Study says many dial-up users don't want broadband

[T'Bonz]

My mom is in her 70s and dumped dial-up as soon as she could afford to switch over to higher speed (DSL.)

With many seniors, it's not that they WANT to stay with dial-up. It's two things: extra cost (for some, $20 extra a month is a deal killer,) and lack of computer expertise (not knowing how to switch over from what they originally had.) In some cases, they have what is now considered older computers.

 

[anti-matter]

This is one of those 'studies' that make me question the validity/objectivity of all studies. If you have a hidden agenda and ask obtuse questions you can make a study/poll say just about anything that a true cross cut population sample would never agree to when polled with forthright questions.

 

[GMac]

Hmm, interesting.... I didn't realise there were quite that many dial-up users over the pond who can't get broadband for whatever reasons. Over here in the UK, you have to (literally) live out in the back of beyond in order not to be able to get DSL (more than 90% of phone exchanges are now broadband-enabled) and there's enough competition amongst ISPs to keep prices down to sensible levels (£10-15 per month for basic packages, albeit with usage caps and speeds that are rarely as good as advertised ). I've had DSL for the last 6 1/2 years and whilst the crappy quality lines round here limit me to 1Mb/s max, there's no way I'd ever consider going back to dial-up......

GM

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Most folks who still have dial-up obviously doesn't want broadband - the choices have been available for too long for it to be otherwise.

 

[Paxil]

Hell, I'm surprised half of the population has any business using a computer at all.

 

[DanCPA]

AT&T offers 384kbps (about 10x faster than dialup) for $14 a month, no introductory, that's the total cost per month for as long as you have the service.

In all honesty it's never made sense to me why, when given the option, people would rather pay $9.99 to use dial up and not $14.99 to use dsl and not hassle with the slower connection and the dialing up...

But, to each his own I suppose

I don't have DSL because the local phone company is run by crooks. I do not want thier phone line attached to my house.

But I could get away with DSL, if there wasn't also a monthly 40 dollar phone service required.

Is it possible to get DSL only from another company. I know here in Oklahoma there is a company that offered DSL only service on the tv...
I didn't pay much attention cuz I am very happy with my cable tv service, but it might be worth researching... Maybe some company will install a DSL only line

I'm in the 14% who are "stuck" and I would kill to have high-speed

I'm in that 14%, too. The phone lines here are too old to be upgraded to DSL, and I prefer DirecTV to cable. So, it's dial-up for me. And even then, the phone lines are old enough that I can't get a 56k connection. I have to settle for a 28k.

Unfortunately, a lot of websites today aren't made for dial-up. I can't use MSNBC, for instance. Things that are heavy on Java and graphics are useless. Even TrekBBS is nearly unusable.

It's what it is. *shrug*

Wow, I am truly sorry... There is high speed by dish. Have you considered that?

 

[John Picard]

I'm in the 14% who are "stuck" and I would kill to have high-speed

I'm in that 14%, too. The phone lines here are too old to be upgraded to DSL, and I prefer DirecTV to cable. So, it's dial-up for me. And even then, the phone lines are old enough that I can't get a 56k connection. I have to settle for a 28k.

Unfortunately, a lot of websites today aren't made for dial-up. I can't use MSNBC, for instance. Things that are heavy on Java and graphics are useless. Even TrekBBS is nearly unusable.

It's what it is. *shrug*

Wow, I am truly sorry... There is high speed by dish. Have you considered that?

I've tried dish in the past by a company called WildBlue. Customer service was horrid, tech support was horrid, and I had to file a complaint with the BBB in Colorado to get service canceled. Come to find out later that WildBlue is no stranger to BBB complaints. Further research has shown that Hughes satellite swallowed a competitor and most satellite companies want something in the neighborhood of $300 *in set-up fees* for service. After that, it's anywhere from $59-$99 per month and if you download too much they'll restrict you. Screw that, from the prices to the download restrictions.

 

[DanCPA]

Well, there was news about cable companies beginning to cap downloads on residential customers

 

[Starbreaker]

Prices for broadband are cheap here, so I've never really payed that much attention. The area is densely populated and I'm pretty sure that the cheapest package is $15.

 

[The Squire of Gothos]

(ducks down to avoid barrage of rotten tomatoes)

I'm holding onto the tomato till you tell us if that's a genuine perk or something sneaky from work.

