| High speed Internet service has gone from being a | | | | their way into more homes and businesses now. |
| rarity to being common to being essential. It is | | | | They are a better solution for most people than |
| difficult to function in today's society without being | | | | 802.11 or satellite, and the service is available in |
| referred to a website. Since high speed Internet is so | | | | almost every area with a town of more than 20,000 |
| widely available, companies have made their websites | | | | people or near a major freeway. This is the result of |
| more and more complex, even including audio and | | | | cell phone operators moving to "3G", also called |
| video with fancy graphics. Some people still can't get | | | | EDVO, which is just a high data rate service. Even |
| DSL Internet from their phone company. Fortunately, | | | | better, the war between the carriers means that 3G |
| high speed Internet service is available to everyone | | | | speeds will constantly be on the increase. |
| now through wireless technologies. | | | | Unlike 802.11 providers, the cellular companies have |
| The most common forms of high speed Internet | | | | equipment designed to deliver service everywhere, |
| service are cable Internet and DSL Internet from the | | | | and many delivery towers. Unlike satellite service, the |
| phone company. Wireless technologies are available | | | | data limitation for laptop cards is 5 Gigabytes for the |
| for people who can't get these popular services. The | | | | month. No daily limit is in play, and the provider allows |
| most common wireless options are satellite and rural | | | | you to check your usage each day on their website. |
| 802.11 wireless, but a new option has become | | | | Most users won't be checking, because 5 Gigabytes |
| available that seems to be gaining acceptance: | | | | is more than most customers will ever use in a |
| Wireless Internet from cellular wireless providers. | | | | month. You just have to be conscious of large |
| The satellite companies usually restrict the amount of | | | | downloads. If you want to download a lot of large |
| data you can access during a day, and if you go over | | | | files, a trip to the coffee shop is in order. |
| the limit they "punish" you by slowing you back down | | | | Check the services in your area, both with the data |
| to modem speeds for a day, just to remind you | | | | coverage map, and by finding out from neighbors |
| who's boss. Rural 802.11 service is a mixed bag. 802.11 | | | | which cellular data service works best in your |
| was meant to be a local standard for short distances, | | | | neighborhood. Once you get the card, be sure to |
| and does not travel well through trees, which seem | | | | take advantage of technical help from the company |
| to be plentiful in many remote areas. Be sure that | | | | on how to best install it, and how to share the |
| there is a no-cost trial period, or that the service | | | | connection if you have more than one computer. |
| provider will prove out your service in advance. | | | | Windows has an Internet Connection Sharing service |
| The newest option for high speed Internet service is | | | | that lets all your computers share the high speed |
| the laptop card or air card. First envisioned as just a | | | | Internet connection from the laptop card. |
| service for mobile warriors, these cards are finding | | | | |