Where PC means Personal Care® · April 2004 · No. 47
DSL vs. Cable –
So What's the Difference?
Many people are considering faster Internet access these days. We so often hear "what's the difference between DSL and cable," we'll try to make it a little clearer here.
Dedicated Versus Shared Access
Physically, a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) uses an existing telephone line. Consequently, in order to get DSL you must get your phone service from a company that provides DSL access (like Qwest). Cable uses the same line as cable TV. The most important difference, however, is the way the information is sent to and from the user (you) to the Internet provider's equipment.
With DSL, information goes through a dedicated line to a central-office point of presence (POP). This is called a point-to-point connection. Cable uses a broadcast connection where all data for everyone in your local neighborhood is sent to everyone. This difference in technology affects two of the most important differences to the end user: speed and security.
Security
With a DSL point-to-point connection, your bandwidth is precisely that – yours, both in terms of how much data you can send and receive, and also in terms of who sees it. With a cable modem, everybody in your neighborhood is receiving the same information at the same time-packets destined for your cable modem (and ultimately your computer) are also sent to every nearby subscriber's home or office. Computers are configured to examine these packets and determine that they are not intended for them and to discard them. However, it is possible to change this configuration and "capture the traffic" of fellow cable customers.
As John C. Dvorak of PC Magazine wrote, "The problem with cable modems is that they are really network connections. Any two-way cable modem system opens the network users to complete vulnerability. I've already chatted with a friend who put a network snooping tool on his cable modem-based Internet connection; he said it was interesting to see what (his neighbor) down the street was downloading in the wee hours."
What about one's credit card information? Who might be sharing that?
Articles may be found on the Internet telling people how to alter their computers to see what else is coming through. The good news is that you can easily set up ways to overcome such a breach of your privacy. Firewalls such as Zone Alarm and Norton will protect your information from the prying eyes of intruders. (These products are available at Quidnunc.)
Speed
First some terminology. Downstream is the speed data is sent to you; upstream is what you send to others. Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be sent. (Think of the size of the pipe or width of the highway used to send and receive data.)
Cable companies claim downstream speeds of up to 3mps and upstream speeds of 256 kps. Although the slower upstream speed may be acceptable to most residential users, most businesses need equal or similar speed both ways. Also, computers using cable Internet share a common network at the neighborhood level. This means that as more people in a neighborhood acquire and use cable modems, overall performance in the neighborhood can deteriorate, especially during evening hours when residential use of the Internet peaks. No matter how wide we build a freeway, rush hour traffic is always slower. This explains why many game players (who are usually most active in the evenings) have quit sluggish cable connections and switched to DSL.
Qwest has recently made some changes to its DSL service that may have a dramatic effect on people's Internet connection choices. In terms of price, Qwest has cut the cost of its lowest speed 256K by 30% to only $15/month. On the high end, not only did Qwest drop its price but also it more than doubled the speed from 640K to 1.5 Mbits per second with an upstream speed of 896K (over three times faster than cable).
Reliable and Affordable DSL With Quidnunc
Most of us have cable in our homes for viewing television. Occasionally there are service interruptions, and while most of us may accept instances of poor quality and interruptions in our home entertainment, our business needs will not tolerate an unreliable connection.
In terms of reliability, Quidnunc has experienced over 99.9% uptime in the 7 years we have been providing DSL service.
When I last checked, cable cost $42.95 plus the cost of the modem. With DSL, your rate may depend on your choice of ISP. Quidnunc charges $19.95 per month, regardless of the speed you select from Qwest. This means that 256K service is $34.95 and is discounted if you pay quarterly or annually in advance. 1.5Mb service is $47.95 per month. Quidnunc also has an introductory offer where you have no ISP charge for the first 3 months.
| Want to record your music? Burn a CD? QUIDNUNC has everything you need! |
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Bill's Neat Find
The Epson Stylus Photo R300
With cost-saving individual ink cartridges, plus connectivity for both Windows and Macintosh systems, this remarkable performer offers an easy, affordable solution for all your photo imaging needs.
