Dial Up or High Speed Internet?

When it comes to inexpensive internet access, there are two options: low cost dial up or high speed broadband Internet access.

Dial Up Internet Access

• Lowest cost
• Used on a single computer
• For light to moderate use
• Will tie up the phone line
• Slow download speeds

For browsing, email and the occasional download, standard or accelerated dial up Internet access is the cheaper option and provides reasonable service at a lower cost.

Dial up Internet service requires that a phone number be dialed in order to be connected to the Internet so before choosing a dial up internet provider, make sure they provide a local phone number so you won't incur any long distance charges. Otherwise you'll be paying the internet provider and the phone company.

High Speed Internet Access

• More expensive
• Can be used on multiple computers
• Good for heavy internet usage
• Will not tie up the phone line
• Much faster download speeds

For connecting to the Internet from multiple computers simultaneously or for heavy Internet usage, consider a broadband high speed connection.

Surfing the Internet using a standard dial up connection is painfully slow. Broadband high speed Internet access is practically a necessity if you're using the Internet for anything more than email and browsing.

Because broadband Internet access doesn't use a telephone connection, you're always connected to the Internet without dialing and tying up your phone line. This may be a disadvantage if you travel often and need Internet access away from home. You can dial up from anywhere but high speed broadband access is often fixed to your home via a cable, DSL, or satellite connection.

Many people often maintain both a high speed Internet account for home use and a cheap dial-up account with nationwide coverage for accessing the Internet when traveling.