Slow Internet!
 

Just a wee piece from the BBC. thought it might be of some interest to some people

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programm...ine/7329992.stm

It's an issue of the US having invested early in infrastructure, and then needing to invest billions of $$ to upgrade to new systems...when the same companies that would need to do the upgrading are losing money or barely breaking even. The demonstrated ability to pay and the market price aren't there to justify the ROI.

My read: We'll upgrade when forced.

A true tragedy is occurring as a result of the free enterprise capital investments and niche marketing economic system. Our governments cannot do much to change what is happening without becoming authoritarian or dictatorial for a period of time. That period of time no matter what its length would damage the democratic system of governments we all now enjoy. The damage would occur in the way our laws are enacted and enforced. It would be irreversible and lead to the loss of more freedoms, faster than any reaction could limit that decay. Only the businesses involved can make the difference for us. However, since those are publicly owned and run by boards of directors commanding higher profits to fill their own pockets we will not ever see a turn around.
Nothing like a good fuck in the ass. But, it ought to be at a time, place and manner of our own choosing! You don't suppose things could change a bit so our entertainments could be more palatable and cost a little less?

Couldn't help but notice the first dog in the manger mentioned is Comcrap, my ISP provider, who beat us over the head with ads bragging about how fast their internet service is vs. DSL, while they quietly hold the sownload speed down to avoid pissing off the movie people they have to deal with. I guess when the screwing we get isn't worth the screwing we get things will change, but where's the limit...

My internet connection is laughingly referred to as broadband.

I have a best download speed of 56-60 kbps, which is only 10 times the speed of my old dial-up at it's best.

I hear tales of 250 or 300 kbps, and wonder if it's the crap copper lines, the ISP or our phone company which is keeping it slow.

What's YOUR best and average speeds?

4848 kbps download speed and 485 kbps upload speed but then I pay for 5mb service.

At least what the speed test tells me today it dose depend on the day and time I do it by a few 100kbps.

Download Speed: 500 kbps (62.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 494 kbps (61.8 KB/sec transfer rate)

Not really sure what those numbers actually mean but I know I could never go back to a dial up.

There seems to be a bits v bytes thing happening here.

download 4312 kbps, upload 336 kbps, as of 1/13/2008

To check it again, I'll have to upgrade my network program...

/me bytes OF's v

We have a football fuss about something similar at the moment, what's being referred to as a squirrel tackle.

It's where someone's nuts are endangered.

The view never changes if you're not the lead dog. :yikes:
Well, in this case you get the most out of the trough when you're the biggest :fix: :nuts:

Those service providers are sucking down our dollars as fast as we can dig into our pockets. The only reason we still have anything left is because we're too slow at removing our hands from our pockets. Y'all can believe it, they can clean us out rather quickly. Even as we watch 'em doin' it! :eek: