4/26    adsl vs cable modem? which is better?
        \_ I haven't used cable modem firsthand, but I've heard of low
           peaktime thoroughput since it's shared. I'm using DSL, and it's
           fast enuf for me (~100KB/sec usually). But the line dies
           occassionally during peak hours.
           \_ cable modems have an unsustainable business model; if you
              don't have problems now, you will when enough people sign
              on.  -tom
              \_ So use them while the price/performance is acceptable, and
                 when enough people sign on to create problems, leave.
                 *Everything* -- cable modems, the phone system, freeways,
                 BART, dance classes, yermom -- is theoretically prone to
                 problems "when enough people sign on".
                \_ boy that's an intelligent post.  First of all, there's
                   a startup cost, and second of all, the phone system
                   (to take the only reasonable example up there) has a
                   sustainable business model; if more people sign on,
                   the phone companies will have enough money to expand
                   capacity.  That's what "sustainable business model" means.
                   If you don't understand this, please shut up.  -tom
                \_ Pacbell has the money, but the will?  DSL could also be
                   impacted pretty badly.  Best claims PB is selling at loss.
                   \_ pretty clearly PBI is selling net access via PB at a
                      loss, precisely so that you will still consider DSL
                      vs Cable modem.  Would the decision still be so hard
                      if it was $49/mo cable modem vs. 99/mo DSL?
                      \_ The price difference is not the main deciding point
                         here. It's availability. Few places offer DSL or
                         cable modem, and even fewer offer both. Some people
                         are relegated to using sattelite connections, which
                         is 1/4 the bandwidth at the same (or more) price.
                      \_ GTE is total of $60/month for ADSL+internet.
                         I'm hesitating. and btw, I would never pay $99/m
                         for net access. I actually just want 128kbps
                         at the reasonable price ISDN *SHOULD* have been.
                \_ Cable modem startup cost: $150 w/o discount.(includes
                   a [decent] NIC)    DSL startup: ~$600. They make you buy
                   the DSL modem (from them, of course, since the standards
                   still aren't stable yet). When standards are stable,
                   DSL modem prices are down, and cable modem bandwidth
                   has actually deteriorated, then I may switch over.
                \_ cable modem bandwidth has already dropped through the
                   floor for many users
                        \_ DSL startup : ~$199
                \_ yermom put out a press release reassuring anxious customers
                   that she has near-infinite capacity, irregardless of load.