NEED ADVICE: Replacing my Cable ISP when I dump my Cablevision 12/7

[bettyellen]

There are afew things to keep in mind:
My computer is a Mac.
I don't have a land (telephone) line, and would prefer to keep it that way, if possible.
Are any of these modem connecting ones at all fast these days anyway? They were pretty awful a few years back!
I am so damned used to the high speed connection, I don't know if I can be happy slowing down.
I am currently involved in a job search, so I need it to be really user friendly as well as reliable.
I need to know what the best alternate ISP's are available in the NJ area.... and also I guess the worst, I'd like to hear your horror stories as well!

Thanks y'all!

[shoopnyc123]

1. You're not TIme Warner Cable?

It's the only option in NYC...I think you can get just the DSL on a land line, but I'm not sure...

[bettyellen]

4. I have Optimum Online/Cablevisionin N.J.

I think it'll be abou 50 $ a month when I dump the cable, it's like 35$ now.

[NMDemDist2]

2. we had good luck with satellite internet before we switched to cable

http://www.starband.com/wheretobuy/resultzip.asp

this is a site i found quickly with google, you may want to research a bit more

download is fast, upload is slower

[livinbella]

3. cable ISP might still be your best bet

I would look carefully before switching.
You would hate dial-up after having cable
and I don't think you would save with broadband DSL.
If you tell cable you are thinking of switching
they might give you the current special deal.

[bettyellen]

9. good idea! thanks!

[BlueEyedSon]

5. Get verizon, they are running a sweet deal

3meg down, 768 up
29.99 on top of your reg phone bill
comes with a modem/router/hub/firewall/WiFi
"NY Metro Plan"
I got it in NJ, very fast!

http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/56667

[bettyellen]

7. really, thank you !

thanks for the link!

[Atman]

6. We did a lot of research in this area

when compiling our Blue Resources list. It turns out only Earthlink is dem-friendly. And they're very tight with Apple, too.

NotBannedYet

Timbuk3.com

Timb did virtually all of the ISP research, as he tried to switch also.

[bettyellen]

8. thanks for the links...

[TO Kid]

10. A couple of options

Ask your telco about their DSL offerings. Even though the rated speed is lower, at peak times the throughput is better than cable because the bandwidth on cable is shared by all the users in the neighbourhood. Also, find out if your area has a wireless provider- I use a microwave service for TV (satellite receiver with a dish pointed at a ground-based transmitter) and they offer high-speed internet service.

[bettyellen]

11. great idea--- thanks!

[NMDemDist2]

14. yes that is what I was talking about

the satellite thingy

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

12. Answers...

I can't provide all of the info you need, but here's some starter info:

>My computer is a Mac.

Shouldn't matter, as long as you're using a recent OS (late OS9 or OSX)

>I don't have a land (telephone) line, and would prefer to keep it that
>way, if possible.

DSL connections are different form regular telephone connections. I can't imagine it would be hard to get one without the other.

>Are any of these modem connecting ones at all fast these days anyway?
>They were pretty awful a few years back!

Seriously, don't bother. Go with DSL. Even if it costs more, it's worth the money, especially if...

>I am so damned used to the high speed connection, I don't know if I
>can be happy slowing down.

>I am currently involved in a job search, so I need it to be really
>user friendly as well as reliable.

Well, here's one of the main things that separates DSL from cable. There may be up to three separate companies handilng different aspects of your service. Ask around to see who's had good luck (I see there are already some posts coming in that address this point)

>I need to know what the best alternate ISP's are available in the NJ
>area.

Can't help you on that one.

Anyway, good luck!

[bettyellen]

13. wow, thank you! you broke it down for me all right!