Understanding High-Speed Internet: How to Decide Which Download Speed is Best For You

Picture this - it's late and you realize as you're falling asleep that you forgot to send an important presentation to your boss, the kind of important that is supposed to be on their desk by 8:00 a.m. Ever been there? I know I have, and there is nothing more frustrating than being in absolute dire need to use your high-speed internet, and receiving a painful lesson in the life of a dial-up user. Just as important is knowing that your high-speed connection can be upgraded at a reasonable cost to you and your family.

It can be confusing when faced with several options for high-speed service, and not being sure what exactly the differences are between the 1.5 Mbps, 3.0 Mbps and 6.0 Mbps speeds common with many Internet services. If you are in our system, upon entering your address, you may be unsure of which speed is most appropriate for your specific needs. You may be a serious online gamer, online-business owner or a very protective parent looking to provide safe and secure Internet for you children. Regardless of your Internet requirements, there are a few distinct differences between each speed, so I've listed a few below to help you decide which is best.

768 Kbps

• Price: Basic high-speed service for those on a strict budget.


• If you are simply looking for a connection that provides reliable Internet for basic searching, school projects, e-mail and browsing common sites, this speed will deliver reasonable download times that are still much faster than dial up.


• Not ideal for downloading large picture, video or music files

1.5 Mbps

• Price: Ideal for those on a tight budget who want to download a bit more aggressively than a basic high-speed customer.


• Ample download speeds for searching sites, receiving e-mails and downloading songs, though I wouldn't recommend trying multiple media downloads with this connection. A single four minute song will generally download in less than a minute.


• Upload speeds for sending files and e-mails are a bit tight, so if you are an aspiring YouTube videographer, upgrading would be a wise choice.

3.0 Mbps

• Price: Reasonable prices are available, as Internet providers often offer special deals and incentives with 3.0 Mbps packages and above.


• Ideal for all of the above listed downloading, as well as watching streaming video and television.


• Provides a solid online gaming experience


• Faster upload speeds for posting pictures and video on sites like Myspace and YouTube, as well as the ability to check your email and multi-task while still surfing other sites. Having multiple windows open with basic high-speed can really bog down your Internet experience.

6.0 Mbps

• Generally the most expensive option, though as previously mentioned, many companies offer special incentives like cash back for the 3.0 Mbps packages and above. The reason for the higher pricing is simple: You are certainly paying for the advantages of download speed up to four times faster than 1.5 mbps, giving you the ability to watch, surf, download and multi-task to your heart's desire.


• Better gaming experience with faster uploads for hosting online matches.


• Download, watch movies online, download entire albums and so much more. While the price may turn some away, the combination of download speeds and special deals for upgrading to the top-of-the-line speeds make this an ideal option for just about any Internet customer.

Change Your Address Online: It's Fast and Free!

I recently moved to a new place and had never gone through the process of having to change my address. I absolutely had no clue of what needed to be done, and to be honest, did not even think of it as something that had to be done immediately.

What made me realize that this was a high priority was after a credit card company called me saying I did not pay my last month's bill. I argued that I had called and changed my address with a representative, but still had not received my bill at my new address. I was informed that the agent had not changed my address. Fortunately, the company was willing to waive the fee due to miscommunication on their part.

The representative then suggested going to the local post office to guarantee all my mail was sent to the new address, and suggested using the Internet to implement the change. I needed the easiest and quickest solution available, and definitely did not want to have to experience any more surprises in the form of late fees.

Through Google, I landed on a website that allowed me to change my address with the United States Postal Service (USPS) for FREE! I also received a 10% coupon from The Home Depot. The process was fast and absolutely painless.

I would recommend this service to anyone who doesn't have time to wait in line at the post office during their lunch hour, and who wants to prevent any creditors calling them due to unnecessary late fees! In fact, changing the address online was so simple that I suggest it be one of the early tasks you accomplish during your move planning.

Beware of the Big Bad Moving Broker

With the advent of the internet there have been more opportunities to take advantage of consumers. People use brokers for everything from finances to our energy needs, so why not use a broker for other events in our lives? Well, one of the newest scams being utilized is moving brokers.

According to the recent Census Bureau, 39.8 million people in the United States moved within the previous in 2006. This means that a huge portion of the population had the same needs. Knowing this, would-be criminals have developed a way to monetize the industry by using the internet to prey on people's desire to save time and money.

Traditionally, moving brokers help the consumer to shop the local competition to find the best rate for the customer's move. However, recently some moving brokers have been devising methods to take advantage of that customer. Some work directly with a moving company. The mover will provide a bid lower than industry standard, so the customer uses his company for the move. The furniture is loaded, but before arriving at the new location the mover requests additional money from the customer for the move and holds hostage all property until this is made. Customers find that they can no longer contact their broker, and are forced to pay for their own belongings.

