Chapter 16. The Faster the Better: Upgrading Your Internet Connection

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Understanding broadband Internet

• Connecting to DSL Internet

• Connecting to digital cable Internet

• Connecting to digital satellite Internet

• Sharing a broadband connection

When most users say they want to speed up their computer system, what they really mean is that they want to speed up their Internet connection. Speeding up your surfing and downloading is the goal, which has nothing to do with how fast your computer is running. Upgrading to more memory or a bigger hard disk or even buying a new system with a faster microprocessor will not speed up your Internet sessions.

The only way to make the Internet speedier is to upgrade to a faster connection. A traditional dial-up connection just won't cut it especially as more and more Web sites add more and larger graphics and multimedia files. Every single item on a Web page must be downloaded to your computer before you can view it, and a 56.6Kbps pipeline just isn't big enough to download everything instantaneously.

What you need, then, is what is called a broadband Internet connection. A broadband connection can speed up your Internet access by 10 times or more. The difference is truly amazing; with a broadband connection, surfing the Internet is actually pleasant!