[Tfug] Dilemma: Qwest or Comcast?

[Ken Steen]

On Mon, 2008-05-05 at 14:19 -0700, euvitudo wrote:
> On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 1:52 PM, Jon <bigj at flatwan.net> wrote:
> >
> >  DSL w/o an ISP?  That's like hooking up a  voice line up to a dead pair
> >  of copper wires.
> 
> Yep.  Why not?
> 
> My mother has AOL (I've tried to convince her to go elsewhere) as the ISP.
> 
> When I get onto her network, my traffic goes nowhere near AOL.  It's all
> through Qwest.  (qwest.net)  In fact, they give her a static qwest IP
> address and DNS, etc., to setup her actiontec.  No extra charge.  So, tell
> me again why I need an ISP?
> 
> 
> >  Qwest is the carrier but you'll need a host (AKA ISP) to host all your
> >  IP needs across that carrier.
> 
> All my network needs can be satisfied through the many services out
> there (free and non).  Furthermore, I can find a hosting provider for my
> web and email needs.  Now tell me why I *must* have an ISP?  Why can't
> qwest provide me an IP address and a DNS like they do my mother,
> without the need to throw more money away at an ISP?
> 
> Phil


I used to have Qwest's basic internet service which was simply an
internet connection for $8.95 a month.  There wasn't any email,
newsgroups, or any other service with the account other than a
connection to the internet.  The full price depended on your connection
speed and other options.  A static IP address was $5.00 a month.  I had
to call Qwest to set up the account as it wasn't on the web site and
when I called it was still new enough that they had to transfer me to
someone who knew how to set up the account.  I never had any problems
with the account.  When I told them that I was using Linux they were
happy to give me the connection information such as DNS servers and my
static IP address but told me that I would have to configure my computer
on my own which was fine with me.  I moved and had to go with Cox cable
at my new apartment and I have never had a problem with my service from
Cox.  I don't know if Qwest still offers the basic internet connection
service and the prices that I quoted are over three years old.  Now that
my email service is web based I really do not need a local ISP.  

Ken