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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Apr 5, 2008 6:59:37 GMT
wOoOoOoOoO!
This broadband is freaky! I feel like Blurr. Normally I have time to go and do stuff while waiting for pages to load, such as shave, clean my teeth, etc. Now how will I get those necessary chores done each morning???
Had a couple of glitches while setting up. The info booklet said use the Ethernet cable rather than USB. The setup software said use USB rather than Ethernet. Neither worked, so I connected the modem to the computer with both cables, and voila! Success.
Also, the software recommended I install TalkTalk's anti-virus software. I clicked OK, and it said sorry mate, can't, because you need 512MB RAM and 800MB free disk space. But I have those things, you fool!
They recommend strongly that I get myself a proper firewall. I suppose the simplest thing would be to upgrade my AVG Free to the paying version. What do people think?
Anyway, I fully intend to switch off the modem whenever I haven't got Internet Explorer open. I don't much like this "always connected" business.
Right! Better go and get my dial-up cancelled! All this whizzing around has me out of breath.
Martin
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Post by legios on Apr 5, 2008 8:08:33 GMT
They recommend strongly that I get myself a proper firewall. I suppose the simplest thing would be to upgrade my AVG Free to the paying version. What do people think? Anyway, I fully intend to switch off the modem whenever I haven't got Internet Explorer open. I don't much like this "always connected" business. Right! Better go and get my dial-up cancelled! All this whizzing around has me out of breath. Martin Welcome to the wonderful world of Broadband. It's a bit like Nucleon - faster, stronger....etc etc. I would agree that you absolutely need a Firewall, but then I was running with one when I was on dial-up as well. You could upgrade to the pro version of AVG, which would give you Adware detection and blocking as well. Or if you would rather not spend the money then I run with the free version of ZoneAlarm as my firewall, which works fairly nicely. Definitely worth getting something in the way of a firewall, and Adware detection has its uses well. You can switch your ADSL modem off? The cheapy one I was supplied with by my provider doesn't actually have an on/off switch - it starts up over USB at the same time as the laptop. (Mind you, it's a bit hinky anyway - tends to lose connection if it gets moved too much.... Karl Karl |
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Hero
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
King of RULES!
Everything Rules
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Post by Hero on Apr 5, 2008 9:06:24 GMT
Welcome to a much better internet experience Martin  ===KEN |
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 5, 2008 9:23:13 GMT
Martin was the last person I knew that was on dire-up. Chunks of my past are drifting away like icebergs!
I get by OK with AVG Free and Zone Alarm (free download). Not had any virus bother since I went with that combination. DO NOT USE NORTON. It will fook up your computer and stress you out.
-Ralph
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Apr 5, 2008 13:08:26 GMT
Endorsements from Karl and Ralph for Zone Alarm are good enough for me. I go to seek it out.
Yep, on/off switch on the back.
The installation program said "The lights on the front should look like this: green-green-nothing-nothing-green." Mine look like "green-red-nothing-red-green". But it works, so what the hey!
Hopefully, broadband will make me spend less time with the computer switched on, rather than more.
Martin
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Apr 5, 2008 13:36:48 GMT
Endorsements from Karl and Ralph for Zone Alarm are good enough for me. I go to seek it out. Downloaded and installed! Meep meep! ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! Martin |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2008 16:36:02 GMT
I've got AVG Free as my Anti-virus but I just use the bog-standard Windows Firewall as my firewall. You're absoletely right about Norton Ralph. My sister has it on her laptop after she was recommended it by Dixons (who sold it her) and it does bugger all in the way of getting rid of malicious programs that download themselves off the internet.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 5, 2008 17:30:22 GMT
What version she got ? I've got Internet Security on my desktop and am happy with it. Norton 360 on the laptop is a bit iffy.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2008 17:44:10 GMT
She's got Norton 360 Internet Security and so far its let slip several adware programs downloading themselves onto her desktop on her laptop.
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Post by legios on Apr 5, 2008 18:20:43 GMT
She's got Norton 360 Internet Security and so far its let slip several adware programs downloading themselves onto her desktop on her laptop. Norton 360 tested fairly badly in the last group test that I read. It also has the added disadvantage of being extremely heavy on system resources. I had Norton on my current laptop for a while (came preinstalled when I bought the thing). But I ditched it fairly swiftly because the performance hit that it caused was extremely irritating. Karl |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2008 18:07:54 GMT
Yer, it is a major system drain. When I had Broadband installed onto my PC last year BT gave me one years free Norton Anti-virus but when the BT installer tried to put it on he couldn't. My computer is about five years old now and the RAM on it isn't exactly too big and this was what stopped Norton from being installed on it. I had AVG installed on my PC instead and I've never looked back especially considering the bad reviews I've read about the Norton and the recent first-hand experience with my sisters laptop.
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Post by andrewbcalculating on Apr 7, 2008 9:00:41 GMT
I first got broadband when I was still living with my parents and the only reason I got it was so that I could use the internet while someone else could be on the phone. It was a bonus that I had a faster service. I don't have my internet always on as well, I'd be worried that if I have it always on I wont know how to turn it off if I needed to. I'm still on 512K broadband which is fine with me as I don't download huge amounts but I did switch my ISP recently as I was STILL paying £28 a month with Orange after being with them for over 5 years.
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 7, 2008 9:42:13 GMT
A pox on Orange!
*shakes fist*
-Ralph
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Nigel
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
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Post by Nigel on Apr 7, 2008 13:05:53 GMT
I used to use Norton (IIRC) Internet Security, then changed to 360 after a couple of years. I was amazed how much quicker the computer was with 360 (with more features) than the older software.
