for the computer geeks- I need help

[krunchie]

Many many differences besides the cost, download and speed ...

youve lost me now- how do you mean

[David]

Many many differences besides the cost, download and speed ...

youve lost me now- how do you mean

I mean there's a lot more that goes into an ISP than just those three things.

Support - how quick etc.
Downtime - will you be able to go online all the time or close to it
Links/connection - how does your ISP connect to the Internet
Other things - newsgroups etc that you might want access to

I could go out and start an ISP tomorrow and tell you an account with identical specs as you wrote - but I wouldn't have support, my connections would be average etc.

[bennymacca]

i am with adam internet, and i reckon that they are very good, in both price and what they offer.

i am not sure if you have a credit (or a debit card), but if you go with adam, the only payment option is direct devit from a credit card.

this is probably one of the only downsides with adam, but if you afe comfortable paying this way (as i am), then its all good.

if you are only doing general stuff, then 512K 5 gig would probably be ideal (this is what i got the inlaws to sign up on)

in answers to david's questions

support - support is very good im my opinion, and the telephone operators are there to 10pm weeknights, and they are in adelaide, which is always good.

downtime - i have been with adam for about 5 years now, and the internet has never been down for more than about 3 hours. when i moved house, they were a little slow in transferring my connection, but a few exra days didn't kill me

links/connection - seems good to me. the closer to the exchange you are, the better

newsgroups - i dont use them, so i can't really comment

[David]

links/connection - seems good to me. the closer to the exchange you are, the better

I mean more so from the ISP to the "world".. not from you to the exchange.

And yes, Adam are good.

[Bacon]

Dave, for the average computer use HOW they link/connect to the intermahnets isn't important.. nor would be newsgroups.

Downtime, yes. Support, yes. But I would think, both Adam & Internode would have fairly good support centres, and low downtimes, due to the size & name of them.

Krunchie, I got Adam on no contract, paying an amount upfront, cos of my distance from the phone exchange. If I hadn't had that issue, contract would've been my way, cos seriously, do you really change providers all that often. And if it's only 12 months, that's pretty easy to suffer through (if the support/downtime/newsgroups access isn't up to your standard)

[bennymacca]

I mean more so from the ISP to the "world".. not from you to the exchange.

oh ok. i wouldn't have a clue to be honest.

And yes, Adam are good.

from what i heard around the traps when i was at uni, 90% of the people were either with adam or indernode.


The best advice i could offer, is
WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T GO WITH BIGPOND

[stevo]

For me the just the lack of a contract would be enough to choose Internode

However as has been mentioned there are also many other things to consider. Internode provides a lot of free content (i.e. that doesn't count towards your monthly quota) and access to a "premium" newsgroup server (if you don't know what that is then you probably don't care). Quality of service etc. are also very important and this is where Internode excels (user feedback, survey results etc. all show this). Internode has a proven track record in providing a stable, top quality network and links/connection to the Internet (i.e. connection to the USA etc. where most websites are hosted). However you are free to choose whoever you want. Adam are certainly a good ISP, and you will most likely be very happy with them, they are just not as good as Internode

Is a router the same as a modem
i was thinking about a wireless modem, internode have their hardware as routers (open 625w) is this the same thing

As for the modem/router question, a modem gets you an ADSL "connection" that you can then "connect" to another device (which could be a router or a single computer). A router basically lets you share a network connection between multiple computers. The "routers" that Internode sell are actually modem/routers, so they are a modem and a router built in to the one device. If you only have one computer you probably don't care but a modem/router lets you share your ADSL between multiple wired computers (i.e. it "routes" the connection between the computers). The hardware Internode provides are modem/routers, which are usually called routers for short, confusing I know but hopefully that explains it.

[Chelsea4thewin]

stevo do u get commission by signing up new customers

[Hans_Gruber]

The best advice i could offer, is
WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T GO WITH BIGPOND

I've been using Bigpond cable for years and never had any problems, happy with the service and speeds.

Mind you, if it's just web surfing and online poker you're using it for, an unlimited download cable connection would be a considerable waste.

[bennymacca]

i bet you are paying through the nose for that though hans?