grantjePremium
join:2003-05-07
Kokomo, IN | reply to my3cents
Re: i know nothing........ I have 1.5/256 ADSL (recently upgraded from 768/160) and I must say, this is truly the broadband speed for me. There are simply very few things anymore that don't load right away, and I have even found what I have heard those on (non-oversubscribed) cable modems comment on: I can actually tell which websites on the Internet are faster or slower (at least in the route they take to me), because the bottleneck isn't my connection any longer.
However I really do wish we could get a similar service to this in the USA. I have a relative who pays for two dialup accounts that perform horribly. (Truthfully, I can't tell whether the bad performance is due to the ISP end or the computer end of things in his case, but it's my opinion that if either ISP were more reliable, the computer/Internet experience on the whole would be much less frustrating for him.)
I think an always-on connection (even if slow speed) would be better for a variety of reasons:
*Updates (OS, Virus, Patches, Service Packs, etc.) could be automatically downloaded and installed - which would definitely be a benefit for non-technical users
*E-Mail would always be going in and out, leading to more prompt responses, and less chance of clogging up servers (not always a worry, what with ever expanding mail quotas, but I still just really like the idea)
*Instant Messaging (which is generally low bandwidth) would be "always-on" increasing the usefulness of it as well as the "presence" feature of knowing someone was online at the computer and available
*Intelligent software built in at either the browser, proxy or OS level could cache frequently used sites during non-prime hours, and provide a better experience when the web browser is used
*Streaming audio - at least at basic AM/FM radio quality, would become usable even while surfing. I haven't seen a whole lot of streaming video interest in older non-technical users, but they do really appreciate being able to receive either music or talk that caters to their unique interests - in this era of radio consolidation, many older adults find what is on the radio to be either offensive or simply of no interest |
