OTHER TECH

Know Your Connections

Dial-up Phone modems use POTS (plain old telephone service), with speeds up to 56 kilobits per second (kbps).

Digital subscriber line (DSL) Uses traditional copper phone lines, but the connection doesn't need dial-up. It's always on and doesn't tie up your phone line. Speeds vary - many systems provide 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps).

Cable modem Cable modems connect using a coaxial cable network. Speeds are typically between 1 to 2 Mbps, depending on how many people are logged on in your neighborhood.

Wireless Wi-Fi and satellite are the most common. Satellite requires a dish and usually has a speed of 1.2 Mbps. Wi-Fi creates a small access "cloud" around your house. Speeds vary - 802.11b offers 5 to 10 Mbps, while 802.11a and 802.11g can deliver 50 Mbps.

Fiber-to-the-home Your very own fiber with speeds upward of 100 Mbps. Fast but pricey, and not available everywhere.