the "I still use dial-up" support group

[Auggie27]

the "I still use dial-up" support group#1

Posted: 5/20/08 at 12:04pm

All right, how many of us are there, still walking the planet? In shameful silence, scared to move forward, afraid the day looms large when a separate phone line (another relic, once reserved for that hot item, the "Fax line.") We're like denizens of a Ray Bradbury novel, Ludites of a special breed. I'm moving later this summer, and will probably break down and use something else ... but I still love my dial-up, the word "modem" still makes me feel, I dunno, secure. I turn the volume up, and hear that high-pitched hum, and know I've connected.

But I recently met a friend for drinks, and when this slipped out, he sprayed Ketel One all over my shoulder, as if I'd admitted that I use a discman instead of an Ipod (yikes--with the Carpenters on it!), have a secret dvd of Celine Dion's Vegas show (whoops)or worse, out of boredom post at one of those "theater boards..."

"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

Updated On: 5/20/08 at 12:04 PM

[best12bars]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#2

Posted: 5/20/08 at 12:09pm

Wow, Auggie, you don't know what you're missing.

It's like driving a Model T on the freeway. Tell me you don't do that too.

I'm all for the Carpenters, and I can even embrace Celine once in a while when I'm in the mood... but do you really enjoy waiting 7 hours to watch a streaming video of either?

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

---

blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#2

Posted: 5/20/08 at 12:12pm

If you get cable or dsl, they're still called modems. :)

[Auggie27]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#3

Posted: 5/20/08 at 12:14pm

See what I mean? Someone's all ready to slap me down with techno-knowledge (But is it a big deal to switch? Do you just call? Do you need new software?)

"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

Updated On: 5/20/08 at 12:14 PM

[Gothampc]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#4

Posted: 5/20/08 at 12:16pm

My name is Gothampc and I am a dial-up user. It all started in the mid-90s. I felt a certain control over my destiny. I loved the power of disconnecting my connection when AOL was trying to put me in at 14.4 and I knew if I demanded it, I could be put in at 28.8.

But slowly things began to slip. As the years flew by, I became more demanding. All I was getting from AOL was 53.3, but I was demanding 56.6.

I'm now taking it day by day. The first step has been to apologize and make good to all my friends because it took me an hour to view their 5 minute wedding clip. I know that if I continue working at it, I too can kick the dial-up habit.

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

Updated On: 5/20/08 at 12:16 PM

[mateo]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#5

Posted: 5/20/08 at 12:19pm

Why it's the Model T Ford made the trouble, made the people wanna go, wanna get, wanna get, wanna get up and go, seven, eight, nine, ten, twelve, fourteen, twent-two, twenty-three miles to the county seat.

"Zac is sweet as can be. He's very much just a sweet kid from California who happens to have a face that looks like it was drawn by Michelangelo, (if Michelangelo did anime)."
-Adam Shankman.

"I haven't left this building since Windows 3.1!"

"Celebrating a birthday this week: Rene Descartes is 412! Do you know who he is? Then why are you watching this show? You could probably get into college and even get one of those job things. As for the rest of us; Amanda Bynes is 22! Yay!"
-E!'s "The Soup"

Updated On: 5/20/08 at 12:19 PM

[best12bars]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#6

Posted: 5/20/08 at 12:20pm

It depends on what you might want, Auggie. You would need to switch either through your cable line, if you have cable, or your phone line (which I know you have, if you have dial-up).

Mine is through AT&T, and it's super-fast and fantastic. Never a slow moment in years. It's only gone down once in the past three years, for about a half-day.

The best news for you is that you can both talk and surf at the same time. Each of your phone outlets needs a "filter" attached, if you want to use it for talking. That comes with the kit they send you. Your desktop computer attaches via a Modem without the filter, if you want to hard-wire directly. You can also connect your new modem to a wireless router, if you have a laptop, and you should be able to connect anywhere in your house or apartment. I have both a desktop and a laptop, so I do it both ways.

Check with your phone company and your cable company. Many offer specials to hook up. You won't regret it for a minute. And you won't believe the time you save waiting for everything to load up.

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

---

blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

[Auggie27]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#7

Posted: 5/20/08 at 12:25pm

Thank you, Best. The day looms on the horizon. I know I'll be happy. I think. 'Course, I still wish milk was delivered, Kukla Fran and Ollie beamed in via rabbit ears and that our make-ship basement "bomb shelters" could become rainy day play rooms. Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#8

Posted: 5/20/08 at 12:41pm

See what I mean? Someone's all ready to slap me down with techno-knowledge (But is it a big deal to switch? Do you just call? Do you need new software?)

No slap down at all. Just showing you that you can still use the terms you're comfortable with, which will help ease your transition. :)

I've used both cable modem and dsl. I prefer cable, but that's because SBC DSL (which is inescapable in the midwest) sucks.

[DG]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#9

Posted: 5/20/08 at 12:48pm

My mother has dial-up, and when I've tried to use it when visiting I've had to walk away - quickly.

But I also stand in front of microwaves impatiently, so what do I know.

[mauriposa]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#10

Posted: 5/20/08 at 2:52pm

My folks just made the leap from dial-up AOL to cable high speed. It took years of nagging and nudging, but they finally did it. After a few weeks, they still didn't see what all the fuss was about. Until I showed them that they could watch clips of their childhood favorites on youtube. They haven't looked back since.

[thatgirl712]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#11

Posted: 5/20/08 at 7:12pm

My computer set-up right now is very slow and annoying to use.

If I heard the bells and the banjos ring

[roquat]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#12

Posted: 5/20/08 at 7:22pm

I use dial-up quite happily, thank you. The people who sneer at this tend to be the same sort of people who assert "Nobody reads anymore" or "Nobody goes to the theatre anymore."

I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."

[mauriposa]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#13

Posted: 5/20/08 at 7:28pm

I doubt anyone on this board would say nobody goes to the theatre anymore, Roquat.

[javero]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#14

Posted: 5/20/08 at 7:31pm

My parents still dial-up via a data modem.

I switched to DSL over the phone line so long ago I can't even even when I made the switch. Tried broadband via cable for a minute but the signal losses in my condo were unbearable. My unit is at the end of the cable run and COMCAST wouldn't install a booster but this is obviously t.m.i.

Auggie--you'll make the switch at the most opportune time for you. I don't believe you'll regret it one bit.

#FactsMatter...your feelings not so much.

[roquat]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#15

Posted: 5/20/08 at 8:25pm

Here's another bombshell: I still buy CDs and use a conventinal player, not an iPod. I cannot stand those stupid little pill-sized headphones iPods have that fit right inside your ear and are immediately coated with wax; it's too much like having a musical computer chip implanted directly into your brain.

I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."

[orangeskittles]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#16

Posted: 5/20/08 at 9:05pm

You know, you can plug your own headphones into mp3 players. The earbuds aren't cemented to the player.

Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how

[Namaste]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#17

Posted: 5/20/08 at 9:10pm

I love technically-challenged people!

They're very funny.

[Raspberry]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#18

Posted: 5/20/08 at 9:58pm

You can also clean your ears.

"I just want a story and a few good songs that will take me away. I just want to be entertained. I mean, isn't that the point?"

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#19

Posted: 5/21/08 at 12:03am

I thought I would considered technologically challenged for owning the original IPod Shuffle. If Dial-Up suits your purposes, don't let anyone tell you to switch just to fit in, but with the increasing file sizes involved in websites I will say it makes your life much easier.

My avatar is a reminder to myself. I need lots of reminders...

[Namaste]

re: the 'I'm still using dial-up' support group#20

Posted: 5/21/08 at 1:50pm

I'm confused how someone can use this message board without their dial-up exploding?

With all of the refreshing, checking and pictures.