I Just Got High Speed Internet!

[John Picard]

Are you aware that more Americans are on dial-up than high speed broadband or DSL

If more Americans were aware of that fact then maybe more Americans would be encouraging that something be done about it.

I still have a dial up account and have used a couple of times in the past year when high speed was unavailable.

The problem is that the US just isn't wired for it. Look at South Korea -- it's roughly the size of the State of Illinois but is wired to the hilt with high speed data access everywhere. I'm located 12 miles outside of town and my options are either a 3G wireless (which I use) or satellite, if I want high speed. A friend of mine in Iowa is part of an Internet Co-Op with line-of-site routers mounted on grain elevators, towers, and barns; otherwise, he's in the same boat and would be stuck on dial-up.

I always laugh and shake my head at people who post here thinking that those on dial-up are in the minority in this country. A vast majority just don't care to upgrade to broadband.

Do People Use Dialup Isps? the Phone is Still Ringing

Don’t plan dialup’s funeral just yet. Apparently, there is still a market for people who’s online needs are easily met with analog modems. The study also revealed that the majority of dial-up users, 60 percent, told the Pew pollsters that they had zero interest in upgrading to broadband. Another barrier analog modem cyber-surfers face: broadband is simply not available in their area. Dialup internet access is often the only choice for rural town internet access.
In addition to availability, the research hypothesizes that many dial-up users reject high-speed Internet services because of having to pay twice the price. The average monthly fee for cable Internet access was $41, DSL service was $38, where dial-up was only $18 per month. For web surfers everywhere, the monthly bill is enough to justify staying on dialup internet access.

Rural Americans Adopt Broadband, But Gap Remains


FCC Report: 31-Percent of Americans with Broadband Access Won't Adopt It

I wish the FCC would get moving on the wireless broadband plan.

 

[Yoda]

Dial-up is atrocious. Imagine waiting several minutes for every page to load. I used to take bathroom and food breaks while waiting for pages to load. And of course, signing on requires loud noises from the modem and getting kicked off any time the phone rings. I'm just surprised you've never encountered it at all.

OMG, ever here of *70 to disable call waiting, NOOB?!?!?

 

[RoJoHen]

Um...this was 1996, and I was 11. I really wasn't worried about it.

And I haven't had a landline since I was 16, so...no, I've never heard of *70 to disable call waiting.

 

[tkron]

Congrats! I remember what it was like to have dial-up, so I can sympathize. I wouldn't go back if you paid me.

 

[Bloodwhiner]

Wait until Mr. Light discovers online porn videos... he'll change his name to Mr. Hand and we'll never here from him again.

But congrats, you never really knew how bad dialup was until you get broadband.

 

[SmoothieX]

^I just watching that episode of South Park where the Internet dies and Randy can't watch Brazilian fart porn. I love that one.

 

[RoJoHen]

^I just watching that episode of South Park where the Internet dies and Randy can't watch Brazilian fart porn. I love that one.

The ending is absolutely disgusting.

 

[SmoothieX]

What? It's just ectoplasm from the ghost that ran through there.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Awesome for you! In a few days time you won't even remember what dial-up was like, and if you ever have to use it again you'll feel like waiting for a page to load is like watching a glacier move.

Anyway, you should check out something called "literal videos" on youtube. The best is, of course, Total Eclipse of the Heart. There are also these fake movie previews people make that give the movie a whole new feeling...watch Must Love Jaws to see what I mean.

If you use Netflix, or want to in the future, you can watch tons of movies and TV shows on their website.

 

[trekkiedane]

Anyway, you should check out something called "literal videos" on youtube. The best is, of course, Total Eclipse of the Heart. There are also these fake movie previews people make that give the movie a whole new feeling...watch Must Love Jaws to see what I mean.

^This

"Scary Mary" is a brilliant fake movie trailer,

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T5_0AGdFic[/yt]​

and the Shining as family comedy drama is hilarious!

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmkVWuP_sO2[/yt]​

 

[LitmusDragon]

Is it wrong that I read the topic as

"I just got high!

... speed internet!"

 

[C. Cole-Chakotay]

I also finally got DSL a little over a month ago and love it!

 

[Capn Flukie]

In case you missed it...

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmtzQCSh6xk[/yt]

 

[Skywalker]

I used to have DSL for years, but I just recently switched to cable. The difference between the two is amazing. I had no idea cable could be so much faster than DSL, unless I just had a really bad DSL line or something.

 

[RoJoHen]

Let's give him links to all the famous youtube videos, and then send him the link to that South Park episode where Butters makes a youtube video.

"I said what what, in the butt."

 

[TheBrew]

Congrats! My Mom had dial-up for the longest time since she was in a rural area... made going home painful.

 

[trekkiedane]

Dial-up is atrocious. Imagine waiting several minutes for every page to load. I used to take bathroom and food breaks while waiting for pages to load. And of course, signing on requires loud noises from the modem and getting kicked off any time the phone rings. I'm just surprised you've never encountered it at all.

It took ages but I downloaded and watched numerous 'Sojourner movies' during the pathfinder mission -by dial-up. Ah! fond memories

ETA:

 

[Mr Light]

OMG I could spend all damn day watching little videos. This is amazing. You can watch the entire playthrough of games like Final Fantasy if you wanted to, not to mention all the cool little things. And clips from shows like Colbert and XPlay and etc. This is amazing! And all the full tv episodes you can watch for free at high quality! Wow!

 

[RoJoHen]

Welcome to the present, my friend.

 

[Capn Flukie]

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX2GnnHU20[/yt]