Alicia I upgraded to DSL a few weeks ago; previously I used a 56k modem connection to the Internet.
The refeence to 'frame' as in 'Frame Relay' and 'ATM' as in 'Asynchronous Transfer Mode' describe a set of communications protocols and equipment that effectively do the same job. The VHS and Betamax analogy is perhaps a little misleading because we all know what happened to Betamax which curiously produced the better picture. Frame Relay and ATM technology is in widespread use throughout the World and neither is going to disappear overnight like Betamax. If you look at the Verizon tables (Bronze, Enhanced Bronze, Frame, ATM) you will see little difference in performance between the different technologies and tariffs. The download speed is 768kb/s and upload speed is 128kb/s whether you choose Frame or ATM (Bronze). Speak to friends and see what they use and recommend. Your choice will likely have an affect on the type of equipment (modem / router) you will have install in your home. (I installed a 4-port router at home because it will enable me to connect up to 4 computers to the Internet and use them at the same time.) However, beware 'small print'. Look at the description below the lower Verizon table. Connection speeds are greatly influenced by the quality of your telephone line and the distance between your home and telephone exchange. Your line should be professionally tested and your ISP will arrange this. If your line quality is poor or you live some distance from your exchange you may be disappointed with the results of DSL, assuming it will work at all. I am very fortunate because I live near my telephone exchange and I have the fastest connection possible. It's an ATM (or PPPoA) connection. My downloads speed is at least 10 times greater than my analogue connection which is a blessing. I subscribe to dozens of online clubs but the Rollei camera club generates by far the greatest number of emails and a fast download is vital. In about a minute I can download around 200 - 250 emails using DSL. Using a 56k modem I would be lucky to download 30 emails a minute. That's the kind of performance improvement you can get. I use Emailer 2.0v3 and an old Quadra 650 computer (33Mhz) with a domestic DSL connection (Pipex Xtreme Solo) to the Internet. My office PC is a 700Mhz Toshiba laptop connected to the Internet via a high-speed proxy server. The email client is Outlook 2000, a corporate choice. Which system do you think is faster at handling emails? The Quadra and Emailer, of course. I have retained my 56k analogue modem, just in case. Regards Phil. ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe send a mail message with a SUBJECT line of "unsubscribe" to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
