by Jeremiah Smith

Created on: October 21, 2008

Internet connections come in many different speeds, protocols and prices. Trying to find the best fit for any user is dependant upon a few different factors. The first, and perhaps the most important, among these questions is, what options are available in the user's area. Answering this question will whittle down the choices greatly in some areas, while it will provide no help in others.

Similarly important factors are what the user will using the Internet connection for, as well as what price point they are looking to stay within. If a consumer will only be checking e-mail and reading some news, there is no need for the highest speed offered by their ISP of choice. If, however, they will be uploading files on a regular basis as well as playing games online, then anything less than the highest speed connection will only lead to frustration. Price, of course, will always come into play when choosing a service.

TYPES OF CONNECTIONS

The most widely-used forms of high-speed Internet connections are cable and DSL service, normally offered by local cable and telephone companies, respectively. Since these services rely on a customer's proximity to their point of origin, cable and DSL connections are generally more readily available in metropolitan areas.

Starting at prices as low as $14.95 in some areas, these two services are chosen for their price and speed. Offering speeds much faster than dial-up, for not that much more money, has made them a very attractive choice for many consumers. With cable and DSL service, download speeds range from 1 Mbps for basic service, to 6 Mbps for premium service.

Dial-up is the most easily-attained service currently available, with the only requirements being a land-based phone line and a modem in the user's computer. This service can usually be sampled for an interval of up to 6 months at no charge, giving the user the opportunity to test its reliability, speed and ease of use before paying anything. The downsides with dial-up are the notoriously slow speeds, as well as difficulty canceling the service with some providers. Dial-up service can be had for as low as $9.95/month.

For customers who are unable to receive cable or DSL high-speed service (due to their location), but don't want the pains of dial-up, satellite Internet service is the service of choice. Although quite pricey when compared with the other options, it provides performance equal to cable and DSL services. The only other downside with satellite is the slow upload speeds, which are due to the way the modem communicates with ISP's server in these setups. Satellite Internet service starts at around $60 with download speeds of 1 Mbps.

Trying to decide which Internet connection to use can be a daunting task for consumers, but with a little research and some information, the best choice can be identified.

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