DIAL UP OR BROADBAND?
.:Back To Connectivity:.
Speed and price are two very important considerations when choosing
between dialup and broadband. Dialup connection speeds make it more
difficult to view certain types of media, such as video, and it can
take much longer to download and open email attachments, play online
games, and listen to streaming audio, etc. Although the slower connections
are a disadvantage for dialup users, there are also a few advantages
to using this type of connection, which include lower monthly charges
and a higher level of security. The cost difference is obvious when
comparing the $15-25 per month subscription fee for a service such
as People PC Online
 and the $45-55 per month subscription fee for services
such as
Earthlink Highspeed. In terms of security, because the connection
is not "always on" and because you are assigned a different
IP address each time, it is slightly more difficult to be attacked
over the Internet, although nothing is ever fool proof and risks still
do exist.
 The major difference between dialup and broadband connections
is in the way the connection is made from your PC to the Internet.
A dialup
service connects to the Internet through your phone line and the use
of a simple modem. That modem in your PC "calls" an ISP and
connects with a maximum speed of 56,000 bytes per second, better known
as a 56K speed connection. Each time your PC dials into the ISP, it
is assigned an Internet Protocol (IP) address, which you can think
of as an "Internet address." A different, unique IP address
is assigned at the beginning of each visit so that the ISP can recognize
your PC and make sure you can send and receive email, and surf the
Internet. In terms of hackers, in order for someone to gain access
to your computer, it would be necessary for them to know your IP to
successfully do so. The fact that your IP address constantly changes
with each subsequent connection essentially makes your Internet connection
more secure.
On the other hand, when you connect to the Internet through
a broadband connection, the process is quite different. Once your PC
is connected
to the ISP through a cable or DSL modem, it remains connected until
the cable box or DSL line is disconnected or physically unplugged.
A DSL connection runs through unused wires in your existing house phone
line without disruption and can translate data at many millions of
bytes per second, or approximately 5Mbps. Broadband services are often
referred to as "always on" services because it is not necessary
to make a setup call to your ISP each time you wish to access the Internet;
this means that once you are assigned an IP address, you keep it until
you request it to be changed or the ISP decides to do so.
Advantages
of a broadband connection can sometimes outweigh some of the disadvantages.
Personally speaking, I can't imagine any other way.
The increased connection speed allows for ease in initial connection,
duration of connection, no additional phone charges (for extra line
to your PC) that may apply in dialing into an ISP. However, if you
do choose a broadband connection, you'll need to purchase a firewall
such as McAfee
Internet Security
 ,
which we'll learn more about later-to keep your computer "invisible" to
the outside world.
If you
are still debating on which is better -- dialup or broadband, there
isn't really a clearly correct answer. This question can only
be answered by you and your specific needs and those of your family.
If you use the Internet to check email, stock quotes, and visit the
occasional website, dialup will most likely be sufficient. But if
you frequently download large media files, play games over the Internet,
have children that want to download the latest Mp3 files from companies
like Napster and Rhapsody, and view sites that are high in image
content
then you may be more inclined to go with the more reliable broadband
service.
.:Back To Connectivity:. |
