Desperate need of Internet DSL advice needed....

[shadowkat]

I called Time Warner Roadrunner Service about a cable modem - to see if I could get one. Turns out it has to be connected to the TV cable and that won't work since the TV is across the room.

Also I have to install it myself. Also won't work. Live in an apartment - the cable for the TV snakes through a hole in the window cell, across the ceiling down a wall and to the TV. Plus cable has gone out three times last year so far.

So I called Verizon DSL - who informs me that I have to switch from Sprint to Verizon in order to get their DSL service. Phone service is currently Sprint.
Verizon would be cheaper, but no voice mail (that's extra ) - so actually the same amount. Also it's all self-install and requires some sort of Internet card (whatever that is) to attach the DSL Modem to the computer. So not sure my computer can handle it. Computer is 128 Ram, 32 bit.

What should I do?

1. Get a new computer (expensive - also a bit dicey regarding delivery, no one
here during the day.)
2. Switch phone services and get DSL, attempt to install, get the Internet Card? DSL is $29.95 a month. Can I even install this myself?
3. Try to get Time Warner to install cable modem. Cable Modem is 44.95 a month.

Or continue to live without for a while longer?

Any advice on this mucho appreciated.

Comments

[soundingsea.livejournal.com]

The cable modem needs to be connected to the cable TV, yes, then the cable modem connects to your computer with an ethernet cable. Those can come in any length. So don't worry about that too much, as long as you can run an ethernet cable around the room.

Cable will be faster unless you want to use bittorrent or other peer-to-peer options. Then, DSL will work better overall.

Self-installed DSL is not hard, but. BUT. For either of these options, you will probably need an Network Interface Card for your computer (unless Verizon is selling internal DSL modems, which I don't think they are). If you're on dial right now, your computer can probably only take a little phone cable, right? Not a wider, bigger ethernet cable?

So, to sum up: external "modems" (they aren't really, but who cares) provided by cable or dsl companies both will need to talk to your computer somehow. That somehow is via a network card. Old, slow network cards suitable for an older computer are very cheap; just have to buy, open computer, stick in slot, and follow instructions with come with card (usually software on a CD). (if you have no cd, make sure the instructions are also available on floppy - windows may or may not have drivers for the network card by default)

Maybe that helps narrow things down?