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On the other hand, if you are like most users and have more inbound traffic than outbound, then ADSL, which "throttles" the outbound speed while maximizing inbound speed may be more appropriate.

One of the primary advantages of DSL is that it utilizes the standard telephone lines that exist in most homes. This means that DSL is available in many areas where other cable and fiber optic connections do not yet exist. Additionally, DSL service connects the client directly to the ISPs network, and thus the advertised bandwidth is actually dedicated to the customer rather than being the maximum possible speed as occurs with cable internet connections. ADSL service is generally very affordable, and in some cases can be less expensive than dial-up services.

If you have only one or two computers connected to the internet, and you do not send or receive many files (or download many movies), then DSL is probably a good solution for you. If you will be performing a lot of downloads, or you have numerous users, then even a business class DSL (remember that SDSL we talked about?) will probably leave you wishing you had chosen something else.

CABLE:

One of the most prevalent internet connections in urban America is through the cable company. In terms of raw bandwidth and speed, cable connections probably have the highest possible speeds for typical consumers. In some cases, cable ISPs can provide internet access at or above the speeds that we used to find "normal" on our own internal network.

However, there are two drawbacks to cable connections. The first is that a cable connection is also a shared connection. When you connect your computer to the internet, you are connecting to a segment that may have little to no protection from your neighbors who also happen to be on the same segment. This is a minor issue as most cable modems come with a built-in firewall and may use various types of encryption to prevent nosy neighbors from peeking into your personal home network. The second disadvantage is similar to the first in that your bandwidth via cable connection is shared with all others who connect to the same cable access point. This means that if a company promises you a "maximum" bandwidth of 10 Mb/sec, you may see that at low usage times, but the normal bandwidth available may be significantly less. Most cable companies "throttle" your upload speed as well (similar to ADSL) to maximize the bandwidth available for downloads.

In general, I would recommend a cable connection to

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