DSL, Broadband Cable or Dial Up ISP, Which is Right for You?

The internet is a wonderful thing. We can do so much online. We can shop. We can chat with our friends. We can make more friends. We can pay our bills. But the internet can also be confusing. Case in point, deciding what ISP provider to use.

The following is a brief summary of some of the popular ISP providers. Which one is the best for you? It is up to your needs, your price range and if the said providers can provide service in your area.

First in cable broadband services Cox and Earthlink seems to be the top two contenders.

Consumers surveyed gave Cox high scores in performance, customer service, reliability. If you are able to install the cable modem yourself, you can even save yourself an installation fee. Subscribers to other Cox services can receive a $10 to $15 discount, too. Generally fees for Cox broadband service are around $50 a month.

For those who can't get Cox, Earthlink is another alternative in Cable broadband ISP service. Earthlink got high marks for performance, customer service and reliability. But their technical support marks slipped in the passed year. But customers did like their spam filter and other security features. Generally, fees for Earthlink's broadband service are $42 a month.

For those who want cable broadband ISP connections and can't get either Cox or Earthlink, you should know that Roadrunner and Optimum Online came in next on the list of those surveyed.

Most people will tell you that cable broadband ISP connections are faster than DSL connections. But then they will tell you that DSL connections are usually cheaper.

SBC Yahoo (soon to be changing its name to ATT after its merger) and Verizon DSL are the two top favorites. Of course, this DSL connection comes over your phone line. Availability depends on your local phone service. SBC Yahoo generally runs about $22 for the first six months and then $35 a month thereafter.