must be some competition that I'm just not able to locate.

Any advice? On anything?!

 

[Charade]

Unless you do a lot of heavy downloading (large files) and/or want to use the Internet for phone service or have more than one or two simultaneous users, I would just go with the slowest high-speed option available. Usually, cable is the fastest but the most expensive. DSL is slower and cheaper but not as readily available as cable. Both require and adapter (DSL or cable modem). Whatever service you get I would highly recommend getting a router. This is a device that goes between you and the rest of the "big bad" Internet. It adds a decent layer of protection called a firewall (used in conjunction with antivirus and other software that blocks malicious attacks on your PC).

 

[mtdevine615]

That could very well be the case. When I switched to high speed the only option was cable. No one else provided DSL in my area. That being said I wouldn't go back, it's so much faster.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Cable is better, IMO, but I'm light years from knowing computer crap. I just know it is faster than the DSL was and since we bundled it with the TV cable people, it ended up being a few bucks cheaper, too.

 

[LoraJ]

I prefer cable. It's much faster and I also have a lot less problems with it.

broadbandreports.com should be able to provde you with a list of what is available.

 

[ZPT1022]

I'm curious to hear what you end up with. We're in CT too and looking to make the switch but we're between Hartford and UConn so probably an hour from where you are? I know a lot of people near us have COX, don't know if that is available near you? Most of my family has it and loves it