[lvlife]

I want to sign up for the 3MB speed century link internet service. For those with experience with it... how well does it work. Can you watch videos like on youtube without it constantly stopping/buffering?

[MediocreButArrogant]

Can't you still get 10Mbit/sec Pure DSL service from them for $30/month?

You can of course watch YouTube videos on the 3Mb/s service as YouTube videos are encoded and available in multiple resolutions, the lowest of which are encoded at very modest bitrates, easily streamable over a low speed connection. I mean, how do you think people watch YouTube videos on a 3G mobile phone? A more intelligent question would have been "What is the highest resolution YouTube video I can expect to stream reliably on CenturyLink's 3Mb/s DSL service?" 3Mb/s minus ATM and TCP/IP overhead is sufficient to stream 480p YouTube videos but marginal for 720p.

[Tires]

YouTube also has some congestion problems on their end at times. I have had slow, stuttering YouTube playback on a fast connection when there was no streaming or download problems at other sites at the time. The fastest Internet connection possible at your computer will not guarantee problem free YouTube playback.

[airics]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

Can't you still get 10Mbit/sec Pure DSL service from them for $30/month?

You can of course watch YouTube videos on the 3Mb/s service as YouTube videos are encoded and available in multiple resolutions, the lowest of which are encoded at very modest bitrates, easily streamable over a low speed connection. I mean, how do you think people watch YouTube videos on a 3G mobile phone? A more intelligent question would have been "What is the highest resolution YouTube video I can expect to stream reliably on CenturyLink's 3Mb/s DSL service?" 3Mb/s minus ATM and TCP/IP overhead is sufficient to stream 480p YouTube videos but marginal for 720p.

It is $50 unless you bundle

[wwu123]

Originally Posted by airics

It is $50 unless you bundle

Just got it in late March, but first time I called they said only 1.5 mbps for $30, second time when I ordered they said 10. On the bill it says $60 with $30 discount.

[MediocreButArrogant]

I just lost my promotional pricing of $30/month for 10Mbit DSL from CenturyLink. The new promotional price (with 1 year commitment) is $40/month, which is a $20/month discount. I renewed, because my Cox internet service is too unreliable to use as my primary internet connection, even though it is significantly faster. I have a VPN connection to the office up 12 hours a day with a Cisco IP phone, as well as a Vonage home phone, so it is very obvious when there is an outage, no matter how brief. With Cox I experience many more brief outages compared to CenturyLink, though most people probably wouldn't even notice.

[Trash Can]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

I just lost my promotional pricing of $30/month for 10Mbit DSL from CenturyLink. The new promotional price (with 1 year commitment) is $40/month, which is a $20/month discount. I renewed, because my Cox internet service is too unreliable to use as my primary internet connection, even though it is significantly faster. I have a VPN connection to the office up 12 hours a day with a Cisco IP phone, as well as a Vonage home phone, so it is very obvious when there is an outage, no matter how brief. With Cox I experience many more brief outages compared to CenturyLink, though most people probably wouldn't even notice.

Do you have Centurylink's Prism TV service as well? If so, can you provide some feedback? Prism isn't available in my area yet, but is supposed to be here "soon". It looks like a promising alternative to Cox.

[airics]

i just switched from Cox also this week.. 10mbps $19.95 with the unlimited calling plan $44.95.. minus a $5 discount for Directv = 54.90 Guaranteed price for 5 years.. no commitment from me... Yes it's a bit slower than Cox but the reliability of Cox is internet was marginal at best .. especially around 6pm.... I had the Cox 10mbps and phone.. was running me 90 a month.

[laso]

We just had century link sale ppl knocked on our door tonight. Try to sale me a package of prism tv, 10 mbp internet and unlimited call plan for $109 plus tax.(cox $125 plus tax ) I was gonna switch from cox to century link two weeks ago. But their priceing about the same with cox but you get 10 mbp instead of 13 mbp from cox. And land line is better nationalwide(unlimited). But then they told me there is a activation fee for phone line and internet $60. Then i told them no thanks. They offered me $150 gift card after three months .I asked about prism tv they said not as good as hd but close.
I might switch in Nov when price change again after 6 months(cox). Keep that in mind cox price only good for 6 months .You have to call and ask for any special again.

[airics]

Originally Posted by laso

We just had century link sale ppl knocked on our door tonight. Try to sale me a package of prism tv, 10 mbp internet and unlimited call plan for $109 plus tax.(cox $125 plus tax ) I was gonna switch from cox to century link two weeks ago. But their priceing about the same with cox but you get 10 mbp instead of 13 mbp from cox. And land line is better nationalwide(unlimited). But then they told me there is a activation fee for phone line and internet $60. Then i told them no thanks. They offered me $150 gift card after three months .I asked about prism tv they said not as good as hd but close.
I might switch in Nov when price change again after 6 months(cox). Keep that in mind cox price only good for 6 months .You have to call and ask for any special again.

No activation fees for me