Crooked brokers also utilize another scam to dupe consumers. They require a customer to submit a down payment to lock in a price. When thinking of the cost of a state-to-state move, the cost savings can be extraordinary, which is why a consumer is apt to buy into an extremely reasonable rate. Those moving interstate are also more likely to plan weeks or even months in advance, so by the time they contact the broker again, they are nowhere to be found—phones are disconnected and websites are no longer available. When dealing with an internet-based company that is individually run, there is no way of knowing their location and who to look for when problems arise.

Now here's the good news! There are many reputable moving companies and methods to get a good qualified moving lead from an internet-based company.

• A consumer should use a reputable lead source. Check for credibility. Are they a member of the BBB (Better Business Bureau)?
• Are you able to get the estimate/quote in writing?
• Is the company you chose licensed? This can be checked online with the Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
• Do not pay up front for a price guarantee. Most reputable companies will not require a payment until the day of the move.
• Shop around. Make sure to contact an aggregate that will get several estimates.
• Be honest. Moving companies are allowed to charge more than the estimated price if the consumer was not honest about what actually needed to be moved. By law they are not required to itemize the extra expense or weigh the additional items.

With a few simple, extra steps we can protect ourselves from moving scams.

Coffee and Free WiFi: The Two Don't Always Mix

Just the other day I was at my local coffee shop to have my daily fix of a "triple soy vanilla latte," and decided to finish up responding to some high-priority e-mails for work.

As I started to sip my ambrosia, I noticed that I was unable to catch an automatic signal for the Internet, so I opened up my Internet connection to see what was available. I found the coffee shop's wireless network and clicked connect. It prompted me to enter the WPA Network Key, which I kindly asked the cashier for. She cheerfully informed me that I had to pay $10 per day (but it's unlimited use—ha) to use their wireless service. No way!

I gathered my things and decided to find a FREE WiFi Hot Spot near by. Then zing! I remembered finding a Web site that allows you to search for free WiFi networks in your area. I was also able to download the program for free on my iPod which now seems extremely convenient!

The neat thing about the WiFi locator is that it allows you to search locations by what type of environment or category you want—i.e. cafe, bookstore, airport, etc. So I turned my 30 GB iPod on and found the nearest WiFi location. I would definitely recommend all laptop users to keep this page handy at all times. It's a must-have!

Tips To Keep Your Home Safe When Traveling

Every time you turn on the news you are reminded of dangers that surround you. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that home robbery is down over time, but has increased over last year in many parts of the country. This would be a good time to remind people of simple ways to safeguard your home while you're away.

Remember that if a home has the appearance of being occupied, would be robbers are often deterred. There are many easy ways to make it look like someone's home. Here are a couple of the top ways to avoid making your home an easy target:

• Get a timer for your lights for about $25 at a hardware store, so that some lights will turn on when you are out. Also, make sure to leave your blinds in an every-day position.
• Rely on your neighbors and friends for help. Have someone pick up your mail, newspapers, flyers and any deliveries that could arrive when you are out. A simple door hanger sitting for days is an obvious sign your home is unoccupied. You can even have your mail and newspaper deliveries stopped in your absence.
• Make sure that your answering machine message is general; don't notify people that you won't be home for some time.
• Most homes with alarms are hit when the alarm is off, so make sure to turn on your alarm before you leave. Home security is a definite deterrent for would-be robbers. Some companies offer customers the ability to enable and disable their alarms from a cell phone, and to receive emails if there is any activity when you're out of the house. When choosing a home security company, be certain that their services meet your needs and that they will available when you need them most.

Direct Energy Signs Deal to Increase Wind Portfolio

What is to be one of the largest wind farms constructed by AES Corp. in the U.S.—Abilene's Buffalo Gap 3 and its 524 megawatt capacity— will help Houston-based utility Direct Energy add 170 megawatts to its current wind portfolio. Operations are expected to begin in mid-2008 as part of the new seven-year deal between AES and Direct Energy.

"The Buffalo Gap 3 expansion will allow AES to continue developing renewable energy sources in West Texas, benefiting the local economy through the creation of new jobs and an increased tax base," said Ryan Pfaff, Managing Director, AES Wind Generation. "We are also pleased to further expand our relationship with Direct Energy, a world-class organization that shares our commitment to the West Texas wind market."

Direct Energy's total renewable energy purchases will increase to 813 megawatt with the new agreement—enough to power 200,000 Texas homes and offset nearly 2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.