I switch my computer and router off at night, partly to conserve electricity and partly because the router's a few years old and now seems to like a good night's sleep or else the wireless signal drops off.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Apr 7, 2008 13:43:58 GMT
I use Norton on the pc and it's okay - well the Firewall is. The antivirus software is an absolute joke and a huge drain on the system resources.
My pc is generally switched off at night unless I am downloading something.
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 7, 2008 20:47:24 GMT
Skynet the laptop is always switched off at night. Sometimes left on during the day when I'm out if downloading something.
-Ralph
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Post by legios on Apr 7, 2008 21:19:47 GMT
I must admit my laptop is off unless I am either actively using it for something (which at the moment pretty much implies burning the word-processing oil mostly ) or I am running my periodic virus/adware/rootkit scans.
I don't leave it running when I am in my bed, or when I am out (unless I'm just nipping into the garden to check the washing or something).
The Broadband is good as I can use the internet and the phone at the same time (handy when roped in to do legwork for planning family holidays), and because it is more stable than my old dial-up connection.
Funnily enough, it still hasn't changed my opinion of some of the web-forums out there where folk have graphical sigs five or so times the size of their posts. I think that is just an ingrained habit of thought that I have carried over from the old Usenet days ("Sigs, short , pithy and to the point")
Karl
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 7, 2008 21:32:33 GMT
Big sigs piss me off. Surely there are simpler ways to say to the world: 'I have a small penis and feel somewhat insecure about it'?
One would think so.
-Ralph
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2008 15:43:18 GMT
My contract with BT Internet expires next month and I'm not thinking of renewing it and am looking around at other Internet Service Providers for a possible replacement. I have considered Virgin Media and also Sky and I was wondering if anybody here can recommend a decent ISP.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Jun 22, 2008 17:13:58 GMT
Speaking as an emmisary of the Evil Empire (ESS, KAY, WHY), you'd best check you have coverage in your area by phoning. Otherwise you could end up lumbered with BT connect.
I'm with Tiscali and have been since 2001 and not had any problems with them at all so they'd get the thumbs up from me.
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 22, 2008 19:30:22 GMT
Orange are shit.
Tiscali's service has been pretty good for me.
-Ralph
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Gav
Drone
John Travoltage!
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Post by Gav on Jun 22, 2008 20:39:50 GMT
I'm with Virgin, and despite hearing varying reports from people - I've had nothing but joyous times.
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jun 22, 2008 22:53:16 GMT
Haven't had any problems as yet with TalkTalk.
Martin
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2008 16:39:51 GMT
Thanks for all of these options and I shall consider them when the time comes to switch over.
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Post by grahamthomson on Jun 25, 2008 11:48:17 GMT
We recently moved to Virgin Media from BT as we had no end of troubles with BT. Aside from some initial confusion with Virgin (they tried to install the telly but only wanted the internet) everything has been fantastic. The service is never out and the broadband speeds are averaging about 18Meg most of the time.
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Post by bertie on Nov 26, 2009 10:35:30 GMT
Hello lads and lasses,
I need your advice.
Given that I already have a mobile phone for phone calls. Would it be preferable to just get a mobile internet dongle for the laptop and not bother with the 2 MONTH WAIT and £18 per month for landline and broadband.
I will be a low usage user of the internet. All large music files will be downloaded at work. So just general surfing and stuff. I'm not torrenting as much as I used to.
bertie.
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dyrl
Empty
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Post by dyrl on Nov 26, 2009 10:50:21 GMT
I have been using a mobile internet for my laptop and been completely without a landline broadband for two years and I'm happy with it. I also don't have a stationary phone, but only a mobile phone.
The one thing you need to find out - and this is only something folks in the UK will be able to tell you - is whether or not your mobile internet providers in the UK have adequate infrastructure in the country? That is to say - are there transmission devices in enough places around the country for it to work?
You can get a roaming function for your mobile internet to work in Europe too - but you need to talk to the provider about that....
However, for domestic purposes - the key question is how does the transmission infrastructure look?
Where I live -it's spotty as hell. Too few transmission lines and therefore if you travel, there are certain places the thing won't work.
If you live (as I do) in the country side, then the thing only works for me if I'm upstairs in my attic OR if I'm in my room next to the left-hand window but not the window next to my bed.
This could be irritating for you - but then again, you're using a laptop - a laptop is portable - so just find out if it works in a place where you're comfy sitting.
In metropolitan areas it SHOULD work just fine - though I've even had trouble with it not working outside of the center of the city.
But this could just be due to infrastructure in Poland being pretty crap.
Usually - the company you choose will give you a free trial period of 10 days or so to try it out. So try it out - travel with it. Take it along with you in your car and sit at a coffee shop with it and see how it works for you.
Despite the infrastructure problems I have personally found that mobile internet is supremely better than landline - you can go anywhere with it and if it doesn't work in one spot, just move a meter right or left and it will work. You WILL ultimately find a spot where the signal is better.
I'm a HIGH user of the internet. Large file downloading and heavy usage. I have not however had any problems whatsoever with this in terms of cost or speed.
All my speed problems are related to crappy infrastructure which would happen with landlines too (since I've had it happen on landlines too anyways)
Pete
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2009 10:52:13 GMT
If you don't use the internet too much maybe one of those pay-as-you-go broadband thingy's are perfect for you. I've never had one myself so I can't comment on their reliability but in terms of cost its certainly better than a monthly contract if you don't use the net at home too often.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 27, 2009 9:41:40 GMT
A friend of mine has one and it was v v poor. Her laptop runs slowon the net with it connected but is ok linked to mine.
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chrisl
Empty
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Post by chrisl on Nov 27, 2009 18:51:06 GMT
AVOID MOBILE BROADBAND LIKE THE CLAP!
Especially 3 mobile broadband. IT should be renamed Mobile slowerthandialup-band. Constant drop-outs and average speeds of 50-100Kbps in a supposed "turbo zone".
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