Can I ask a question of the exterts not specifically connected to stocks but pertinent to obtaining quick information. Aty present I am on One Tel Internet (not Broadband) and am feeling the restrictions of this service. I want to change to Broadband(preferrably not cable) and would ask you experts out there to give me your experience.

Pipex are fine but don't filter spam from their mail servers, which demon and one or two others do I believe.

You can`t beat Telewest cable broadband, it has NEVER let me down touch wood.
Cheers.

Yahoo filter spam from their mail & it's mail service is free.

Don't base your decision on the email service.

If you use Yahoo for email then you can keep changing your ISP without changing your email adr.

Don't use the same company for both.

Don't use an email client especially outlook, if you want to avoid viruses & trojans.

Use Webmail like Yahoo but don't configure it for OutLook.

If you don't like to have a Yahoo email adr then buy a .co.uk domain name & redirect the mail to Yahoo.

FastMail.fm is better than Yahoo except that there is no free virus scanning.

To sum up make separate decisions on email & ISP.

I use telecom plus wih microsoft exployer.I fit very good and inexpensive. Runs as 512.

I have to thank you, apple, BUT I dont understand a word of it. Crikey, I can hardly get onto the Internet but I HAVE to because its so vital for prices and info on stocks.Thank you, also, to all the other folk who have contributed. I dont have Telewest and prefer to avoid cable. Both Pipex and Telecom plus seem interesting. Can either of you provide a little more info ? In my inexperience I have been hovering between the BT 512 and Tiscali 512(which has free set up for a few more days). Would anyone advise against these or even suggest a superior/cheaper service. Who has any experience of these systems that supposedly speed up your existing service for about $30 bucks a year?

To add to what I said about making separate decisions on email & ISP,

I am looking forward to GMail from Google with 1 GigaByte of storage space.

This thread:
http://www.moneyam.com/InvestorsRoom/ShowPostList?fID=1&tID=2056

has some interesting posts on it regarding this matter.

apple
Apparently Gmail will want to scan your e-mails for specific words so they can target you with pop up ads.
Hilldee why don't you want cable, I have NTL broadband and it is very good.
Guru

hilldee: A bunch of us here at IST use Zen Internet at home. See http://www.zen.co.uk

Advantages are very good customer service and the minimum contract is just one month.

Good advice on email above -- I particularly think avoiding all Microsoft mail clients is a key recommendation. The hackers target Outlook in particular.

I use Eudora myself (available for Windows and MacOS) See http://www.eudora.com

Cheers

Tiscali 512

Set a friend up on this but there was a problem and we could NOT get through to their tech people. Finally, after many days trying, got hold of their press officer who went upstairs to see the tech director and the problem was solved when they rang me.

It turned out that their tech phone system could only hold five calls, any more and it just dropped them. I wasted hours trying to get through!

BT (and I'm a holder of the shares) are a bleeding pain to get through to and pretty unknowledgeable) but get there in the end (don't like their modem though).

Pipex has been rock solid for me and they do answer the phone if you need them (I had a router problem which was blocking ADVFN, my problem not theirs).

A friend's just gone with freeserve and had problems both with accounts and ADSL but the problem was an old BT block where it entered their home. I think freeserve actually sent someone out to find the problem.

Oh, and get a router not a modem. Try ebay for a cheapy. I use a DSL-400 and it stays connected for weeks at a time and has diagnostics which let you test the line etc.

thanks for the info on Tiscali - I have had similar problems with OneTel. The reason for not wanting cable is the need to change phone numbers. all this is most interesting, please keep it coming and I WILL check out all the suggestions. Thanks one and all.

err, I don't think you have to change your number when switching to cable. I'm on Telewest and kept the same number as I was on with BT.

I nearly bought shares in TWT when they were about 85p. My simple reason was that I was paying them more than my combined gas and electricity bills and they couldn't fall much further, could they. I thank my lucky stars I didn't.

Interesting thred but no one seems to be mentioning the all important costs of these options, can you do so please?

hilldee

I'm a Tiscali Network distributor. Tiscali have some competitively priced Broadband packages. Check out the web site attached for further information.

I also provide a point of contact (and support where I can) for anyone who signs up through me should they have a problem with their service.

If you require further info you can always email me - see my user profile.

Sutre

http://www.tiscali-network.co.uk/ktd/services/

guruquarter

Google have promised no pop up ads in GMail.

They know how people hate them.

The ads will be in the page & will probably be small ones down the right hand side of the page just like Google Search.

That's fine by me if the reward is 1 GigaByte of storeage space.

I did not realise that you had cable with TWT when I gave my advice. At my previous address I had cable and their broadband. Worked a treat and I wish I had it here. They run at 1 meg which is twice the speed of BT. It does not matter who you go with without cable you still have to use BT. I believe Twt are going to start 2 meg. If I did not have to I would not use BT as they are useless and will not discuss the circuit into your house - only talk to your internet provider!!!.
Good luck

For twt broadband go here:

http://www.telewest.co.uk/html/internet/internet.htm

theres news in the times today that Wanadoo are going to offer 512 at 17.99 p.month, with restrictions. Still no comment from anyone on such services as ONSPEED offered for around $30 PER YEAR and 'guaranteed to speed up ANY service'If there is anyone out there who has subscribed to ON SPEED i would appreciate their comment.

Just had some info that Telewest will be upgrading their broadband speed in May for present subscribers.
The 512k will be 765k.the 1mb will increase to 1.5mb,the 2mb will increase to 3mb.
All this at no extra cost.
Cheers.