The printer uses 6 individual ink tanks. You get brilliant photo colors, economically. (You only have to buy the tank you're out of.) Priced at $199, with ink tanks priced at less than $19 for black and less than $14 for color, this printer is the perfect companion for your digital camera. Not only will it do border-free photos, but you can print directly onto a CD or DVD. (You can actually print ON disks with a special coated top surface.) You can also edit and print images without a computer using a USB port or the built-in card slots that accept Compact Flash Type I and II, SmartMedia, Memory Sticks, Secure Digital and several other memory cards.
Featured in this newsletter:
· DSL vs. Cable
· Bill's Neat Find
· Family Bundles
Rewards Shoppers
· Quidnunc on the Radio
· West Seattle Street Festival
· We've Grown Up!
· Spring Cleaning Deals
· Attention Game Players!
Also:
Coupons
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Quidnunc on the RadioStarting May 8th, Quidnunc will be running spot commercials on the Kim Kommando show on 100.7 The Buzz. Visit The Buzz, to learn more about the Kim Kommando show. |
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West Seattle Street Festival This July
It's probably not too soon to mention that the West Seattle Street Festival is coming up on July 9, 10 and 11. Everyone is talking about a campy fifties science fiction theme. Once again we'll be offering digital photographs, a demonstration of wireless networking and an opportunity to play two of the newest games on a network in our store.
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We've grown up!
We're not just your little neighborhood store anymore. In addition to the increased floor and inventory space afforded by our new location, we have a much greater range of products and services available, especially for our business customers.
Two commercial customers, Project Corps and Highline Hand Therapy selected Quidnunc to help them move into new quarters. In each case we provided new computers and the expertise necessary to install and implement new networking capabilities. Pacific Maritime Institute, a company that provides training for future ship captains, selected Quidnunc to provide 10 high-end computers to run their ship-simulation hardware and software.
While our roots will always be with the home computer user, we are proud to be able to offer products and services to small businesses as well.
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Spring Cleaning Deals
It's spring and we're cleaning house. From now until we take inventory (May 16) many items in the store will be on sale. Look for great deals on older software titles, hardware items and accessories that haven't moved as fast as we would like – and some things we would just like to move so we don't have to count them.
Due to Mother's Day, inventory and a staff retreat we will be closed Sundays in May ONLY.
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Attention Game Players!
Half-Life 2 and The Sims 2 both ship on June 30.
Newest Arrivals
Action adventure category:
- Unreal Tournament 2004
- Battlefield Vietnam
- Counter Strike Condition Zero
- Sacred
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
For the more cerebral, we have CSI:
- Dark Motives
For more light-hearted action, grab your Banana Bomb, Flying Super Sheep or Holy Hand Grenade and prepare to wreak havoc in Worms 3D!
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Family Bundles
Rewards Shoppers
Family Bundles is a shop-locally program that rewards customers for buying from local merchants. The percentages may vary store to store, but customers receive points based on the size of their purchases, which ultimately convert into cash rewards in terms of a monthly check from Family Bundles. Local merchants also work together to promote local business, and the merchants get money back from one another's purchases. An additional percentage goes to a local non-profit agency such as the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. It's a win-win situation for everybody. If you don't already have a Family Bundles shopping card, please pick yours up at Quidnunc the next time you are in the Junction.
| Custom-built Computers! Games! Productivity! Utilities! Modems! CD-ROM! |
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Attention Mac users!
We received a large quantity of older productivity titles - most from Adobe. PageMaker, GoLive and other products are still available. Check out the website for more details.
Quick Reminders
Remember to bring in empty ink jet and laser toner cartridges. Keep them out of the landfills!
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We will recycle old computers, printers and monitors for a nominal fee of $15/computer or monitor, and $5/printer.
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