Lowly DSL poised for gigabit speed boost

CNet ^ | 21 October 2014 | Stephen Shankland

[Vendome]

Order a dry loop.

[PapaNew]

This is completely off the subject, but can anyone give me advice on the best value for a PC that I use for internet stuff (email, FR, Facebook, YouTube, and live streaming - no games or complex applications) and MS Office stuff?

[PapaNew]

Correction,

Can anyone give me advice on the best value for a LAPTOP that I use for internet stuff (email, FR, Facebook, YouTube, and live streaming - no games or complex applications) and MS Office stuff?

[Blue Highway]

I won’t hold my breath that Verizon DSL will get this boost by 2020 or any time past that since they are always pushing their FIOS service.

[Paleo Conservative]

So the gigabit DSL will require having a wire run of 50 meters or less. Does that mean the telephone company will be running fiber to the curb then putting their DSL equipment connected to the fiber lines? I could see where this could be beneficial for use in buildings that already have lots of twisted pair lines installed, but I don’t think it would be very beneficial for single family homes that have just one phone line. I’d rather run fiber into my home.

[dljordan]

I would just like to get what I pay for from Centurylink.

[PapaNew]

This is off the subject, but I need some help from you experts out there.

I’m a low-tech guy and I’m looking for the best value for a LAPTOP that I use for internet stuff (email, FR, Facebook, YouTube, and live streaming - no games or complex applications) and MS Office stuff.

Besides Macs which are too expensive for me and I’m not used to them, the top two in PC magazine are

1) HP Chromebook 11 w/ Verizon which uses Google Chrome, and

2) Dell Inspiron 11 3000 Series 2-in-1 (3147) which uses Widows 8.

Would I better off using Google Chrome or Windows 8? I’ve never used Google Chrome before and am not sure I would like it.

Thanks.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Start a new thread...you’ll get lots of good advice. Can’t help you because we are a Mac / IOS family — Macs, iPads, iPhones, AppleTV, iTunes, network connected storage. It all just works, the equipment lasts for years, reliability is high, and upgrades are one or two clicks on the App Store. My household CIO duties are minimal. You get what you pay for. (I do use an Asus router rather than an Apple router and we have an HP B&W printer)

[cynwoody]

MS Office doesn't run on Chrome OS, as far as I know.

Google will steer you to their Google Drive based office substitutes. Also, I believe LibreOffice runs on Chrome. The Google Drive based apps are fairly rudimentary. LibreOffice is full-featured, but not completely compatible with MS Office. Those substitutes might be good enough if your MS Office needs are minor, and you don't have a need to exchange complex documents with MS Office users regularly.

[KoRn]

At this point, given how you claim to be ‘low tech’, I’m not going to lead you down the path of buying a brand new machine, installing another Operating System and facing potential hardware support/driver hell.

Right now, If you can’t get something with Windows 7 pre-installed, I’d just wait for the next release of Windows, because you would ABSOLUTELY HATE Windows 8.x, it would be like a bad dream to you, each and every time you use your computer. How bad it is can’t be overstated! (seriously)

I honestly can’t imagine how a company as large and wealthy as Microsoft could allow such a colossal piece of shit ‘out the door’! It’s truly amazing.

They have GOT to operate internally in a way that’s similar to our Federal government, but with more foreigners. It’s probably filled with unproductive liberals, one department has no idea what other departments are doing, there are more ‘managers’ than actual productive workers, and they barely communicate. THAT’S the only type of operation that could produce a Windows 8! lol

I reckon they’ll get another shot at it with the next version. I CAN’T BELIEVE no one has replaced their sorry asses yet.

I thought Google would have eaten their lunch by now.....

[rdb3]

I'd suggest you buy an Asus laptop.

Jesus Christ: You can’t impeach Him and He ain’t going to resign.

[PapaNew]

Thanks for the tip.We may just hold off as you suggest.

Isn’t there some kind of law in the universe that says every other upgrade stinks and every other upgrade fixes the stinky one and is actually good?

Hopefully, the next one will be good.

[Vendome]

I would feel more comfortable with the Dell and Windoze, as the brain trust for that OS is greater.

[Vinnie]

Tell us how you really feel. Don’t hold back.:)

I second your assessment BTW.
After trying to use my granddaughter’s laptop w/ Win 8, I threw up my hands in frustration and kissed my MacBook.

[KoRn]

Yeah, I bought our daughter a PC, she asked for help, and I saw Windows 8 on it. I was shocked at how bad it was! LOL

Luckily, I had a an ‘open’ copy of Win7 Professional from work, and I installed it. (we’re allowed 3 machines per household)

She’s been happy ever since. lol

[midnightcat]

I don’t know enough about Google Chrome, hence I would go with Windows 8. Are they both around the same price?

[PapaNew]

I don’t know if they are the same price. I don’t like what I’ve seen and heard of both Google Chrome or Windows 8. I think I might wait until the new Windows version (10 I think) comes out. I’ve noticed that generally every other version is good and every other version is not so good. I heard Windows 10 will fix at least some of the issues Windows 8 had.

[Moonman62]

Does that mean the telephone company will be running fiber to the curb then putting their DSL equipment connected to the fiber lines? I could see where this could be beneficial for use in buildings that already have lots of twisted pair lines installed, but I don’t think it would be very beneficial for single family homes that have just one phone line. I’d rather run fiber into my home.

...

I think you nailed it.

[midnightcat]

interesting. at some point i need to upgrade my home PC. I have a desktop right now but a laptop would be so much smaller, I am just wondering if it is the right choice. i like to play with photos with GIMP (similar to Photoshop but free). I am very naive about things like how powerful a laptop/vs desktop is, how much memory, etc. my parents have a laptop and it is kind of a pain. weird issues with the keyboard and stuff.