Technology Update

I would love to be able to use DSL or Cable internet service, but being way out here in the boon docks, it isn’t possible. I could easily sign up for satellite internet if I wanted to pay one hundred dollars a month for it. No thank you! I’m cheap and I like it that way! But, that leaves me with dial-up, and everyone knows dial-up is sad. Sad and slow, especially if the phone company haven’t updated the outside wires since 1950. So I add static noise to sad and slow.

Dial-up isn’t all that bad anymore, though. They’ve added accelerators, boosters, turbos, speedband and all sorts of stuff to make your surfing better, faster, and more enjoyable. And, it works most of the time. Even the cheapest ISP’s include these accelerators for under ten dollars a month. I chose one without a ‘My Home’ page; that alone makes it a winner for me. It’s neat, clean and fast for less money and no stress. They get me online quickly and that’s all I ask of them.

I’ve used other services that force a home page on you. I’ve even used the ‘Big One’ a time or two. You know, the one that sends out the free cd’s so crafters can make those neat wind chimes? By the way, I wonder if their subscribers realize they’re paying for all those wind chimes?

I don’t mind trying new isp’s, but I avoid those that insist on including a ‘Home Page’. I don’t like their intrusive way of doing business. The home page is so ‘busy’ I can’t find what I’m looking for. I looked for five minutes one time for my account link. The window was full of news, movie stars and sales ads; none of which I’m interested in. It’s so crowded with ’stuff’ along its borders, it reminds me of my attic.

They usually aren’t user friendly either, at least not to this user. When I feel the stress begin to build, I minimize their window and open a new IE window. A couple I’ve tried won’t allow me to use a Blank home page (which is what I do with IE). To get online with the service, I must open their slow-loading, image-filled page. Being forced to do anything causes stress and who needs it? Not me!

I don’t want an intrusive update downloaded every time I log on and off, either, and I don’t want to be ignored when I say no thanks. Paying thirty dollars a month for services that are certainly no better than ISP’s charging ten dollars or less is incomprehensible to me. Why would anyone waste their hard-earned cash like that? Especially those paying with their Social Security allowance. Not this cheapskate!

There are many, many good, cheap ISP’s worth checking out. Support is always good on those I’ve used, and when they’re new businesses you know they try harder. Give them a chance.

Search ‘cheap isps’ and save some money; you might even save yourself some stress, and that’s what it’s all about. I’m running a wonderful one I began this month. I was charged only .99 cents for the first month, and that includes the accelerator! I won’t tell you the name though, unless they give me a year’s free service.

esprit is a reviewer of new writers and has written newsletters and articles on the subject of novice writing and reviewing with common sense and encouragement. Her portfolio may be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/storytime
She is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/
which is a site for Writers.

Remember the telephone companies’ deregulation of the 1980s? If someone were to ask me then to switch my phone service I would have said ‘no way’. You see during this initial period it really was all about the network.

Well, the times have certainly changed. For some of us in the United States, we’ve seen the TV commercials trying to instill fear of switching providers. By the way, it probably goes without saying, but you do know who’s funding those advertisements right? The big name providers who obviously don’t want to loose your business.

The times have changed. The networks have stabilized, are reliable and offer the same quality. Let’s face it; even the major local providers need to interface with other companies network. A local provider is not providing end-to-end long distance. Once they get out of their ‘network’ they need to interface with another providers ‘network’ in order to complete your call.

At the start of this, I stated I would not have switched my long distance provider back in the 1980’s. I’m happy to say, I’ve switched my long distance provider a long time back and have been extremely happy with the service, quality and reliability. Actually, I’ve experienced no difference at all in service, reliability or quality of calls between my
smaller named long distance carrier and the big name carrier I used to use. The biggest difference, for me, was a HUGE cost savings.

Everyone’s calling habits are different. I live in a large midwestern city and my long distance calling is generally to New York City and southern California. I for one cut my long distance by over HALF what it was. Anytime we can save money without loosing quality of service is a no brainer. Get past the hype and the fear the major providers try to stir up.

Having said all that, how would you choose a provider? First, we’d certainly like you to use our web site, but there are many web sites today that provide free quotes for you. Learn how to read your quote. Don’t to lured by a cheap per minute rate because that is only part of what your overall bill will be. Terms, conditions, taxes and fee’s can quickly exceed any perceived cost savings on rate alone.

There are reliable, lower cost carriers out there. There is money to be saved. There is a way to learn how to read your quote and know exactly what you’re paying for. Use our site, use someone else’s site, but learn to read your quote and you will happily save money every month.

Provided by Full Service Broadband Provider. We offer unbiased and informative information on broadband and communication products and services. This service is made possible through Try Right Technology, Inc

Does your voicemail on your cell phone have personality? Why not, it is easy to accentuate your voicemail with cool little sayings that tell the person calling a little bit about your upbeat personality, strength of character and what is important in your life.

Accentuating your voicemail is fairly easy, but you might have to practice a few times and perhaps keep working on it until you really like it and then the test, call up a friend and ask them to call you back and then find out if they like it? If not you must keep on trying until all your friends think it is cool. Indeed this might take ten more practices. But when you get your voicemail Just right, you will know it and that is how you accentuate your voicemail to the fullest possible extent and I advise that you do this.

You might also considered accentuating your email with a quote of a very famous person that you believe is very important and the message is paramount. Or perhaps you have a quote that you created yourself that you think is worthy of telling other people and also describes a little bit about your dedication and commitment as individual as well as your strength of character.

This will help you win friends and influence people and let those new acquaintances know that you are a real person with integrity and you’re serious about what you do. Consider all this in 2006.

Lance Winslow