choosing the right internet line

[trip0d]

ok my parents currently have WOW..wide open west and we have a 2mbps line. the kids including me are always away at college for most of the yr...3 months at home with occasional break times.

my mom doesnt want to have such a high line for herself

so WOW has a 112,500,2mb.4mb, lines and i was looking at the 500kb line...would that be enough for just basic web browsing and the occasional like ET

shes even considering 112kb

any advice?

[Absolute Zero]

for basic web browsing, you really only need 56k. however, it is nice to have something like a isdn-128k for stuff like ftp transfers. high speed internet, you know, 100 mps was designed for servers and web hosting. its overkill for the average user. sisoft sandra says i get around 750 kps, and its enough to host 32 people on the ut2k4 demo (that's not use for the average user). so if all she does is web browse, she only needs the 112. i would get the 500 just in case you need to do file transfers or decide to game a little.

[KaHNZa]

56k is fine for web browsing so long as it doesn't involve any images. Thats what takes so long to download. I would say go for the 500k line. It should still be pretty cheap and be pretty fast. BTW, whats the upload on those?

[bettsr]

112, 300, 300, 500kps

http://www1.wowway.com/wowPicStory.asp?id=1002

[trip0d]

ya sorry i didnt post a link...but what bettsr posted are the uploads...and we have 56k but we just do the cable/internet package

would WOW let us use the 500 line for most of the yr then switch to 2mbps and then back to 500?

and you hosted 32 ppl for ut2k4? LAN use or otuside use..im guessing LAN sue

[SniperXX]

Id say go with the 500k line for when there are pictures for browsing and downloading, like windows updates and stuff.

[Absolute Zero]

that was an internet game. i had about twelve people at my house on a lan, but everyone else (ok, i stretched it, 28, but i could have handled 32) was from the internet. i kept asking if anyone had any lag, and no one complained, so i assume it went well. of course, maybe they weren't voice chatting very much...

[diggingforgold]

Look into package deals. They really save you money. We have 2.0 and Basic Cable over here. But WOW just now started charging us $5 a month for cable modem rental :(.

I suggest going for the minimum 112k connection. There are rumors going around that WOW will be bumping up connection speeds, while keeping the same charge per month (competing against comcast in michigan). WOW has always had a great network (except for occasional email problems they have been having, but I think its fixed now). So go for 112k + current tv cable plan for a great deal, wait a few weeks or months, and it will bump to 300k if the rumor is correct.

Also- if you think it will be worth it, buy a used modem somewhere and tell wow to take their $5/month modem. That will decrease her bill even more and it will be a nice present for your mom. Unfortunately, WOW has raised their charge since the promotional period has ended (when we signed up). So If you are a new wow customer, I would stick with what you got until you get charged more.

About switching every few months. I'm not sure. I know you are billed per month, but I don't know anything about any contracts if there are any.

[trip0d]

we had WOW for about 6 months now after booting comcast..stupid crapcast

ya we have the package deal..were paying close to 80/month cause we got digital and 2mbps :) and shes like..300 channels and nothings on that i want to watch past 100

the only problem would be my bro cause hes the main gamer and he wants the best line possible..im gonna try and call WOW on monday to see if they can switch the internet speed at certian times, and if they do hope they dont screw up the billing

the 112 wouldnt be bad..and we have free 56k through MSU which is nice..but the package deal is better

lets hope the rumoris true :) and il be calling WOW in a few days