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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.






