Pinellas Computer Club

Rule #1: Don’t pay too much! Basically, the ONLY differences are speed and cost. All services provide Web access, email, home pages, tech-support, etc. Most companies are now providing all types of Internet access, so let’s talk about the types rather than the names.

 Dial up is finally almost no longer used. It uses a telephone line to “dial-up” a phone number to connect. Dial-Up speed is a maximum of 53 kb/s (Kilobits Per Second – like Miles Per Hour). The problems with dial-up are that it is too slow to do much more than email, you cannot use the phone while connected, and the connection is very unreliable. The only good thing is the cost. These services range from completely FREE for limited access, to $6.95 per month for unlimited use. If you pay more for dial-up, it’s too much!

 Some dial-up services (AOL, MSN) charge much more for the same service (up to $24 per month). They suggest that their services are somehow more secure, faster, or easier to use. This is just not the case. Frequently just the opposite is true. These services also have other severe limitations. They only survive because members don’t know any better.

 Broadband is the term used to describe any type of Internet connection faster than dial-up speed. There are 3 types of broadband available for home and small office use: Cable, DSL, and Wireless. Some companies are offering Broadband service combined with AOL, MSN, or other services. This combination is undesirable for several reasons. It always requires extra software, sometimes it even costs more, and it is subject to the same problems as the dial-up versions of these services.

 Cable Internet service “piggy-backs” on your Cable TV wires without interrupting your TV service, and runs at 3000 kb/s and up. Cable Internet is the most popular type. It costs $20 per month and up. Cable Internet is the best technology deal currently. Swiftek recommends Brighthouse “Road-Runner”.

 DSL uses your phone wires without tying up your line, and runs at 768 kb/s and up. The problem with DSL is that it is very slow and Verizon owns all the wires here. No matter who you buy DSL service from, Verizon is the provider. Verizon’s customer service has gotten so terrible, that it may be worth it to switch to cable. DSL costs start at $20 per month and go up. Swiftek has dropped all of Verizon’s services except for the Yellow Pages, and no longer recommends Verizon for anything.

 Note: Swiftek has no affiliation with, or interest in ANY I.S.P. We are happy to help you, whichever you choose.