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New computers have always had to be more powerful, less expensive, and smaller in size – this is the nature of the upgrading game. The internet is growing at a similar pace, and our ability to interact with it is regulated by the speed at which we connect. Of course, once connected to the Internet, a computer is often restricted in speed not by hardware or software, but the connection speed by which the computer “speaks” to the world wide web – this can often be tedious. The fastest computer in the world is still going to be limited by the upload and download speeds of its connection. Of course, this little dilemma is taken quite seriously by individuals and companies wanting faster and faster connections. Instead of taking 0.6 seconds to open that favorite website, a faster connection means it may only take 0.4 seconds. The faster and faster we go, and where we stop, no one knows. One thing is for sure in this ever changing technological world – the faster the connection offered, the happier the customer. Recently, many broadband service providers have started offered 22 megs worth of speed for the customer to enjoy super fast connections. UK Online offers download speeds up to 22Mb, and upload speeds up to 786k. The customer gets unlimited online time and unlimited downloads. What do you pay? Only £24.99 per month, and the customer is required to purchase a special ADSL2+ Wireless Router by Netgear for £59.99. Maybe you asked the same question I did before I learned of these mega fast speeds: ‘What could anyone possibly do with 20+Mb of download speed’? Well, after careful consideration and a short trial, I decided 20+Mb is not only “nice” to have, it is a necessity. Looking at the changes in the broadband market over the last few years, it really is amazing to see how far the service has come. Imagine being able to watch a streaming video or movie while a spouse plays an online game without any of the dreaded “lag” that is a nuisance to anyone accessing the Internet; imagine being able to listen to streaming music on two computers while playing some cards and both of the children are instant messaging their friends pictures of their day at the beach. With 22Mb of speed, everyone in a household can enjoy internet access without slowing down or experiencing “lag”. Of course, not everyone is going to get the same speed or service. There are many factors that come into play, and the majority of those factors are well beyond human control. For instance, how far away your home is from the local broadband station will affect the quality of the line; the quality of the line itself with affect the speed by which you access the internet. The better the line, and the closer the station, the faster speed you will experience. Another factor is unfortunately those pesky environmental factors such as weather and altitude. There are many factors controlling how fast your Internet access will be, but any Internet service provider will inform you of the approximate speed and service once it is determined at connection. If an Internet service provider did not inform you of an approximate speed or service, asking will usually do the trick. There are tests that can be performed that will give an estimate of the quality of the line and the speed of the service once installed. Do you need 22megs of broadband? Well, if 8megs was impressive, imagine what 22megs or more will be. Maybe 22megs is a bit much for a single computer as it’s unlikely, unless you’re regularly downloading many huge files, that you’ll ever reach capacity, but for home networks 22megs offers more bandwidth to each computer without interfering encroaching on and affecting another person’s download speeds. More people can have more uninterrupted access making for better quality and more fun in the long run. Is it worth it? For those with a need, the answer is most definitely and astounding yes.
Staff editor, Broadband Section, April 2007 |
