Review by JDCMAN 
UPDATED: 220 days ago
member for 2.4 years, 81 visits, last login: 14 days ago
 Somers,Westchester,NY
 $55 per month
 about 1 days
 "Fast! Reliable. Works great on a home network. W/ voice & cable, $15 off"
 "More $, No free webhosting (unless Boost). News server is slow. No IMAP. DNS isn't great."
 "Had it since 2001. Still love it!"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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Update 1/13/08: Still love Optimum, although I'm hoping FiOS comes soon to drive prices down. Nothing like good competition.
Still haven't upgraded to Boost, it's on the table...I've had no issues with capping still, although I'm not on the most populated node.
Still extremely reliable, and fast...
I'm disappointed with the speed of the new server (tops 150KBPS over 2 connections max). Header retrieval is snappy...but the actual file downloads are not.
Still wishing for IMAP internet access...
Either SMTP limitations were removed, or they're only effective on Port 25. I have no issues with Gmail or other outbound mail servers that are not on the regular SMTP port.
Still good, wish the news server was better and email becomes IMAP sometime...
DNS is somewhat flaky, OpenDNS is much better.
-------Original Review--------
I had been dying to get Optimum Online. When they finally came to my zip in Jan. 2001, I signed up.
The connection went smoothly-we had already bought the router a few days before and all necessary cabling. Hooked up the modem, router, computer, and it worked like a charm. Account setup was done from CD and was pretty quick. Since I had IO digital cable, I got a $5 discount. Average price is $53/mo, no contract, taxes, etc.
Having had them for 4 years, they have been pretty reliable (except for 2 weeks were the network was at 100kbps down/10 kbps up...ugh) and the speeds are always solid. I play a LOT of online games and Skype, Xbox Live, World of Warcraft, all at once. The upgrade from 1mbps to 2mbps (FREE) was a great and helped a lot.
A lot of my speed is limited by my router (which I will replace) , a business class netgear with VPN and SPI/NAT, which takes D/L from 12 mbps to 3mbps! Unbelievable. Doesn't affect upload, though. A direct connection to the modem is blazing!
The tech support can be rocky. Open 24/7, they assume everything from your statement (I'm mis marked as a Miss...people on telephone don't seem to guess otherwise by my voice). Ranging from excellent (quick lookup on modem compatibility) to condescending and incompetent.
Tech:Is the cable box on?
Me: Yes...the TV and Cable box are on.
Tech: Ms., would you please turn the cable box on?
Me: Yes, the cable box is on.
Tech: Okay, great! Now will you turn on the cable box?
Me: *silently fuming*
Anyhow, they seem to know more about the online then the cable. If I wasn't as tech-savvy I might be a little stuck though.
Optimum Online gives you the connection, email...and not a whole lot else. The web hosting, hosting your own server, is $15 more a month with Boost (which also doubles the DL). Disappointing for the $$$.
Expensive? Yes.
Fast? Yes.
Worth it? I think so. The upgrade to boost doesn't seem terrible.
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