Any advice on what kind of internet service? (house, live)

[maineguy8888]

I'm a newbie at getting home internet........
To be brief, we have a new desktop that is one room away from the phone jack. It sounds like Time Warner Roadrunner is really fast and reliable, but it costs more (and running a cable would require going from one end of the house to the other). We don't need SUPER fast.
What about wireless? Do folks have any advice about that?
Right now are leaning towards Fairpoint or something like that. We can try them for a month and see how it works, they said.
Pioneer said they would run a line from the phone jack to the computer, which would be more reliable than wireless. They're also reasonably priced.

We do know we don't want dial up!

[Northern Maine Land Man]

I have wireless DSL from Fairpoint at home and at camp. (I know; That's just wrong at camp.) At Home Im have a 100 foot ethernet cable for my HP so you can go both ways. My HP is a LOT slower than my Mac.

[broadbill]

Either way, I'd do wireless. Regardless of what internet service provider (ISP) you choose, they will most likely charge you to install the wireless when they come to install the internet. You can do it yourself almost as easily.

As for which ISP to go with, keep in mind that the speed at which DSL comes in at your house depends how far away you are from the DSL "node". Time Warner on the other hand has pretty much the same speed regardless of where you live. Consider that as well as price and go from there.

Good luck!

[maineguy8888]

Thanks for the info, just wondered if any one has found the extra cost for Time Warner to be worth the extra speed?

[FNolan]

I have RoadRunner, I've has it for several years now. Had it in Kansas City and now here in Maine when I moved here in Sept. Haven't had a problem with it. I do have wireless, wouldn't be without it now. Again, never have had a problem with it. Only you can decide if the extra cost is worth it to you. I'm spoiled now having had it so long.

[maineguy8888]

Thanks again, what is it about wireless that folks like so much??

[FNolan]

Simple, No Wires The wife and I both have laptops so we can take them anywhere inside and some areas outside and not have to drag a cord around. We have internet access everywhere. Even with a table top computer it's having not to have to run wires across the room because where your service comes into the house isn't near where you want to set your computer up.

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by maineguy8888

Thanks for the info, just wondered if any one has found the extra cost for Time Warner to be worth the extra speed?

I have had RoadRunner for years, from the time I first moved to a place where it was available. Previous to that, it was dial up, but that was more the norm back then.

RoadRunner in OR, TX, NC and now in ME... and I specifically rejected otherwise wonderful places when I was land/house hunting here in ME, where TimeWarner did not offer service.

Of course, I work in Internet and print design and my SO is a gamer so we need not only fast, but also dead on reliable service. And for all that, I think RR is worth it. We take basic cable, as we are not into TV, have Vonage for phone service and couldn't be happier.

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by maineguy8888

Thanks again, what is it about wireless that folks like so much??

Not everyone likes wireless... we have a router that can run wired or wireless and unless I have a NEED to run the laptop from the front room or something, we run wired. It is faster, more reliable and more secure. Cannot game on it and we will not do online baking/shopping wireless, even with our secure router.

[maineguy8888]

Okay, sorry to keep asking so many questions (and thanks for all the info!). We have a new desktop system, which is a pretty robust system. We do not play any games at all, but I'll do some music downloading.
So is there much point in getting Roadrunner, or is not worth it? What do you think?