 

[John Picard]

Yesterday I went to my local AT&T office and inquired about the 3G platform device. The nice lady there got me all set up in under 30 minutes with a device that works on both a laptop and a desktop machine. The transfer rate is 3.6Mbps, which is far superior to the 28.8bps of dial-up. I'm going to try it for 30 days and if it works, then I'm cutting the land line. So far, I'm loving it, and if I ever get a laptop I just plug it in and use it.

Here it is:

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

I was on dial-up for years, and it did basically what I wanted at 56k. I surfed the sites that I liked, and downloaded whatever was of interest. I didn't mind waiting 50 times as long, as I am usually doing something else on the PC while I'm waiting. I could have happily continued that way, but someone else in the family wanted broadband. So in April I got an 8 MB connection for 50% extra on the original price. Of course I had the hassle of getting my ancient Windows 98 PC working with broadband using a USB 1.0 connection, then realised that my home phone network was killing my connection, meaning I had to get it rewired, but even still, now I'm getting download speeds of 3 MB, and my surfing has speeded up 20 fold. And with a new Vista laptop in the house, I have discovered the joys of streaming foreign TV, and catching up on BBC IPlayer. All stuff that I would never have even considered on dial up, but now I'm finding it hard to keep within an 8GB monthly download limit.

But now I'm wondering how I lived with dialup for all those years.

 

[Pensive]

I'm stuck in the 14% who can't get it.

John Picard, let me know about the price and speed after 30 days, if it's worth it. I will seriously investigate if you turn back a good report

 

[John Picard]

I'm stuck in the 14% who can't get it.

John Picard, let me know about the price and speed after 30 days, if it's worth it. I will seriously investigate if you turn back a good report

So far so good I was downloading some 7MB files today and *BAM*. I would never try anything beyond 3MB while on dial-up, and even at that I couldn't use the machine for anything else. Right now, the only issue seems to be signal strength. I may have to move the machine to another room or else get some kind of USB extension so I can move the antenna high. I will definitely keep any and all updated.

 

[jkladis]

Remember when most websites offered low-bandwidth links? I think the only time I see it now is at places that haven't been updated since 1997.

 

[Pensive]

So far so good I was downloading some 7MB files today and *BAM*. I would never try anything beyond 3MB while on dial-up, and even at that I couldn't use the machine for anything else. Right now, the only issue seems to be signal strength. I may have to move the machine to another room or else get some kind of USB extension so I can move the antenna high. I will definitely keep any and all updated.

Man it would sure be nice to be able to use the iTunes/etc stores. You have me thinking my plight isn't totally hopeless!

I just got a Blackberry in April, so I already have a hefty bill from AT&T each month. I wonder if I can budget for this network thingie...

 

[ThunderAeroI]

Remember when most websites offered low-bandwidth links? I think the only time I see it now is at places that haven't been updated since 1997.

No its flash or no flash. to be honest, i always go with no flash, flash is too annoyoing.

 

[John Picard]

Last night I bought a 10' USB extender and was able to increase the signal strength from "Good" to "Very Good". Sometimes pages seem to hang while loading, and I get a popup with "Error 623: The telephone book entry for this site could not be found". I am going to call AT&T and see if there is a means to correct this. Usually, when I click on "OK" for that error, the page will immediately open. I must say that downloads are lightning fast when they occur, and pages appear almost instantaneously. Cancellation of my landline is imminant.

 

[Brolan]

Hmm, interesting.... I didn't realise there were quite that many dial-up users over the pond who can't get broadband for whatever reasons. Over here in the UK, you have to (literally) live out in the back of beyond in order not to be able to get DSL (more than 90% of phone exchanges are now broadband-enabled) and there's enough competition amongst ISPs to keep prices down to sensible levels (£10-15 per month for basic packages, albeit with usage caps and speeds that are rarely as good as advertised ). I've had DSL for the last 6 1/2 years and whilst the crappy quality lines round here limit me to 1Mb/s max, there's no way I'd ever consider going back to dial-up......

GM

Over here in the US population is very spread out compared to Europe. If I lived an extra tenth of a mile further from the telephone sub-station I would be doomed to dial-up as well.

 

[Gertch]

I just bought a plasma so now I'm toying with the idea of HD programming. Of course I'm looking into package deals from my options.

Verizon Fios isn't available but they do have another package deal with phone, internet and TV (Direct TV) that is $127/mo.

Comcast wants $129/mo (first year) for phone, internet and HD.

Right now I'm paying $30 for the phone , $30 for dsl (because I also have their wireless in a bundle) and $55 for Dish(standard).

ISP's are making a killing at $30 for dsl. I just hope enough people drop or change service as money gets tighter. Perhaps then the prices will drop.