Cable Modem Questions

[Jenni]

1. Is there such a thing as a PCMCIA cable modem? (All I have as a home computer is my laptop...maybe it is time for a "real" computer at home?) If so, how much?
2. I thought downloads were limited to 53K anyway, or is this strictly over phone lines?

The local cable company is starting to offer cable service in my area. A friend told me that it is going to be $39.95 a month.

[HAL9000]

You will need a PCMCIA Ethernet adapter. Cable modems are not restricted to 53K, but actual downloads will depend on your ISP.

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If it ain't broke, you're not pushing hard enough!

[Smoke24]

Like Hal said, you will need a PCMCIA ethernet adapter which will attach to an external cable modem, usually supplied by the cable company. I'm spoiled and don't think I could ever go back to dial up again. It is $39.95 well spent. I got rid of an extra phone line and my old ISP and the speed is unbelievable especially with the tweak from speedguide.net. Downloads that took up to an hour before with 56K are now done in a couple of minutes.

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Take Smoke's advice as fact if it works and fiction if it don't!!!

[Jenni]

My laptop does have USB, but I'm running Win95 and have had nothing but problems with it.
A friend said that cable is great as long as you're the only one on it, said you share bandwidth with everyone else...true?

[glc]

Jenni: Very true. Cable is shared bandwidth and it has security issues too. You have to have a software firewall. In your situation you would be better off with a PCMCIA network card rather than USB. Instead of cable, you might want to investigate DSL if it's available in your area, but do *not* get it from the local phone company - get it from a 3rd party provider that doesn't require you to run login software and does it all with hardware.

[USMale]

Actually I'm no technical expert on the configuration of computers, however I am aware that if your computer has a USB port then most cable companies have adapter's that will convert without any additional expense. With your particular situation using a laptop as a desk top this is probably the ideal situation because all USB is hot swap capable & convenient

[Omletteboy]

That's true, my cable company will try to install usb ethernet adapters for everyone cuz they don't want to be liable for causing damage to the clients computer when they take a part the case and install a traditional nic.

[danzigrules]

If you are going to get @home go for the nic card! I had to have them change my usb nic 3 times before they put in the pci nic. They told me that the usb nics have been nothing but trouble for them!!